A lesson from and for parents

THAT basketbrawl continues to hog conversations as netizens join the fray in a virtual braw -- defending and bashing, and yes, blaming President Rodrigo R. Duterte on the side.

But, as we are always reminded, we get more out of life if we pick out lessons from the best and worst times, and this one qualifies for the worst. Forget Chot Reyes, let’s look past the bullying and the racist taunts just this once, and focus on June Mar Fajardo, the player who was driving in for a layup when the brawl started. Fajardo along with Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer were three of the players who did not join the fray.

ESPN reported that in a private team dinner attended by the majority of the team on Tuesday, Fajardo said that he was more concerned about making a score. But everything went wild from there, and what stood out most was his parents’ reminder.

“Because that’s what my parents always told me - ‘If you can avoid a mess, avoid it because you might regret it later on,’” Fajardo was quoted as saying in the ESPN report.

And true enough, only Fajardo, Amer, and Norwood were left to finish the game. All others were booted out.

He added that while they are a team and there is a very strong camaraderie among them, it does not mean that you will condone your teammates wrong judgment. He stood by what his parents taught him. This is the lesson we should learn from this.

For parents to remember that the ultimate lessons your children will ever learn is from you. Please do not expect the school to take the full responsibility of turning your children into good and well-mannered citizens. The responsibility to teach values and right conduct is still on the parents. The school is there to complement and reinforce what has been taught at home.

Thus, if at home you can’t even speak politely to each other and cannot spare the time to teach your children basic values, then do not expect your children to comport themselves properly outside the home. And please, do not defend your child’s wrongdoings. A wrong act is wrong. There are always ways to settle issues and grudges.

In this world where racism is a sore issue, a formal complaint will cause greater shame and quicker action on the aggressor than channeling the wild animal within.