Not That Bad?

School rivalries can get pretty intense during high school football season, but the actions of a disorderly few at a recent game on Plainfield's home field against New London High were totally shameful.   Racial epithets were hurled by Plainfield residents against visiting New London players.    News of this very public incident spread quickly.   I noticed in an online social forum that many felt the need to come to the defense of Plainfield, maintaining that most townsfolk are not racist and that the media were blowing things out of proportion.   There was the attitude that the incident inaccurately painted the whole town with a broad brush.   If Plainfield consists of an inordinate amount of racists, we don't know that as a fact.   On the other hand, minimizing this loud display of racial hatred can be close to sanctioning it.   The town leaders in Plainfield came forward and did the right thing with an apology to those offended from New London.   This and other corrective action not only serve to enhance Plainfield's image; they serve notice that it's time for everyone to move forward.   Playing defense claiming the incident was "not that bad" is almost as unacceptable as the behavior at the game.