Did you read that preposterous letter from Mrs. Denise Emma Adam, a young mother in Port, published on Page 18 of the Sept. 9 issue of the Port Washington Times?
She vigorously defends a parent’s right to allow her children to suffer brain concussions, serious injuries, or worse, by participating in sports.
I agree that parents have that right, but I thought that it was also a parent’s obligation to protect their children from harm, especially serious bodily harm, that could adversely affect the child for the rest of his or her life.
I don’t think that Mrs. Adam really understands what a brain concussion is.
A brain concussion is not a momentary unconsciousness. It’s a permanent loss of some brain functions, brought on by repeated blows to the head.
Some boxers, professional football, hockey and soccer players, can tell her all about the aftereffects of repeated blows to the head.
But, be that as it may, I can’t wait until one of Mrs. Adam’s children asks her permission to go sky diving, without a parachute.
Let’s see how gung ho about sports Mrs. Adam is then.
I think that there is a difference between an unusual accident in a sport and a sport designed to inflict injuries.
Very recently, I read a story in Newsday about a young woman who was killed by her horse, during an equestrian competition, either on the Island, or not far away.
Her horse failed to take a jump, she was thrown off of the horse and the horse fell down on top of her, killing her. That was an accident.
Mrs. Adam tells us about a wonderful sport that her 10-year-old son is now participating in, “Taekwondo sparring,” “where maximum points are achieved by kicking your opponent in the head.”
I can’t tell from Mrs. Adam’s letter if she is rooting for her son to kick his opponents absolutely silly or not, or if she is hoping that he won’t be kicked silly, himself.
But, if he is kicked silly by blows to his head, it won’t be by accident. “Sparring”, for a ten year old, just doesn’t sound like good parenting to me, no matter what non-sports benefits Mrs. Adam perceives, in the activity.
Port’s independent schedule of varsity football (five games) is about to begin.
You should keep track of the brain concussions sustained by our players this season, as they happen.
We led the county, with six, last football season.
Will we suffer more, or less, this season?
Joel Katz
Port Washington
