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The Pastoral Lens
Go Away, You're Not My (S)Mother!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Just when you think the guardians of our world have learned all their lessons and have things under control, a few numbskulls smear the reputation of the rest. Enter 9-year-old Patrick Timoney, a 4th grader from Staten Island, NY. One day recently little Patrick was playing in his school's cafeteria with his LEGOs when he was taken to the principal's office and threatened with suspension. So, what in the name of juvenile delinquency was his crime? Why, he was playing with a toy gun, of course! His school has a zero-tolerance policy for toy guns. Mind you, this one was toted by a LEGO policeman who sported a 2-inch weapon. That's right, 2 inches! Apparently, Dept. of Education policy states that there can be no imitation guns on school property. The principal has ultimate discretion, and this particular principal felt there was "reason for concern." Are you kidding me? The only concern that this principal should have had was that Partrick could have swallowed this gun by accident with his strawberry jello.It seems that Patrick Timoney is not the only "criminal" in New York's school system. Next door in Queens, NY a similar kangaroo court was being convened. Alexa Gonzalex, a 12-year-old junior high student, was led away in handcuffs for the outrageous crime of... doodling on her desk! No doubt while NY's finest were busy handling this tough case, bigger fish were escaping the law enforcement fryer. I've heard of stupidity, but this abuses the privilege.
Back in the paleozoic era when I was a kid, no such hyper political correctness existed. People were more normal back in the day, or so it seemed. To be charged with having a gun at school, the thing actually had to go off. Oh, and doodling on your desk might have earned you a detention, or a date with a wash bucket, but at least you were allowed to scrub without shackles on your wrists. It was rules of your mother, not the Rule of Smother, that governed your actions. My mom's wooden spoon across the hand was plenty enough incentive for me to walk the straight and narrow. Of course, nowadays, she'd be up for attempted murder. Sorry, mom, you can't catch a break in the 21st century.
I've noticed that the further we have strayed away from the teachings of the Bible, the further we have strayed from reality. I was amused at how much "attention" the pro-life ad during the Superbowl attracted from pro-choice groups. Here was an ad that promoted family and the "choice" to choose life, while nary a flicker of interest was directed towards any of the other ads. I'm tired of society trying to tell me what's acceptable, reinterpreting what God told us long ago in plain language in His Word. Makes me want to doodle on some bureaucrat's desk!
