I believe the children are our future...
(fair warning - I may drop a couple f-bombs)
I should know better than to read the comment section on Facebook.
Today, kids across our nation have taken time from their regularly scheduled classes to walk out in protest to our current gun control situation. Simultaneously, they used that time to honor victims of school shootings not only in Parkland, Florida one month ago, but each and every shooting death that could have been prevented.
But, I'm not here to argue about gun control today. I could probably write a book about how I feel on that subject.
I happened to catch a live feed on Facebook from a Roanoke news station, and at the bottom of the screen were a slew of little, angry face emojis. You know, those red and yellow dot frowny-faces with the furrowed eyebrows you click when something makes you upset? Yeah... those.
The video is of a walkout at a nearby middle school, where students are peacefully protesting. They walked outside and held hands for seventeen minutes - one minute for every life lost at Parkland. I am all for it, young ones. More power to you.
The rhetoric that followed - and I'm just giving the general vibe of many commenters - was pretty much this:
"They're just doing this to get out of class."
"They're just doing this for the attention."
and, my personal favorite,
"These kids don't even know what's going on."
I have news for you. Yes, they do know what they are doing. They do know what is going on, and they are a lot smarter than you give them credit.
Sure, I imagine there are one or two who want to be on camera or to walk out of English class, but that is probably a smaller percentage than you think. The majority of those kids walking out are doing it for a reason, and a serious one at that.
So, dear angry emoji commenter, the way I see it, YOU want these kids to sit down and be quiet and comply. YOU don't want the status-quo to change because YOU are comfortable as you are. Well...
This. Is. Not. About. YOU.
This is about them, and how THEY feel. And, right now, they feel betrayed by our country. THEY feel like they have no voice. THEY feel like no one cares. THEY feel like they have no control over their lives and safety.
They also have the courage to stand up for themselves, and take back that control. And, the subject of *rights* comes up... well, THEY have the right to protest, plain and simple. It's the first of our amendments to the Constitution. Look it up... you might learn something.
But, it makes me wonder...
Those angry emoji commenters who have kids and assume they know nothing... do you even know your kid? When was the last time you had a real conversation with them (WITH them, not AT them)? Do you just send your kids to school because it gives you some peace and quiet for 9 hours a day? Is it for the free babysitting? Do you realize that even when your kids are not in school, they are still learning?
They learn from your actions and especially your *inaction*.
So, here's my challenge to ALL parents - not just angry emoji parents. It's a simple, 4 step process.
1. Ask your kid(s) a question about how they feel on whatever subject pops into mind. Example, "What's your favorite kind of music?" or "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or "How do you feel about the kids walking out at school, today?"
2. Shut the fuck up and listen to them without interruption.
3. Understand that their feelings are valid and that they are separate human beings from you, and entitled to be scared/happy/confused/angry/etc.
4, When they are finished speaking, continue the dialogue in a mature manner befitting a reasonable person.
It's not difficult. You brought them into this world, maybe it's poignant to get to know them?
I am no perfect parent, and I understand how challenging it can be when your child has a differing opinion. As a parent, we have these ideas of what we want our children to be; little versions of ourselves. BUT, that's the problem. They are individuals, and no matter how hard you try, they are going to march to the beat of their own drummer. You have to let them become who THEY are... you might be surprised at the beautiful people they turn out to be.
And, for those commenters who are sitting on their duff and have NO CONNECTION TO THOSE STUDENTS WHATSOEVER beside sharing the same air, kindly piss off.
I should know better than to read the comment section on Facebook.
Today, kids across our nation have taken time from their regularly scheduled classes to walk out in protest to our current gun control situation. Simultaneously, they used that time to honor victims of school shootings not only in Parkland, Florida one month ago, but each and every shooting death that could have been prevented.
But, I'm not here to argue about gun control today. I could probably write a book about how I feel on that subject.
I happened to catch a live feed on Facebook from a Roanoke news station, and at the bottom of the screen were a slew of little, angry face emojis. You know, those red and yellow dot frowny-faces with the furrowed eyebrows you click when something makes you upset? Yeah... those.
The video is of a walkout at a nearby middle school, where students are peacefully protesting. They walked outside and held hands for seventeen minutes - one minute for every life lost at Parkland. I am all for it, young ones. More power to you.
The rhetoric that followed - and I'm just giving the general vibe of many commenters - was pretty much this:
"They're just doing this to get out of class."
"They're just doing this for the attention."
and, my personal favorite,
"These kids don't even know what's going on."
I have news for you. Yes, they do know what they are doing. They do know what is going on, and they are a lot smarter than you give them credit.
Sure, I imagine there are one or two who want to be on camera or to walk out of English class, but that is probably a smaller percentage than you think. The majority of those kids walking out are doing it for a reason, and a serious one at that.
So, dear angry emoji commenter, the way I see it, YOU want these kids to sit down and be quiet and comply. YOU don't want the status-quo to change because YOU are comfortable as you are. Well...
This. Is. Not. About. YOU.
This is about them, and how THEY feel. And, right now, they feel betrayed by our country. THEY feel like they have no voice. THEY feel like no one cares. THEY feel like they have no control over their lives and safety.
They also have the courage to stand up for themselves, and take back that control. And, the subject of *rights* comes up... well, THEY have the right to protest, plain and simple. It's the first of our amendments to the Constitution. Look it up... you might learn something.
But, it makes me wonder...
Those angry emoji commenters who have kids and assume they know nothing... do you even know your kid? When was the last time you had a real conversation with them (WITH them, not AT them)? Do you just send your kids to school because it gives you some peace and quiet for 9 hours a day? Is it for the free babysitting? Do you realize that even when your kids are not in school, they are still learning?
They learn from your actions and especially your *inaction*.
So, here's my challenge to ALL parents - not just angry emoji parents. It's a simple, 4 step process.
1. Ask your kid(s) a question about how they feel on whatever subject pops into mind. Example, "What's your favorite kind of music?" or "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or "How do you feel about the kids walking out at school, today?"
2. Shut the fuck up and listen to them without interruption.
3. Understand that their feelings are valid and that they are separate human beings from you, and entitled to be scared/happy/confused/angry/etc.
4, When they are finished speaking, continue the dialogue in a mature manner befitting a reasonable person.
It's not difficult. You brought them into this world, maybe it's poignant to get to know them?
I am no perfect parent, and I understand how challenging it can be when your child has a differing opinion. As a parent, we have these ideas of what we want our children to be; little versions of ourselves. BUT, that's the problem. They are individuals, and no matter how hard you try, they are going to march to the beat of their own drummer. You have to let them become who THEY are... you might be surprised at the beautiful people they turn out to be.
And, for those commenters who are sitting on their duff and have NO CONNECTION TO THOSE STUDENTS WHATSOEVER beside sharing the same air, kindly piss off.
Comments
Post a Comment