Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Respect is a selective matter

Over the last few years as a daycare provider, I have noticed quite a few changes to the state guidelines and rules us providers must follow. Being that I am not an accredited teacher nor do I have a desire to be, I wonder how soon it will be before I have to make a choice. Train to become accredited or quit.

Reading this article raises more red flags.

Three-year-olds to be taught about gay relationships

There was a comment section at the bottom where one guy pretty much summed it up...

"I agree with Peter. It is the basic life skills of numeracy and literacy that should be taught to 3 year olds.
What is wrong with teaching children of all ages old fashioned good manners and to respect all people?"

I guess I can understand why kids and their teachers struggle to teach the basic fundamentals that most of us need just to get a job. The basics have simply been pushed aside for the benefit of people's feelings.

The focus is not on the academics, it's on speaking so that we don't hurt others feelings . In fact it seems that those that require the world to cater to them and their feelings are those who are somewhat racist or discriminatory, or just downright JERKS!!!

It's ok for them to spew their lies or their hatred towards whoever they feel like that day but dare to go toe to toe with them and point out their hypocrisy and WHAM!!!!!

Now, teaching 3-year olds to respect gays/lesbians. Why such an outlandish act in order to cater to their community? 3-year olds, man, that is pushing it just a liiiiiitttttttle bit. I call it outlandish because no matter what origin you are, what your sexual preferences are, what disability you have, EVERYONE has been unfortunate enough to experience some sort of bullying or vicious words throughout their lives. For those who want to deny this, I will say to you, you have one extremely sheltered life.

I grew up with name calling and nasty remarks and funny, it still occurs when I'm an adult! I was called some pretty unforgiveable things throughout my younger years and some horrible things were said that I will probably never forget but I certainly didn't become a whiner because of it. And really, what is it with some people out there picking on the gay community or the blacks or the disabled or simply a normal human being? Does nobody walk away from their childhood with the ability to know what hurts another or how it feels to be on the other end of that? Doesn't anyone remember the term, 'Common Sense'?!!! or 'empathy'?

What about the rest of the people in the world? If we should learn to respect gays and lesbians, shouldn't we also learn to respect people of all shapes, sizes, colors, races, etc? Next they'll be telling the kids that it's ok for the teachers to touch them and that the kids should respect that too. Granted, I don't back gay marriage but do favor civil unions. However, in the eyes of those in the gay community that automatically makes me a bigot. They are very quick to call me names and spit venom and accusations at me. One wonders why we should respect them when they have the teeniest of respect for others opinions or questions.

I guess all my life I've been a brainwashed heterosexual. After all, schools never really talked about the relationships of all of those historic people, just about their great fetes or their bravery. Although I do recall blushing here and there when there was talk of an artist being gay or a man and woman forbidden to love...Funny though, I didn't nor do I walk around and banish them or hate them for who they are. My kids aren't allowed to disrespect gay people, handicapped people, or people of color? And they don't. I thought that's what parents were for? To teach our kids values, morals and respect. And that teachers were there to teach them reading, writing and arithmetic? Damn, I hopped off the boat just a few years too early!

As I've always said, if one wants to be gay or lesbian, or Catholic or Johovah's Witness, ALL the power to you. I could really care less how another lives their lives, unless it has to do with brainwashing kids through public education, and yes, I see this as brainwashing. If the teachers want to help teach the kids manners and respect, please, be my guest. But don't point out a specific group in order to shower them with pity. Personally I believe this type of thing to be more discriminating and causes people to be more bigoted and hateful. Kind of like the Catholic religion being crammed down my throat all my life, I won't step foot in a church for that very reason. The more something is pushed upon me, the less I like it!

The pity has to stop. Soon enough things will be flip flopped. The gay community will live the life of heterosexuals and it will be the heterosexual community fighting for their rights to pity. I didn't CHOOSE to be heterosexual either...no one pities me because I like men! But I ain't about to march in a heterosexual day parade just to get attention either, or demand that this sexual preference be taught in school.

Any of the above can be damn good parents to their kids but as a parent, I don't believe parenting is about fighting for causes, it's who one is on the inside that matters! It is up to PARENTS to teach how to be a good person, to not be violent or racist or demeaning, or a bigot, or a nazi, or whatever.

Let it be up to the discretion of the parent who and how their own kids are taught the fundamentals of life, love and acceptance! How about re-educating the adults instead of the kids. Wouldn't that be a better idea? Not to use the kids as the pawns?

Or, maybe not...after all, wee kids are cute, sweet and innocent and VERY impressionable. Less work to indoctrinate their little brains!

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