MAGA Hat-Wearing Teen Claims He Was 'Helping To [Defuse] The Situation'
Source: HuffPost
Nick Sandmann, a student from Covington Catholic High School in Kentucky, was seen smugly staring at Nathan Phillips while his peers stared down the vet as he sang the American Indian Movement song on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
While the teens do not approach the group, Phillips eventually appears and quickly becomes surrounded by the students. However, in a statement released Sunday, Sandmann claimed that he had been singled out and felt as though the elder was attempting to provoke the teenagers.
I believed that by remaining motionless and calm, I was helping to [defuse] the situation, Sandmanns statement read. I said a silent prayer that the situation would not get out of hand.
Because we were being loudly attacked and taunted in public, a student in our group asked one of our teacher chaperones for permission to begin our school spirit chants to counter the hateful things that were being shouted at our group, he said. Our chaperone gave us permission to use our school chants. We would not have done that without obtaining permission from the adults in charge of our group.
Read more: https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c452fa7e4b027c3bbc2f869
So "BUILD THE WALL!" and the tomahawk chop is their "school spirit chant"?
And this lying little idiot does realize we have eyes and ears and can watch the video for ourselves, right?
But even more concerning is that they apparently had their chaperons' approval to do their "school chants."
Tobin S.
(10,418 posts)Deny what is obviously true.
sharedvalues
(6,916 posts)I fixed the headline
Eliot Rosewater
(31,097 posts)democratisphere
(17,235 posts)also a liar too!
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)You lay your body over them to protect them as a shield. You use your words to tell aggressors to stop. You don't smirk in the face of the person you are protecting.
Response to forgotmylogin (Reply #65)
geralmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to SunSeeker (Original post)
Post removed
RainCaster
(10,691 posts)Ask his mommy- whose racist rants have caused her employer to take down all mention of her, even though she is a Vice President. Look at the media late Tuesday and I bet you see a newly unemployed MAGA-mommy.
Ask the leaders at his high school, who have shut down all social media as a result of this fine Christ-like action. The interesting question is how well will this Catholic School be able to police their own?
To see his smirking face, gives me an overwhelming urge to smack it. Multiple times. With many different parts of my body. Tae Kwon Do has taught me better than that, however.
Lucky Luciano
(11,242 posts)Ted Cruz
Martin shkreli
Nicholas Sandmann
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)I have this totally impossible bullshit story I hope the Right Wing media will help spin...
NBachers
(17,007 posts)KT2000
(20,544 posts)the family probably contacted "their attorney" right away.
Initech
(99,915 posts)Reasonable Doubter
(14 posts)with his bottle of Jim Beam and Confederate blankie.
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)They're the "Cov-Cath Colonels."
Check out all the Cov-Cath students in full body blackface at the beginning of this video.
On edit, looks like the video was taken down. They're obviously trying to hide who they are.
caraher
(6,276 posts)I didn't see that... are you referring to the Braveheart-themed thing with the blue paint?
I definitely do see a lot of mostly-rich, entitled white boys (soulmates to Squee and the others Kavanaugh lifted weights with and who like beer).
Beartracks
(12,761 posts)I attended a Catholic school. We weren't all rich. But I do recall that most of the buttheads were indeed from the rich families. Granted, not all the rich kids were buttheads... but most of the buttheads were rich.
==========
Cattledog
(5,897 posts)I suspect a few receive grants but most are from well off families.
caraher
(6,276 posts)An alum from the '90s said the demographics have shifted and working class Catholics have been largely shut out
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)See starting at 0.13 when the picture gets a little clearer. It looks like some of the boys dipped their whole body in black paint. Not sure what the point of the blackout chant is. Their school colors are blue and white, so it's not a school color thing. They do have chants where they are in all blue or all white.
yardwork
(61,418 posts)That's blackface.
caraher
(6,276 posts)Yes, there were a couple. From the video I just saw people dressed in black, but a few did paint their faces. Thanks!
PunkinPi
(4,870 posts)yardwork
(61,418 posts)SergeStorms
(18,903 posts)that's an institution for creating like-minded automatons who will do anything, on command, for the glorification of some sick pseudo-religious zealots. Since when is intimidation a christian value? That's all that video is, a bunch of pre-programmed adolescents trying to intimidate others! But they weren't attempting to intimidate the Native Americans, right? Bullshit!
Anon-C
(3,430 posts)pnwmom
(108,925 posts)didn't seem to think so. And she was standing right there, in the middle of everything.
