Erie News Now

‘Appalling’ Photo Of Border Patrol Team Costumes At Golf Tournament Sparks Outcry

The term 'politically correct' has become synonymous in some circles with being overly sensitive.

Whether you see political correctness as polite, necessary, or outrageous, most of us can agree that there is definitely such a thing as taking a joke about a sensitive issue way too far.

I find that there tends to be a bit of a hypocrisy with bigoted people. Like sure, no problem with making fun of the systematic imprisonment and mistreatment of immigrant children, but make Princess Ariel black? Unacceptable.

If you aren't keeping up, thousands of children are currently being kept in 'containment faculties' at the American border.

Instagram | @nyc_drifter

Recent reports of the conditions at these locations include children in cages without access to blankets, medicine, or clean drinking water.

You can be against illegal immigration all you'd like—you have a legal right to your opinion. However, we can at least agree that treating any human children like this is not physically, emotionally, morally, or ethically okay.

One group of friends from Pennsylvania thought otherwise.

Instagram | @laprovidancecountryclub

At a golf tournament for Pennsylvania county’s chamber of commerce, a team of four women decided that they would take the opportunity to poke fun at the situation at the border through their costume choice.

They dressed up as border patrol agents, while their caddy was labeled an undocumented immigrant.

Erie News Now

Each woman wore a black shirt and hat with with the words "border patrol" on it as they drove a golf cart decorated as the U.S. Mexico border wall.

Pretty insensitive if you ask me.

The group photo was posted by the Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, and received a host of angry comments calling the outfits "offensive," "appalling," and "despicable."

"This was a completely appalling show of racism and lack of any human compassion by ‘professionals’ in our community."

Instagram | @richard.draper65

The wildest part is the the team was actually presented with an award at the tournament for best costume.

Shortly after the photo was posted, the Meadville chamber of commerce released a statement.

Instagram | @padlingafoot

"Members of the Meadville Chamber of Commerce Executive team met to discuss the fact that some people may have been offended by one of the costumes worn at our recent Women's Golf Outing," the post reads.

"We did not intend to cause any harm or to be insensitive in any way."

"We sincerely apologize," the post continued, "And are sorry the costumes caused unintended offense."

Unfortunately, the apology wasn't taken very well.

One user wrote "You are not sorry this team at your event denigrated human beings. You are sorry people are calling you out on it. Despicable!"

"People dressed as Border Patrol with an immigrant in handcuffs. That was appalling!" another user wrote, "The fact that they won the contest (even though these costumes had nothing to do with the theme "fiesta!"), that was appalling."

"Seeing this in my news feed right next to photos of children stolen from their parents, sick and neglected, in American internment camps, that was appalling."

Instagram | @luddmatson

"That was a flat-out statement or insult to everyone of Hispanic heritage by saying that you all are illegal aliens or trying to jump the border," another comment read, "Whether it was meant to be funny or make a statement, it doesn’t matter — it was was a bad move, and a dumb move."

Needless to saw, the chamber of commerce is in some hot water.

What's that one saying? You reap what you sow? Hmm, might be applicable here.

h/t: Yahoo Lifestyle