Let's make one thing clear. This has nothing to do with politics. In fact, I'm fairly certain I sit on the opposite side of Governor Brownback from Kansas on most everything.
It's about respect.
It's about parenting.
It's about knowing your place.
It's NOT about freedom of speech.
The local teen, Emma Sullivan, who has recently made headlines for her juvenile (and rightly so, she is only 18) tweet while visiting Governor Brownback is wrong. Her school officials are wrong. Her parents are wrong.
Yes, people should get to say what they want. No, we shouldn't stifle it because we disagree. HOWEVER...............
There comes a time and place when we should exercise this right respectfully. "He sucks" and "he blows a lot" is not a respectful or intelligent way to express your freedom of speech. It's not insightful, and it's downright rude when you've been welcomed into his place of employment for an educational and informational gathering. As a student. Which means, in my eyes, as a child.
Since when did parents stop making their children apologize to other adults when they've been rude to them?
We've become so ingrained as a society to ALLOW and GIVE that we're failing an entire generation of kids. They have no concept of a society having roles and structure and respect. It's about them, it's about now, and it's definitely NOT about understanding a time and place for everything. To them, the time and the place is all about them.
I'm disappointed. Maybe I'm the one overreacting. But isn't it time some of us did? For the RIGHT reasons?
11 comments:
Amen! I've noticed that the internet allows people to say things they would never say to someone's face...which I don't think is a good thing!
I am with you. No, it's NOT about politics. YES, it IS about the fact that we have a whole generation of kids who believe that they can say whatever they want to whomever they want whenever they want (i.e., now) and there are no repercussions. Free speech or no...your words have meaning and power somewhere...what that does for you depends on how you use them, IMO.
Don't think lots of people will remember that girl when she starts looking for job. Well, maybe someone will "forgive" the immaturity at some point...I mean, hey, we all did stupid things when we were 18... but what she has done will have an effect, intended or not.
The fact that she's "not sorry" for what she did is quite telling. and yes, it reflects on her upbringing...meaning her parents. Stuff like this just makes me shake my head.
She may be "not sorry" for what she did right now, but there could be a time in the future that she is. Now that she has lots of followers on Twitter...if she keeps up the boneheaded-ness, perhaps we'll have our very own KC version of Lindsay lohan or something.
Wow, this post is right on!
Entitlement is a major problem for the youth of today. They think they are entitled to EVERYTHING... material things, speech, etc.
As teachers, we talk about this DAILY. These kids don't get that there are rules and they must follow them. They should not be allowed to do whatever they want, even if they are allowed to at home.
I'm not sure where this has all come from. I think parents need a tighter grip on their kids, but I think it is societal too. If something bad happens, we sue people. I saw a headline today that was something about a guy who sued the couple that HE kidnapped. What???
If McDonald's coffee is hot and we spill it on ourselves, we can sue them and win. What happened to things just being an accident? Do you really think McDonald's wanted to scald people with their coffee?
Kids these days follow the same pattern as society. We tell a kid they can't go to the bathroom right now in class, and they tell their parents. The next thing we know they come in with a doctor's note saying they have a bladder issue and can go whenever they want.
I gotta agree with you and what everyone else is saying.
It boils down to manners, no matter how silly that might sound.
Just because you CAN do/say something, doesn't mean you SHOULD.
She could have worded things better.
Her parents should be ashamed. Totally embarrassed.
Not having any children - I feel this isn't my place to speak.
I do however, wonder why the taxpayers of Kansas are paying for the Governor's staffers that were for some reason "monitoring" the Internet for things like this - instead of any "real job" they may or may not have?
IG - if you think the governor and staffers of your state aren't monitoring what people say about them on Twitter/FB, then I think that's kind of a naive perspective. Just sayin'. I am sure our Prez has people monitoring, it, too. it's just what people do. whether we should or should not have people on the staffs of our elected officials monitoring the internet...they do it. Most would think they'd be remiss not to do it.
Sis, I have to disagree with you on this one. While I do think many people don't think about what they say or write on facebook or twitter, she still had the right to say it. I get mad at the fact that the governor's office reported her and her principal originally said she had to apologize. You don't have to apologize for speaking your opinion.
Of course I also make a living with the 1st amendment - freedom of the press - so maybe we're on opposite ends of this one, but you're right when parents do need to control and teach their kids, unfortunately it's hard to do with today's social media.
Wow talk about something that just went over the top! I don't think this is a freedom of speech issue -call me old fashioned ( wait I'm not calling you old fashioned necessarily) but I agree -there's a right and a wrong way and place of stating your opinion. The principal bit was rather extreme and the student's and her parents' response not unexpected. But the case does reflect a basic disrespect in today's young people. There was a similar case here in Canada where a young page held a simple protest sign up, while on duty. During a government session, for a government, while she opposed, who had chosen her for this special duty. Talk about biting the hand that feeds. She was let go of course but some call her a hero. Go figure.
AMEN - you said exactly what I have a pet peeve about! Parents not parenting or taking the easy road and our freedoms being taken away. The school systems and government stepping in in one form or another and taking them away. And we just look the other way. This topic could go in many directions, so I'll end here - but AMEN for saying it!
Michelle - my point is these people are paid to be doing public service work for the taxpayer, not ass-kissing a politician with "ego-problems".
I am not naive and am quite aware that the american political landscape is chockfull of serious problems such as the behavior you seemingly condone.
YES! Thank you for writing this post! I've been meaning to write a post exactly like this... you basically took the words right from my mouth!
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