Another reminder came our way this past weekend that as much as we might like to think we are living in an enlightened, post-racial society, bigotry and ignorance persist. That the hateful comments at issue apparently came from young people is more distressing.

It happened under the Friday Night Lights of a high school football game. Few things are more American than these events meant to pull communities together, but at which adults too often lose perspective that it is only a game, played by teens.

The game took place at Plainfield, a rural, predominantly white, working-class community, economically struggling and dotted with mill villages that no longer have mills.

The town played host to New London, an urban, racially and economically mixed seaside community, where high-rise public housing towers stand not far from the affluent homes that line its shore.

Though located only 30 miles apart in a small state, they are much different communities, though sharing in common many families who struggle to get by week to week. Stereotypes persist in each about the other - the country boys up in Plainfield, the tough city-street kids down in New London.

Into this setting, onto that field, came two teams that played an exciting game, the Plainfield kids scoring a couple of late touchdowns to upset the visitors from the city, 21-17.

Then it got ugly, or more accurately, the ugliness continued.

"As New London coaches and players were exiting the field, they were met by a group of Plainfield adults that taunted the players and yelled racial slurs. The Plainfield spectators circled some of our student-athletes and a fight ensued," New London High School Principal William "Tommy" Thompson III would later write to parents, describing the event.

Town police arrested two recent Plainfield graduates and former athletes, Zachary E. Coons, 18, and Teaque A. Carignan, 19, on breach of peace charges. They are banned from future events on school grounds, according to Plainfield police.

Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro, who interviewed players, reports the ugly remarks included "monkeys," the N-word, and "dogs." A white New London player was called an N-word lover, and Whaler players said they were told "to go back to our cages."

The taunting, Plainfield Principal Jim Worth said he learned after the game, had started during the game. How could that have happened? Why didn't other adults intervene by telling the offenders that such behavior was unacceptable? Why weren't police or school officials alerted earlier to put a stop to the misconduct?

Maybe people did not want to get involved. Maybe there was fear of retaliation. Or maybe it was just ignored by some as boys being boys, which is the most troubling conclusion one could reach.

Mr. Worth, to his credit, confronted the incident forthrightly. But he might have been too quick to dismiss it as the result of "a handful of individuals who acted idiotic and inappropriately." The fact that this small group could even think they could act this way and expect those around them to tolerate it suggests that the problem may run deeper.

This could be an important teaching moment. Tolerating racist comments is not far removed from approving of them. Such behavior must be exposed and condemned in every instance.

The lack of post-game security that exposed the New London athletes to this situation is something Plainfield and all high schools in the area need to review. Visiting student-athletes must have the opportunity to return to their buses with their safety assured and without running a gauntlet of angry, taunting miscreants.

Some have criticized the two administrations for cancelling Monday's freshman/sophomore game between the schools at New London. It is unfortunate that because of the terrible actions of a few, the younger players did not get to play, but it was the right call. While most likely nothing would have happened, emotions remained high. Better to play it safe. Plus, it sends the signal this situation was serious.

In terms of race relations, this nation has come a very long way. To complete the journey, all must speak out against the kind of behavior seen in Plainfield last week.