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Today is a landmark day as I have just created my new blog. I will deal primarily with current events, political, and sports issues. Basically anything that has, and will continue to, turn this world upside down. That being said, there are two issues that have become prominant in the news as of late.
There was an article in the St Petersburg Times this week about the escalating violence in high school sports, especially female sports. It seems that girls are playing the gender equality card, but this time to prove how tough they are on the playing field. Thumping their chests with their fists, using inappropriate "sign language" during games, using inappropriate language, AND trying to prove their might by starting fights. What's scary is that their parents area WORSE. The parents are going after not only the coaches and those officiating these games. They are going after the high school students themselves who "challenge" their kids.
Who's to blame for all of this? Well, in my opinion there are three avenues. One, the parents. It's interesting to note that althoug I would bet that many of them are my age, 38, I can't help but think that many of these parents had these kids when they were young to mid teenagers and since they are not seasoned enough parents themselves they still think fighting is the best way to go. Two, school districts across the country. Decades ago parents let school districts do what they felt was best when it came to running the show and disciplining their kids. All it took was ONE lawsuit in the early 90's and that came crumbling down. School districts' and parents are constantly butting heads. Parents want the schools safer so they blame to school districts when something happens. School districts' blame parents when their kids turn into hoodlums. It affects EVERYONE in one way or another. Third, and most to blame, the media. We can throw "what if's" all over the place but the plain and simple truth is that the media glamourizes taunting, verbal and physical assaults, and mudslinging. Cameras are constantly in the face of those who use it as a way to degrade others. These high school students are seeing this on tv all the time. Major sports stations, news channels, major newspapers. They all do the same thing. The make this behavior front page news for the "shock" effect, but when nothing is done to mitigate the behavior these students think it's acceptable.
When I was played high school sports we had parents yelling at officials, telling them they made bad calls, but there was a line that was never crossed. At least not in the sports I played. In fact, there were parents who yelled at THEIR kids to "pick up the pace", or "concentrate", or the dreaded "if you can't put your heart into sit on the bench". None of todays' "Kick their asses", "screw you (or worse)", or the infamous "don't disrespect me" (with the in your face attitude)". I just laugh and realize how much of an UPSIDE DOWN WORLD we live in.