Should responsible students be accountable for others' actions?

I would like to applaud Sisters High School ASG student leaders Miss Corrigan, Miss Saunders, their parents and leadership advisor, Michele Hammer for stepping up and offering to do the right thing by those who were affected by the recent spree of vandalism in our community. For the most part, the students who are involved in the leadership program are not the ones who would participate in this kind of activity, but will be the ones to clean up the mess.

They are willing to be accountable for others' actions, so that the "stink" of destruction of property doesn't permeate the entire Sisters High School student body. Is this a generous act? Yes. Is it the right thing to do? Probably. Will the perpetrators learn a lesson? Unfortunately, no, not unless they are held accountable for their actions.

Recently I was in town at lunchtime with a colleague, who is a Sisters High School graduate. We stopped to get lunch at a restaurant frequented by students and observed a group of young men also eating their lunches. Two of the patrons had purchased what appeared to be a full meal (including chips and drinks), the others only sandwiches and complimentary water cups - which were filled with SODA ... keep in mind that these cups are provided, free of charge, by the establishment for those who choose to, for whatever reason, (financial, health or personal preference) drink water in lieu of soda.

Yet, these shrewd individuals decided to brazenly fill their cups, intended for water only, with soda. This is stealing. Yes, it is "only" soda, but still it was not paid for and taken without permission of the owner. An owner who generously supports the youth of our community, someone we ask to support our sports and art programs repeatedly throughout each school year.

There were other members of the community in the restaurant that day, and these students, who whether they intend to be or not, are the face of Sisters High School, doing the wrong thing.

I did question one of the young men - as he was refilling his water cup with soda before heading back to school - as to whether he had paid for the beverage he held in his hand ... he did not lie, he had the decency to say "no," and I asked him to pour it out, which he did.

Maybe it wasn't my place to say anything to him - or was it?

Should the ASG members go to this restaurant and pay the owner for the stolen beverages? Think about it ... how many times should someone have to right the wrongs of those unwilling to play by the rules? No one would think twice about applauding the good works of the leadership group, but we are hard-pressed to call attention to those that are flagrantly disobeying the rules of decent society. We are quick to worry about how asking someone to pick up after themselves might make him or her feel.

Consider this: How does it make you feel when you do the RIGHT thing?

In closing, I want to reiterate my gratitude in the students at Sisters High School who are doing the right thing, and to their parents for instilling integrity and accountability in their children.

Craig May has been a resident of the Sisters community for 16 years