Perhaps that's because bribes, beyond Tips to waiters & taxi drivers, are not very prevalent in American society. What if you'd grown up in India, China, or Indonesia where small bribes to you your job are a fact of every day life. Would you ever learn that they're "wrong" if they're culturally accepted?
I understand what you're getting at, but he lives in the US, and as far as I know grew up here. It'd be nice to learn more about exactly what happened before making judgement, but if he really demanded an unsolicited bribe I don't think his age really excuses it.