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)dalton99a
(81,073 posts)lamsmy
(155 posts)If you watch the entire video it is clear that the young man in question was approached by Nathan Phillips and not the other way round. While the still photos capture a smirk, most of the time Nick Sandmann appears a little uncomfortable. I think it pretty reasonable for a young man to have felt a little cornered - his classmates were jeering and egging him on and Phillip's clearly wanted his attention.
I just dont think all the blame should be placed on one kids' shoulders.
To me 3 things went wrong here. The chaperones utterly failed in their duties. To have allowed the students to chant school songs over the indigenous elders was disgraceful. This was a planned demonstration for which Nathan and his people had obtained permission. The taunting and chanting of the legitimate demonstration by the students was reprehensible. If a chaperone did indeed give permission, that person should be fired immediately.
Even if no permission was given to start chanting, the boys were clearly out of control and being completely disrespectful. An adult should have never let it escalate to this point. The entire group should have been guidance BEFORE the trip that Washington is full of diverse peoples expressing their very diverse views and if the young men found themselves in disagreement with anyone to the point of discomfort the appropriate response is to simply walk away.
Secondly, peer pressure clearly got to the kid. I wish he had simply walked away, but on camera, with your classmates hounding you on, it's perhaps understandable that he didn't know what to do.
And finally, the boy's mother made things much much worse. If she had merely issued a simple statement of love and support for her son, and expressed a desire to find out how this all came about, she would probably have garnered far more sympathy and by association, her son as well.
So while this whole incident has been ugly, I do think it very unfair to pin it all on one young man who was so clearly failed by his supervisors, his friends, and his mother.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)That tells me pretty much all I need to know about the kid and his peers.
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)"I said a silent prayer that the situation would not get out of hand."
Link to tweet
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Praying, my ass.
Cattledog
(5,897 posts)SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)It was Nathan, not Nick, who was trying to defuse the situation. I watched the full video, including the one shot by the Black Isrealites, who were also insulting the Native Americans. Please stop spamming DU with that right wing lie that Nathan approached the boy. It was the other way around. Nick moved left and right to stay in Nathan's face.
And sure, Nick was egged on by his racist buddies and failed by his chaperons, but that does not excuse the lying now. This statement he issued was not done in the heat of being egged on by his buddies. He lied when he said he was "silently praying" and "trying to defuse the situation." He was mockingly smirking at an elder and staying in his face. He should just apologize and move on. But he won't. And posts like yours don't help matters.
lamsmy
(155 posts)I was appalled when I first saw the headlines and photos. And you are 100% correct. He should have apologised immediately and unconditionally. Peer pressure is no excuse. That he and his parents don't understand this is disturbing to say the least.
If you watch the whole video however, there are moments when I think he clearly looks uncomfortable. He found himself the centre of unwanted attention and did not know what to do. That his upbringing and education did not teach him how to act with respect towards people encountered in the wider world his extremely disturbing. Maybe he's just stupid.
But the original post talks almost entirely about the actions of this one young man and I think that's a little unfair. The chaperones let the unruly group behaviour continue for over an hour. On no planet was the boys' behaviour acceptable and yet at no point did an adult step in to shut it down.
We EXPECT young guys to be dumb from time to time. But it is completely unacceptable that the adults supervisors did not do their job. It is completely unacceptable that a school can send young men out into the public arena so dismally prepared to act reasonably and with respect. And THAT should be the main focus of people's understandable anger and disgust, not one dumb kid.
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)He went from being a disrespectful bigot in the eyes of the world, to being a lying disrespectful bigot in the eyes of the world. No one believes he was "praying."
If he had just apologized and said he got caught up in the moment and showed poor judgment, people would have been a little more forgiving. But he didn't. Instead he spun lies and suggested Nathan was the aggressor. Not cool.
We are in agreement that the adults in his life failed him. And continue to fail him. That is pretty obvious. Hence, it is not "unfair" of the original articles not to mention the chaperons' failure to stop the boys from being jackasses.
Nor is it unfair for the original stories to not mention the four Black Israelites who were ranting off to the side in that free speech area. Sure they were saying hateful shit, but they weren't accosting anyone or physically getting in anyone's face. They were just spouting their hateful drivel at their little table setup. There are always nuts ranting on the Mall. That does not give anyone license to be disrespectful to others or to get into someone's face.
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)llmart
(15,501 posts)Really? I raised a son and I didn't expect him to be "DUMB" from time to time. What I expected was for him to be an upstanding citizen and to treat others as he would wish to be treated. I knew I had done my job well when at the end of the year awards ceremony before he graduated from high school he was awarded the Most Outstanding Senior award for scholarship, leadership and citizenship. This was out of a class of more than 700 students.
