From the Virginia Standards of Learning for language arts:
“Students will identify compare-and-contrast relationships.”Today we will compare Ndamukong Suh and Rosa.*
Rosa is about 4’8”, and she weighs less than 80 pounds. She’s 10, and the person she reminds me most of in the world is Ndamukong Suh.
No, Rosa doesn’t play football. Actually, she hates football. She doesn’t like any sports, actually. So what does a 10 year old child have in common with a mountain of a man who is, by all accounts, one of the most gifted players in the National Football League?
A couple weeks ago in a game against the Green Bay Packers, Mr. Suh grabbed another player’s head and banged it repeatedly against the ground. Then, after getting up, he stomps on the other’s player’s arm. The video is here. This wasn’t Suh’s first violent incident. He has a reputation for being a dirty player.
Last week during silent reading time, Rosa hit another child with a book. The other child’s eye swelled up enough that I needed to send him to the nurse. This wasn’t her first violent incident. She has a reputation for being mean to others.
After the game, Suh denied any wrongdoing. In fact, he claimed the other player instigated things. He thinks this reputation for being a dirty player is undeserved. He thinks the league and media picks on him.
After the incident, Rosa denied any wrongdoing. She felt completely justified in hitting the other child. In fact, she claimed that the other child was at fault because “he was annoying her.” She thinks her reputation is undeserved. She has no idea why most other students don’t like being around her. She thinks teachers pick on her.
As a football person, I love Ndamukong Suh. He’s a freakish athlete. His best years could be ahead of him. He has immense potential.
As a kid person, I love Rosa. She’s adorable. Her best years should be ahead of her. She has immense potential.
As a human being, I’m appalled at Ndamukong Suh’s behavior. I’m even more disgusted by his lack of remorse and his shocking justification of his own actions. If his attitude doesn’t change, he will never come close to reaching his potential. This is unfortunate, because God has blessed him with unique physical gifts. This man was born to play football.
As a teacher, I’m worried about Rosa. I’m worried about her lack of remorse and her shocking justification of her own actions. If her attitude doesn’t change, she will never come close to reaching her potential. This is unfortunate, because God has blessed her with unique gifts. She was born to…
I hope that those of us that have been placed here to guide her can do so effectively with love, patience, and truth. I pray that her future has more contrasts with Ndamukong Suh than comparisons. This way, the world can find out what she was put on earth to do.
*Names are changed
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