Tuesday--The Advocate posts a screenshot and a story about McCance's post in an online article. By the time the article becomes widely known, McCance's facebook has been privatized rendering it impossible for the public to read his post and decide whether or not the post was real or not.
Many people begin demanding his immediate dismissal, whether through firing or resignation. What's most telling about people's response is that at this point, he was only alleged to have made these comments. Few suggested resignation in the instance that the comments proved true. At this point, people had formed an opinion and did not wish to listen to an alternative explanation.
Wednesday--Facebook lights up with people posting status updates indicating how angry they are at McCance. The internet is littered with commentary and blog-articles discussing the issue; however, at this point, all articles eventually link back to, paraphrase, and copy the Advocate article. No new information has been gathered; just what was mentioned in the Advocate article. Still, the only proof that anything happened exists in the Advocate article. If the Advocate had misreported then much ado had been made about nothing.
Many facebook users urge mass phone calling, emailing, and demonstrations at Midland School District. Emails to the Superintendent are encouraged. Emails to the other School Board members are encouraged.
But here's the part that scares me: Personal information relating to McCance are published online. Not just his work phone and business listing. In a few instances, I noticed that home address, home phone, and wife & children's names were published. My question: what purpose would the publication of this information serve? The only answer is that people who are not fans of McCance wanted to encourage harassment of McCance on his private property and time.
This is inappropriate in any context regardless of what crime or malfeasance a person has committed.
As disappointed as I was to hear that a human being actually vocalized their hatred toward a particular segment of the population, I was equally disappointed in people's response to this hatred.
I realize that Jesus was a fan of righteous anger, but I think that in today's modern era, anger is an inappropriate response to someone else's action.
I try, in all things that I do, to react out of calmness, rationality and love...not out of hatred or fear. I hope that my friends and people that are not fans of McCance come to this realization and forgive themselves for allowing to be caught up in a hysteria.
When you allow yourself to be affected by someone else's words, you have just given that person power over you. The last person I would want to give someone power to is someone like Clint McCance
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