There were lessons I taught him from the time he was little that stayed with him for life. Fighting is NOT acceptable. Hate of anyone is not acceptable. And the most important of all was "you are a white male born into a very comfortable life, so it is incumbent upon you to have empathy for those less fortunate than you."
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)There's a difference.
We should NEVER expect our boys to be evil.
stonecutter357
(12,682 posts)That's completely unfair. At no time did I defend the actions of the group from Covington. They clearly have no respect for freedom of speech, the native peoples, or veterans. Their actions were a disgraceful display of ignorance and intolerance.
But the original post focused almost entirely on the actions of that one young man. This seems to miss the wider problems of peer pressure among young men and toxic environments at school and home. And it was this original post to which I was directly responding.
The dems are supposed to be the ones willing to listen to the voices and perspectives of others. And for the record, I hate those MAGA hats and yes, think Trump voters are idiots, but they have the right to wear them if they want.
Slamming people who you may disagree with as a POS is exactly how Trump supporters behave.
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)The other boys let Nathan pass, but not Nick. You can see Nick in the back and come forward so that he is right in front of Nathan as Nathan tries to move through the crowd. Then Nick just stands there with that smirk on his face. Nick could have moved back since there was plenty of space behind him (see at 0:45 in the below video). But he wouldn't. He clearly thought he was being clever, standing his ground.
Then all the boys closed in around Nick and Nathan, and at that point no one could move. The boys were doing the tomahawk chop, mockingly mimicking Nathan's singing and shouting "Build the Wall." That's when it got scary for Nathan and his group, they were really outnumbered and the kids looked like they were getting out of control.
It's all in this video:
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)Did someone tell Nathan to brush his teeth @ 1:42? "go brush your teeth"
2:05 kids chanting What what wut like its a wwe spectacle
Botany
(70,291 posts)Me thinks thou doth protest too much.
"If you watch the entire video it is clear that the young man in question was approached by Nathan
Phillips and not the other way round."
lamsmy
(155 posts)That's all I'm asking.
Botany
(70,291 posts)dustyscamp
(2,221 posts)1. Chaperones/Teachers/Parents
2. Black Israelites
3. Maga Cheerleaders
4. Smiling kid
5. Native American guy who said "Go back to Europe"
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)mjvpi
(1,384 posts)Granted, the culture that is that school(go to their web page and watch the you tube videos that their school has posted about the student body) promotes mob mentality. Id bet that kid is a peer leader. I beleave he singled himself out. He could have simply turned around and walked quickly away if he felt threatened. Many adults at that school should be held accountable.
He should have walked away. That he did not do that doesn't speak well to his intellect or self esteem. But we don't allow under 18s to vote or drink because they often make poor decisions.
However, the original post focused almost entirely on the actions of one young man while ignoring the wider context. I am not defending his actions. He was wrong. But they had chaperones for a reason, and those supposed adults should have shut this down before this young man became the subject of international shaming.
pazzyanne
(6,518 posts)when he was front and center? I have worked as a behavior analyst and the smirk on that kid's face and his body posture were such that he was trying to provoke a response from Mr. Phillips. There was no prayer there! I also watched the entire video. In fact I spent the majority of my time Sunday viewing all videos I could find on the event. The kid did just did not walk away, he positioned himself right in front of Mr. Phillips. I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the situation. I do agree that the chaperones were MIA when they were most needed. There was not one indication in all of the videos that I watched that indicated adult supervision.
catbyte
(34,174 posts)were about to get into it with the Black Israelites and Phillips was the one who was actually attempting to diffuse the situation. Then the little MAGAt turned on the peacemaker, which is usually the way with cowards. He is equally to blame, right along with his fellow little MAGAts and their vile chaperones.
Cattledog
(5,897 posts)obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)You did NOT watch the entire video -- I did, and what you state is a falsehood.
JUST STOP WITH THE RW ASTROTURFING
Just like Sandmann's statement, the video actually proves you wrong.
yardwork
(61,418 posts)For more on this school's culture, this photo is illuminating.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211703300
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)Its not a smirky photo caught in an instance. Not an alleged cheer. Not who approached who for what reason.
All moments caught. But that hat.....
Every shot, every smirk, every uncomfortable moment that hat was there. Big red and showy. Thats the 1000 words. Not a moment caught on film.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,539 posts)It would be revealing to see what he really thinks about the world around him. I don't think we should judge the little white privilege shithead until we know more about him.
