COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Hopewell Valley fans underscored issues about fear of coming to Trenton

A Colonial Valley Conference boys basketball showdown between Hopewell Valley and Trenton Central high schools delivered disappointment.

Hopewell High (17-4) offered a Caucasian team that resembled a “Hoosiers” moment and Trenton High (16-5) delivered an opposite color schemed squad.

Trenton High won the contest, competitive until the Tornadoes delivered a fast and furious rush toward the end of the third quarter for a 44-29 advantage.

Disappointment occurred as fear claimed the greatest victory with Hopewell Valley High School students and most Bulldogs fans absent from Rivera Middle School where security stands on high alert.

Despite the fact that Trenton High has suffered no incident at Rivera and the reality that Caucasians, especially in attendance at a high school basketball game, are rarely the subjects of Trenton violence, Hopewell Valley High fans did not attend.

If the massacre at cozy Columbine High taught us anything, it’s that violence simmers and lurks even in places not considered dangerous.

“I’m not scared, that’s why I’m here,” said a Hopewell High student.

The young man received a compliment for his honesty and attitude based on the sheer certainty that fear, false evidence appearing real, limits opportunities.

While Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. receives celebration for his noted speeches, significant insights about life struggles rarely receive mention. Take for instance the civil rights leader’s thoughts regarding our inability to connect.

King said, “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

If no interaction occurs then we create falsehoods built on hearsay and distortion.

If Trenton expects revitalization then residents must eliminate barriers that prevent us from building diverse friendships and alliances.

The human experience delivers similar desires and wants whether a person resides in suburban Hopewell Township or inner city Trenton.

Most humans hope for love, respect, acceptance, shelter, worthy employment, friendships, a supportive family and to be judged fairly.

Bottom line? We are more alike than different. If we spent significant time together then this truth would become selfevident.

A teen with acne in Trenton has similar skin concerns as his counterpart in Hopewell Twp. Peer pressures register similar numbers in suburban and urban environments.

The Trenton High cheerleaders and basketball players honored on “Senior Night” share similar joys and dreams as their Hopewell Valley peers.

Drake, a talented musician with intellect and insight, penned these words in his song called “Fear”. The popoular artist requests honesty and for people to “look (him) in the eyes (and) please don’t be scared of me.”

The question posed to the Hopewell Valley student represented reconnaissance, a search for information about fear, especially as it relates to young people.

Of course, life instruction should include lessons regarding good fear, those gut feelings about danger. A basketball game in Trenton? Not discounting anyone’s feelings about this but it’s difficult to understand.

One should consider Dale Carnegie’s, “If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist.