A Book by Its Cover

In a community like Brownsville, you see sin. I don’t mean the forces of evil embodied in darkness or a grotesque figure with a pitchfork. But certainly you see the manifestation or outcome of sin simply by driving through the town.

In a quick tour, you will see the greed of a landowner who has put hope on gambling windfalls and allowed over one hundred properties fall into ruins. You will see the neglect of a hundred homeowners who no longer care for their property. You will see the theft of siding stripped right off of homes. You will see a disregard for the environment in the trash spewed from car windows and make-shift dumps in creeks and riversides. You will see the marks of gangs or wannabe gangs on the side of abandon buildings.

If you compared Brownsville to a community like Peters Township, you would see new construction, businesses, manicured lawns, clean streets, large churches, nice cars and beautiful parks and facilities. The outward differences are stark. No wonder, when the per capita income is nearly three times higher in Peters than Brownsville and only 1.3% of families live below the poverty line (compared to 42.3% in Brownsville).

Sin is no less prevalent in Peter’s township. It’s better hidden.

It’s hidden by school administrators who are afraid of lawsuits, teachers who like popularity over moral conviction and parent’s who define right and wrong by the standard of their children’s behavior.

If a cell phone was confiscated in accordance with school policy, and that cell phone contained a video of a group of minors engaged in sex while adults were watching in the background, a disciplined investigation to identify and prosecute those involved is in order.

Child pornography, even if it exists on an expensive piece of technology owned by a popular student or prominent family, is still child pornography.

Sin takes on different forms in Brownsville and Peters. But it is the heart of man where sin begins and its pride, greed, lust and the usual lot that you will find there. While Brownsville’s sin is visible, there are those who will work for change. In Peters, the sin is well hidden and there those who will work to keep it that way… but it will be brought to light what is hidden in darkness and the motives of men’s hearts will be exposed. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

There are those in Brownsville who hold hope, who know right from wrong, who pursue good and desire justice. They fight for what is right. I hope there are at least a few in Peters Township that are of the same cloth.

For more on Peters Township High School or to contact their principal, Dr Thomas Hajzus. If you’re curious about their cell phone policy, see pages 53 and 54 of the Student-Parent Handbook.