Response to LastLiberal in PalmSprings (Reply #17)
dalton99a This message was self-deleted by its author.
catbyte
(34,174 posts)invading another person's space all the while smirking smugly. He and his shitty parents must think the rest of us are as stupid, ignorant, bigoted, and gullible as their fellow MAGAts.
Beartracks
(12,761 posts)daboston
(1 post)This episode has been particularly effective in confirming the way the rest of the world sees the trumpeteers - both the elite supporters like the students at a very expensive, supposedly christian, prep school with their shabby, hypocritical parents and the thugs to whom their simplified, neo-fascist slogans appeal.
America never has been loved by the rest of the world, and this sort the exposure of domestic dirty linen brings a degree of satisfaction to her detractors and outright enemies.
The winner here, hands down, is Nathan Philips; the loser is the whole system which chose Trump to lead it.
Rhiannon12866
(203,024 posts)You sure won't get any argument here - those of us here (and most everyone I know) continues to be horrified by the unprecedented and lawless actions of this rogue administration on a daily basis. The fact that there continue to be those in this country who still support Trump and his bigoted cronies totally boggle the mind, but this last election proves that things are changing rapidly - and we're all hoping that his days in office are numbered. Hope you hang in here with us!
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)MBS
(9,688 posts)for not trying to stop Nick or the other students, for not providing the general moral guidance (and just plain supervision) that would have discouraged the students from acting this way in the first place.
elias7
(3,976 posts)The current narrative is not correct.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)people decreeing that others, most of whom HAVE watched the video, should watch the video because they are not correct.
But then they never say how they are incorrect.
Tell us where you think the narrative is incorrect, or we will have to assume you did not watch the video.
janterry
(4,429 posts)what others are doing - even with video - especially when what we get are small snippets. I agree, people need to watch the whole thing. I also think it would be nice for this young man and perhaps a group of them to meet with Nathan Phillips (if he is in agreement - and they are looking for conciliation).
I think there is a way forward that includes some level of compassion. Sadly, it does not look like that is where we are headed.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)think they taught Mr. Phillips a lesson and they are extremely proud of themselves.
yardwork
(61,418 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Squinch
(50,774 posts)question that I will now ask you for the fifth time:
yardwork
(61,418 posts)I've responded numerous times to this poster's repeated assertions and crickets.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)told him they have watched the video.
yardwork
(61,418 posts)Squinch
(50,774 posts)Bengus81
(6,907 posts)Let me guess...AFRAID of getting his ass kicked,and kicked HARD so he goes and gets in the face of Phillips and now plays the victim card.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)praying, for God's sake!
CagingRain
(6 posts)I was listening to Mark Thompson (Make It Plain) this morning and he reported that MAGA kid did. It was the first I heard of it and he said they were waiting for video to show it.
elias7
(3,976 posts)The initial narrative was based on a 3 minute segment of what appeared to be some arrogant MAGA hat wearing high school douchebag getting in the face of a peacefully chanting Native American, ridiculing and mocking him, while his friends in the background laughed like entitled hyenas.
I was happy to believe this because I wanted this to be what happened. But thats not what happened.
I read his mothers statement said that Nathan Phillips got into her sons face. I thought, bullshit, the apple doesnt fall far from the tree, but then I watched a longer vid that showed Nathan Phillips, leading a train of chanting Native Americans, changing his course and turning right into that kids face, stopping, and doing exactly what the mom said.
I saw the kid in a different light, smiling out of discomfort, fear, uncertain of what to do.
A moment later, I heard a nearby Native American arguing with one of the Catholic school students about whod been in the country longer, and it was that kid - the great villain we all despised first thing in the morning, who turned and told his buddy not to argue.
I read his statement about how he found himself in an uncomfortable position with the Black Israelites shouting menacing words at him and his moronic MAGA hat wearing fellow students, but they didnt get it. They asked their chaperones if they could do their positive school chants to combat the anger they were receiving. So they start chanting their school cheers. No a single build that wall is heard ever on that video. This was followed by Nathan Phillips leading his group into the middle of the melee. At no point did a group of high school kids surround him or threaten him.
I could go on, but I mistakenly assumed folks here on DU would give a fellow lifelong Democrat the basic respect of looking in to what I and some others have suggested before arrogantly shutting us down (pretty much as we all accused the MAGA of doing). Are we any better if we cant show each other that we have the openness of mind to at least acknowledge the original narrative was not in fact honest or as we thought? I would have thought me stating that people should actually watch the video should be enough to pique the curiosity of an open progressive mind, but if youd rather disrespect an ally without process, so be it. Maybe the Democratic Party is moving away from me.
