#1

“Power works through a system of ‘common sense’ that enables us to accept things without question…” I see this quote to be true in many areas of life. Whether it’s on a global scale or in the privacy of one’s own home, information is often taught and accepted without any doubt. Within my generation (peers at school) I have noticed an altered attitude about education. People are starting to challenge authority and look for proof to uphold their teachings. We have become aware that there are people of authority who will say whatever they want because they have a vulnerable audience.

            This, in public or private situations is good because it reflects free thinking, which builds up one’s ability to be discerning. On the other hand there are groups (organized or just a bunch of friends) who have a very similar mindset, yet actually believe the lying authority. Basically it’s a game. Two people say that they’re right and that the other person is wrong. For argument sake let’s say that person 1 is actually right and person 2 is actually wrong. Both people are going to have support. And because of this battle between person 1 and person 2, they will challenge each other. However, since person 2 is actually wrong he/she will lie and embellish in order to keep their supporters and gain new ones.

            So although the idea of doubt is widespread, many people seem to doubt the wrong person. I believe that people aren’t often exposed to a wide enough range of opinions in order to form a logical opinion of their won. If more people put in the effort to research and try to understand the “other side”, then they will have insider information so to speak to support their own, personal opinion.

#2       

It’s gay pride month (June) at school. I was leafing through the pages of gaychristians.org and it parallels much of what is taught and supported at my school about homosexuality. I really believe that the people who put this website together are trying to get other Christians to believe that God has no problem with homosexuals. I just took some time to look through my Bible and see what it has to say. As it turns out the message that homosexuality is wrong is mentioned in the Old and New Testament. So what these people are saying is totally wrong. They’re using the scriptures that proclaim love for everyone against what the Scriptures say about homosexuality. They’re also saying that people are being taught Christianity too strictly and that they should go out on their own and discover who Jesus is and what he has to say. As a Protestant, I believe that people should read the Bible and understand it on their own without a pastor or priest telling them how to interpret it all the time. However, I think that having some guidance is very critical to understanding the Bible and what it says. It is something that needs to be taught.
   For years all I have been hearing on the topic of homosexuality is “diversity”, a politically correct term for ‘different’ coined for teaching us students how to make friends with people of other ethnic backgrounds. The whole idea that homosexuality is just another one of those things that we all have to accept to the fullest degree is another example of teenage moral illiteracy. In my opinion, if you want to be gay, be gay; you’re life, do what you want with it. But don’t get all in my face about stereotypes, gay rights and stuff. Being a Jewish convert to Christianity, a Republican, female who weight lifts, wears army pants and combat boots, enjoys learning about guns, and is straight, I think I know a thing or two about stereotypes and rights. Fact is that stereotypes exist for a reason, they’re very general and don’t apply to everyone but they are still grounded on some truth. And right are God-endowed. You’re born with them, but so was I. You have as much right to scream on the top of your lungs about how gays are looked down upon, as I have the right not to listen to you.
   These sentiments are set very deep in the Schreiber student body. I understand that people a certain way- that’s their problem. But where the injustice sets in is when teachers start flapping their gums about it, when Port Washington residents have to pay tax money to the school so that we can take time out of class to learn about tolerance and homosexuality. The school has no right to force us to think this way, basically because it’s wrong. It’s their own political agenda and I would actually go so far as to blame them for bringing so much negative attention to the situation.

            I know a lot of what I wrote is just my blabbing and complaining, but as I think I mentioned already, teenage moral illiteracy is greatly affected by what we are taught- in school or anywhere else. We can’t learn the difference between right and wrong unless we are taught and besides our parents, it is our teachers’ job to do the same. When they don’t, we reveal the results.

#3

            I think if I had to choose one reason as to why I decided to do this project on teenage moral illiteracy would be because of the anti-authoritative attitude in school. I see so many students talking back, not listening to, and just plain disrespecting teachers. I have my own gripes about some of the teachers at school, but all things considered, our teachers sure take a lot of crap. I honestly think it’s because parents and teachers don’t discipline enough. Everyone is either put on medicine or sent to a psychiatrist- which actually makes us more insane. Now believe me, I know that there are some people who need a tranquilizer to keep from acting up, but the problem lies not with only a few rambunctious kids, it’s a general anti-authority attitude that has affected everyone.

            It’s usually just the little things, like repeatedly talking during class or abusing bathroom breaks during class. But this is just the type of behavior that so easily infiltrates into our minds, making us believe that it’s no big deal so it’s okay. The fact is that IT ISN’T OKAY! This is where everything gets started. Little by little, things are accepted- hey, it could be worse. And you know what? At the right rate with the right people, it will.

            I’m not saying that all the school staff should be walking around with batons, but authority need to show that they have it. Not because they were elected or they knew the right people, but because they know better and know what to do. It’s actually a very similar view that a lot of people have about our President. I don’t know if what they say about him is true or not because I don’t watch/read/listen to the news because they’re all biased, but they still will put donkey ears and strap a rifle on him and act like he’s the biggest loser in the world.

            I don’t know how the anti-authority attitude can be changed. I would always recommend discipline when someone misbehaves, but if it goes too far it’ll become a 1984 “fantasy” so to speak. Not all authority deserve respect, or the authority they gained in the first place. But in general people who are considered your boss should be respected if for anything the age factor. And really, if the younger people are running around burning down all the government buildings and assassinating everyone with power (figuratively speaking), then what kind of kids are we going to raise?