Well, What Do You Know?

I AM appreciated!

If you're a fellow teacher, I salute you.  If you're a parent, do something nice for those who help meld the minds of your children.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, y'all.

Thank You, Mr. President

Yes, I'm going to go there.

Many things have been said about President Obama's endorsement of same sex marriage last night.  The news outlets, social media and the interwebs as a whole have been abuzz after this revelation.

The most prevalent opinion I have heard and read is that this is a political ploy, a way to call attention to himself and grab votes before the upcoming election.

Friends, let's think this through.  Whose votes did he win?  He almost certainly already had the support of any staunch supporter of same sex marriage.  If anything, sadly, he may have just cost himself votes.

So, I say bravo, Mr. president.  This was brave.  This was honest.  This was the right thing to do.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
A North Carolina Resident Who Believes In Equality For All, and Who Is Saddened and Ashamed By Her State's Passing of Amendment One

Some Thoughts on Respect

I know it is rare that I post on something serious, but I feel like this is important enough to put out there in as many ways as possible.

I am feeling a little disheartened by the lack of respect that I see in the world lately.

For example, in my work.  Remember when we were children?  Would we have dared to talk back to a teacher at school?  Or openly defy our parents?  Kids today are not the same.  They are more brazen, and less concerned with consequences.  Also more confident that their parents will bail them out of whatever situation they may find themselves in, and less fearful that their parents will be angry with the choices they've made.  It's often not enough for children anymore to know that they may disappoint their parents- which for J and me, was far worse than a spanking or being grounded.

When I first moved south, I was shocked and dismayed that people were referring to me as "ma'am."  I felt that this should be reserved for little old ladies, and I was clearly a youngin'.  But I quickly learned to love this sign of respect.  I prefer for my students to address me this way, and I have incorporated "sir' and "ma'am" into my own vocabulary.

But aside from America's youth, who we may cut some slack because of their age (or perhaps bad parenting), I have found myself utterly disappointed with some of America's adults.

Specifically, members of the news media.

I cannot tell you how many times recently I have heard our President referred to as "Mr. Obama."

I PROMISE you, I absolutely do not care what your politics are.  This has nothing to do with Republicans vs. Democrats.

This has to do with RESPECT.

Whether or not you think our President is doing a good job, whether or not you voted for him, whether or not you hope to see him win another term or become a one-term wonder, I do not care.  The fact of the matter is that he is your President, the leader of your country, your Commander-in-Chief.

The fact of the matter is, he has been elected to run our nation.  That should certainly earn him enough respect to be properly referred to as either "Mr. President" or at the very least, "President Obama."

Nothing else is acceptable.  Period.

For shame, news media.  Your job is to present the news, not to present your judgment.  And frankly, your lack of respect merely makes you look ignorant in the eyes of many.

Thoughts on respect?