Yes, I think those kids may be arrogant and entitled and from backgrounds that go against everything I believe in, but the initial narrative that got everyone up in arms is bullshit, IMO.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)here the respect of assuming they were just as well informed as you were. Most of us DID watch the video. And what I saw in it bears no resemblance to what you are describing.
"At no point did the group of high school students surround him and threaten him"? That's just flat out wrong. Maybe YOU need to watch the video again. And the other video that others have suggested YOU watch that was taken from INSIDE the circle after the mob very much DID surround Phillips in a completely threatening manner.
dustyscamp
(2,221 posts)With the covington boy and a Native American marcher arguing? Could I get a timestamp of it too please.
I'm sorry others here are thinking you're a RW troll defending these boys. We Dems should know and be better than that. It is just helping the Right. I agree the initial narrative was wrong, but for me the only ones innocent here are Nathan and his group so far.
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)Stop carrying RW narrative water.
elias7
(3,976 posts)I thought the hallmark of a liberal was that the mind was open for changing its judgment with more information. If you watch the video in full, the initial narrative of the MAGA hat wearing white high schooler getting in the face of a peace loving singing Native American is just not what happened. Sorry if you think Im carrying RW water. You should respect my openness to see it another way once I actually looked into it. At least I have the independence of thought to change my opinion when facts dont jive with the narrative.
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)to write this lie, and it is a lie, because video shows the opposite. The left once again takes the high road of not shaming the parents and the boy by name, and taht gives them time to astroturf and change teh narrative, including an infestation on DU, FB, twitter, etc.
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)Vinca
(50,170 posts)See if the college admissions board views it as "help." See if an employer offering a great job views it as "help." Mommy and Daddy can't make the eternity of the Internet go away.
VWolf
(3,944 posts)This kid has it made - Liberty University, followed by a cushy gig on Fox News. All by playing the victim card. Sad but true.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)students what a fall from fame.
wroberts189
(4,105 posts)llmart
(15,501 posts)What a snot-nosed, little punk who thinks we're all stupid and can be manipulated by his lies and rationalizations for his awful behavior.
Javaman
(62,442 posts)world wide wally
(21,719 posts)Sandman was just the biggest asshole
turbinetree
(24,632 posts)I wonder if this Catholic School mentions MANIFEST DESTINY as some fucking right in there curriculum................or how about how the Indigenous were sent to Carlisle PA to be re-indoctrinate into the christian white man values..................so kid you can go fuck yourself.....................my Native relatives (Tsalagi) didn't appreciate having to be forcibly marched out west, so that some assholes could take the land in Georgia and North Carolina by showing some piece of paper that said that it was sold to them.................and then having a president just outright show is contempt to the Cherokee by is action of genocide......................................so in your tradition, I will say to again...................go fuck yourself and your "school" can go fuck themselves......................
Your a fucking bigot, ...................little asshole............
yardwork
(61,418 posts)Instead of moving the kids away or telling them not to engage, an adult stood passively and filmed the whole thing.
ret5hd
(20,435 posts)yardwork
(61,418 posts)I don't know but it's possible that the school hoped to instigate an example of black people attacking white kids.
Smackdown2019
(1,169 posts)When impeachment ends and the world learns of this disgraced con-man that stolen an election, those that bear the devil mark upon their foreheads will be always known as a trumper! Weak, gullible, uneducated and are followers are the characteristics they bear. What is sad, what a post-trump will be like with those red hat suckers!
Yeehah
(4,524 posts)I'd punch him in his ugly face!
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)TNNurse
(6,911 posts)Yeah sure. If you think the look on that boy's face was respect or concern, you are sadly mistaken.
Response to SunSeeker (Original post)
geralmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)But they don't add any further footage of the interaction between Nick and Nathan. Which is odd because so many of those boys were videotaping with their phones.
Basically, it is a wave of Whataboutism. They are pointing at the offensive statements by the Black Israelites and saying it justifies what the boys did.
So far, the only video that Ive seen that actually shows how the two ended up facing each other is this one, and it shows Nick was mockingly sneering, moved forward and then would not let Nathan pass:
Squinch
(50,774 posts)tells them they have become an ugly mob has been taken down.
Hassler
(3,326 posts)SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)Response to Hassler (Reply #101)
geralmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
Snellius
(6,881 posts)Wipe that smirk off a face? Maybe it can.
bobGandolf
(871 posts)I do not see hs kids running out to buy those hats. Follow the hats!
This whole thing smells of a setup.