A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox’s mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them…
On the 4th of July, 2024, Las Cruces Digest published an editorial piece announcing the top-in-state ranking of Arrowhead Park Early College High School (APECHS). The Digest had expanded to Facebook only a few weeks prior. The post quickly became the most shared and discussed article published by The Digest since its creation in January.
Some of the comments made were negative or just silly. As Taylor Swift sings, “haters gonna hate.” A few comments danced on the line separating inflammatory from dangerously libelous. In response, one user commented: “Why can’t Las Cruces just congratulate Arrowhead?” This article addresses that question directly.
Sour Grapes
We often hear the term, sour grapes, but time has washed away the fable from where the term comes. This version of “The Fox and the Grapes” is copied from the Library of Congress who posted a web-friendly version of a collection originally published in the book “The Aesop for Children: with Pictures by Milo Winter,” published by Rand, McNally & Co in 1919. The image, above, is Milo Winter’s work as published in the original text.
Aesop’s fables are renowned for their morals–little lessons hidden in each story. The moral to “The Fox and the Grapes” is:
“There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.”
This is the reason for most, if not all, of the negative comments, and in most cases, those posting the negative comments tell us what is beyond their reach. In some cases, students who applied were not accepted. In some cases, a school without athletics or fine arts put studying at APECHS beyond their reach. Maybe those who post negative comments are at a place in their lives where they find recognition beyond their reach. Some people make wildly inflammatory statements to steal the attention they feel they deserve.
No amount of prayer, or luck will provide everything desired by everyone. It is often too much to expect to even get what we have earned. There are things that remain out of reach, and I wish it wasn’t so–but it is.
What is most overlooked in all of this is how APECHS being recognized for its achievements sheds a positive light on our entire community. Every local high school must now be considered in terms of how it might top the list next. Never before has a school from Las Cruces earned such recognition. Until a few weeks ago, our broader community was a footnote to Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Los Alamos. That cannot be said, anymore.
What is most apparent is how APECHS (and the accomplishments of its students, staff and teachers) remains beyond the reach of those who would attempt to belittle it. Regardless of what is said, APECHS is still the top public school in New Mexico, and our entire community is better for it.
How to Read Negative Facebook Comments:
observation
Negative comments tell us more about those who post them than who or what they “pretend to despise and belittle.”
This post was written by Levi Gwaltney, Editor, Las Cruces Digest. The opinions expressed here directly reflect and represent the editorial position of this website.
And, now, back to our story…
…The bunch [of grapes] hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.
Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.
“What a fool I am,” he said. “Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for.”
And off he walked very, very scornfully.
There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.
~Aesop
