A Lack of Dignity Taints a Poignant Moment at Fenway Park

Since our nation's latest day of infamy, 15 April 2013, we have mourned and wept with the good people of the Boston area and celebrated the resilience and strength of its extraordinary people in the face of terrorism.  In a show of support and solidarity, and to the chagrin of many Pittsburgh fans, my wife and I wore Red Sox jerseys to a game this weekend at PNC Park in which our beloved Pirates played.

Major League Baseball helped in the healing process with a moving pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park on the day that baseball there resumed, festivities which left those present and those viewing at home overcome with emotion.

The event was marred by superstar David 'Big Papi' Ortiz when he said, "This is our (expletive) city". 

No one can deny the outpouring of emotion and release appropriate for Boston after a week of mayhem and indescribable misery and outrage, but none of it justifies the lack of dignity and respect for his audience displayed by Ortiz, in front of countless impressionable young children at a day game, no less. Did Ortiz not give some thought to what he was going to say in advance and does he not know better than to say what he did anywhere other than in the locker room, if at all?  If we have stooped so low that such behavior is understood and accepted, then heaven help us.