What's the Matter with Mitt?

Now most of us would not like to be judged as adults by how we behaved in high school. There are moments many of us would choose to forget.

However, for some, those moments are still seared into the memory, an instant replay to make us feel awkward, uncomfortable or sad.

Mitt Romney is now facing allegations about his high school behaviour; how he would shout out 'atta girl' when a 'closeted gay student' answered in class, or how he walked a blind teacher into a door, 'laughing hysterically' at the outcome according to the Washington Post.

But then there is also an alleged attack on John Lauber.

According to the Post, Romney was incensed when Lauber turned up one day with dyed blonde hair. A group, led by Romney, is then said to have pinned him to the ground. Despite the screams for help and the tears in his eyes, Romney then cut his hair with a pair of scissors.

Some of the boys involved described the victim as 'terrified', another told the newspaper it was 'vicious'.

The Republican Presidential candidate has spent the last few days defending himself from allegations of bullying.

He insisted he couldn't remember the incident, although for many of those involved, it is something that remains very vivid even 40 years later.

This is what he told Fox Radio: "Back in high school, you know, I, I did some dumb things. And if anybody was hurt by that or offended, obviously I apologise.

 --Alan Fisher alJazeera

Oh, obviously. (And not that it was hurtoffensive, mind you.)

There’s been a lot going on in his life. However it's hard to believe such a moment, which had such an impact on another human being, would somehow melt into the past.

It's hard to believe he cannot picture the face of a terrified young boy who was screaming for help.

[...]

To chuckle when asked about the incident seems to underline the lack of understanding of the hurt caused.

I disagree with that last sentence. To look puzzled would indicate a lack of understanding. To chuckle indicates an understanding plus a sick appreciation of the hurt.

We are not the people we were in high school. And for that I am grateful.

  Kids do stupid things. And if we were to bar politicians from office on the basis of the things they did when they were younger, there would be very few people around to run the country.

Romney has been capable of great charity and great change and I'm sure as a grandfather he is not the same person that led the assault on a terrified young man.

Perhaps he now has the capacity to acknowledge he did wrong and properly address the mistake he made.

Perhaps if someone will write the speech for him and can convince him it's a necessary step if he wants to win votes.

One former classmate and old friend of Romney’s – who refused to be identified by name – said there are “a lot of guys” who went to Cranbrook who have “really negative memories” of Romney’s behavior in the dorms, behavior this classmate describes as “like Lord of the Flies.”

The classmate believes Romney is lying when he claims to not remember it.

“It makes these fellows [who have owned up to it] very remorseful.  For [Romney] not to remember it? It doesn’t ring true.  How could the fellow with the scissors forget it?” the former classmate said.

  ABC

UPDATE:  On bullying and remembering