The Confidentiality of 7th Graders

Confidentiality is important in many situations.  Priests, physicians, lawyers, counselors and others are required by law to protect confidential information.

Some friends can be trusted to keep things confidential if you ask them to do so.

Others cannot be trusted to keep their mouths shut about private information.

Some seventh grade girls are known for being gossipy under the pretense of letting another know something negative that someone said.

“Guess what Amy said about you?  She said that you look gross with all those zits and that is why she is not inviting you to her party.  I thought you would want to know why you are not invited.”  Some friend.  The helpful conveyor of hurtful information.

Recently, at a private meeting, someone, perhaps a seventh grader, heard President Trump refer to some countries as “sh!thole countries.”   Apparently, the conveyor of this uncomplimentary term wanted those countries to know what was being said about them even if it caused hurt feelings.  The private meeting was not all that private.  For the good of our nation and our relationship with those nations, “someone” chose to publicize that phrase.

Now, in order to embarrass the President and the poor nations about which he might have been referring, we have an international crisis that could result in a number of countries refusing American aid.

 

 

Look at Me! But Not Like That.

In protest of the objectifying of women as sexual objects, the women of Hollywood wore black outfits with pins saying, “Times Up.”

Many had to be creative about placement of the pin because of skimpy outfits with open cleavage and slit skirts and see-through material.

These actresses knew they would be seen by millions of viewers.  They seemed to want to look sexy.

Of course, I understand the difference between sexual harassment and just looking.  But wouldn’t the message be more clear without mixed signals?  They wanted an audience to look.

I am not excusing the sexual predators in the entertainment industry.  I am, however, criticizing the women who so desperately crave attention as sex objects yet pretend that they are surprised to be viewed as sex objects.

Anyone wearing that pin should, in my opinion, dress modestly.

 

Bullying and Burke

Shootin' the Breeze

Edmund Burke (1729-1797):
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

The little boy was in kindergarten.  The bigger boys were in 6th grade.  The girl was in 4th.

The kindergartener suffered from hydrocephalus, a condition that affected his appearance.  He had a larger than normal head and his eyes were far apart.  He knew he looked different.  It probably took courage to go out on the playground.  He had other health problems.

The two sixth grade boys made cruel remarks about the little boy.  They made their cruel remarks from the top of the slide, having climbed the ladder, but staying on the top of the slide, blocking its use by other children.  It was their podium on a stage.  They could tease from on high.  They thought they were funny.

The kindergartener naturally did not find them funny.  The…

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Glad It Is Not YOU

On my first day of law school, our Contracts professor told the first year students that he would call on someone and ask about a case and whatever that person said, he would argue the other side and probably embarrass the poor victim.  Then he said, “The rest of you might laugh nervously because you are all glad that it is not you on the hot seat.”  We could not protect each other from being on the hot seat, but we sure could empathize with whoever was being grilled.

There is a famous quote from Pastor Niemueller, about Nazi Germany:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left
To speak out for me.

Until they came for him, he was glad he was not one they were after.

I am mentioning the above quotes because of something else I read today.  I read that victims of bullying need other kids to stick up for them and thus put peer pressure on the bullies.  I have not seen the movie, Wonder, but that is what happens in this “feel good” story.

It is human nature to be glad about not being picked on.  It is also human nature to appreciate someone having one’s back.   Almost every Western hero and every comic book superhero demonstrates standing up for someone who needs help.

There is, of course, a risk to standing up for another.  The bad guys turn on you.  If there was no risk, it would not be heroic.

Let us encourage each other to be heroes.