After four years of college, I've learned that placing a colon after a title and inserting the words "An Analysis" somehow makes the words that follow it valid on some way. I'm fixin' to (slang for all my Texans out there) come way out of left field, so I'll need all the help I can get.
I'm old enough that when I was a child, the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" was still a commonly used phrase among children. Now that I look back, those words seem so much more to me now.
In a world of riddlin and political correctness, it now seems that tough skin, emotional restraint, and owning up to your mistakes are a thing of the past. In the years of my elementary education, when someone told me my mom was fat and poor, we laughed. In today's world, it causes irreparable psychological damage.
It's hard for me to watch the news for more than ten minutes anymore. I'm bombarded by sexual innuendoes and the degradation of the [insert anything here] within a one-minute segment. I watch as political "high-ups" profess social inequality while simulatenously tuning in to hear our African American (can't say "black") President speak.
I listen as a random street person propelled to reality-tv star status proclaims that they have abandonment issues because their parents got divorced at an early age. That's funny, because some of my best memories are when my step-dad was off in a different state working. Hell, if he would have "abandoned" me more often, I might have more good memories with my cousin whom I was raised with.
My point is this: I am 22-years old, and I have yet to meet a person who said "Yeah, my childhood was devoid of any misgivings, and I can't remember a time where I felt sad." I've had some issues growing up, but who hasn't?
For me, I begin to get drowsy ten minutes into a conversation about someone's successful business life. But hell, you mention the word "asshole" and I'm asking questions! The fact is, those "irreparable" moments are the times that made us who we are. God bless heart ache and pain! I'd be one hell of a boring person without them.
Bottom line: I wish there was something I could do about the almost infant-like sensitivity of the world today. How am I suppose to express a brilliant idea if I'm afraid the person next to me might be offended and take me to court?
I plan on raising my children with a backbone. I might even adopt my mother's adage when growing up: "If it ain't bleeding, then you ain't hurt." Hmmm, I can see Child Protective Services now ...
I certainly share your sentiments =)
ReplyDeleteI picked on by other kids for a few years in elementary school and instead of saying that that scarred me for life, I made a decision to be more outgoing and be proactive about making new friends. My parents didn't even know what was going on at school because I didn't think it was anything that they needed to know about or could help me with. It was just something I learned to deal with on my own.
The result? I learned to make actual friends instead of superficial ones and be outgoing even in situations when I feel awkward or uncomfortable.
Alison -- It's very refreshing to see someone who shares the same thought process as me (believe me, it doesn't happen often ;).
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, I enjoyed reading it :)
Mr. Schafner, I hope that you have children one day.
ReplyDeleteI think you just might find that when your child gets hurt by someone or something, it is you that will absolutely dissolve over it, not them.
There is no one tougher than a child. We are all born with a backbone. It's only in growing up that most of us lose it.
I agree with your sentiments that most of us grew up with imperfect childhoods and parents. Some people grow up and learn to over come the obstacles in their life while others follow a self destructive path.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to view life as a series of challenges and the opportunity to grow from our experiences both good and bad.
Amen, amen, amen, Josh.
ReplyDeleteI have always said, "Show me a person who has never suffered, and I'll show you a realllly shallow person. You don't learn from the good times. You learn from the bad."
An excellent post.
Refreshing! I know more people that agree with this than dont.
ReplyDeleteCompletely AGREE! people need to stop taking things to the heart so easily. I'm white, our president is black. I'm not saying the president is of lower status than me. Because obviously he isn't. and I myself am a women but I do not accuse someone of being sexist when they say something is a man's job, because it usually is. Now if a women can do it, than they are stronger than the average women, but people have to realize being so politically correct is not as beneficial as they think it is, but the exact opposite.
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