My children are now adults, so I do not know any of the young people involved in the recent fight that broke out while camping at Thompson Road. However, as a parent and former teacher, I do have some thoughts regarding this incident.

I have to question the role of a “social group” of former students calling themselves “The WolfPac”, or any other name. If this group is made up solely of former athletes (and their friends), does that make it more acceptable, or any different than one made up of some other groups of individuals? Comparatively, if the group consists of high school dropouts, or computer fanatics, are they more likely to be considered a “gang” rather than a “social group”?

It seems to me that the adults at our schools and in our community are making judgment calls on the basis of semantics, and who these young people are, rather than on what makes up a “gang.” Acts of intimidation, threats, and fighting say “gang” to me, whether or not they wear purple colors, or red and black checks, have tattoos, or wear specific jewelry. I think that any form of group intimidation raises a red flag.

Therefore, I suggest that there are different kinds of gangs. There are the obvious ones made up of people involved in drugs and various crimes, with their specific colors and insignia. But, is a group of middle class former athletes who decide to attack another group of young people in the middle of night as they are sleeping a wholesome gathering of young people doing something good for our community? Not hardly.

They are acting like thugs in the night. In my humble opinion, a group of thugs is also a “gang,” even if they once played football on Friday nights at our high schools. Perhaps one might refer to them as “white collar gangs.”

What if their attack had gone a step further, and the young man who was injured had died, as a couple of students have in the last year in the Atlanta area? Would these members of a “social club” then be considered a malignant force? To me, if a group looks like “wolves,” acts like “wolves,” communicates like “wolves,” most likely they are wolves!

We need to take off the rose-colored glasses and get a better view of this incident. For, even if this victim is friends with a group known as the “Rollin Cracka Five” who had posted to the Internet earlier in the year, is his attack no less vicious and violent? Should he not expect protection from thugs in the night? Does it make it okay for this “social club” to sneak up on him and beat him while he's sleeping? Is it okay that he has been intimidated and bullied for a period of time while at school?

I don't know what others call this so-called social club, but I call it a gang of thugs, and their behavior is unacceptable, whether here or in inner-city Atlanta. A wolf is still a wolf, even if in sheep's clothing.

G. H. Lohmann
Peachtree City

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