Comments on: Calling it incendiary or inciting creates violence

By: Lori Hoeck

Lori Hoeck — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:04:07 +0000

Hi Lynda,
Knee-jerk reactions rarely work out well, do they?
We must make a stand against political correctness or it’s here to stay.

Hi Cath,
Yes, and it’s up to us to make this change, don’t you think?

By: Victimhood, Big Brother, and a slippery slope

Victimhood, Big Brother, and a slippery slope — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:00:58 +0000

[...] back and forth reminded me of my earlier post on the boys in California who wore shirts with American Flags to school on Cinco de [...]

By: Lynda Lehmann

Lynda Lehmann — Sat, 15 May 2010 21:29:36 +0000

It’s frightening that schools and parents are AFRAID to give appropriate consequences, to discipline, set rational limits, etc. Political correctness has gone way too far.

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Sat, 15 May 2010 20:04:13 +0000

This is totally ridiculous and it’s sad that this type of thing happens a lot. It’s easier for schools to send innocent kids home, to please the mobs, rather than educating pupils to become accepting and understanding of others.

By: Lynda Lehmann

Lynda Lehmann — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:50:46 +0000

Excellent point and well said! Society has lost the power to look at things in a logical, rational, reasoning way. Knee-jerk reaction and fear rule the roost.

By: Lori Hoeck

Lori Hoeck — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:40:30 +0000

Hi Zaelyna,

I had those same classes! Old-school, hard-nosed professors with a fiery passion for free speech and the power of the press.

But then I hit the real world and became a third degree black belt who knows the score when it comes to victims and victim-hood. Self control, civility, and “learning to get along,” as you write — so true and so needed.

By: zaelyna

zaelyna — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:22:40 +0000

Wow. As I read this, my mind immediately jumped back to my journalism class and the discussions on free speech. That class taught me that there’s a lot I’m on the fence about because I can easily understand and agree with the POVs of both parties.

However, in this case, I lean more toward the side of those students because of all the reasons listed above. They did nothing except wear clothing to express themselves. If any violence came of it, the fault lies with the offenders, not the victims. Self-control, as martial artists are taught.

People have a right to be offended by clothing as much as people have a right to wear “offensive” clothing. Open your minds and learn how to get along, or avoid the crowds you can’t handle. Seems simple enough to me–what’s the world’s excuse?

By: Lori Hoeck

Lori Hoeck — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:01:55 +0000

Hi Hilary,
Civility, self-control, reasoned discourse, seasoned debate, and civic-mindedness were taught by my family and in my school’s civic classes (way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). For a world that kneels before the words “Tolerance” and “political correctness,” you’d think such homage might have improved things.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Sat, 08 May 2010 08:08:57 +0000

Hi Lori .. I agree with your post and with Betsy’s comment .. we go way too far .. and unfortunately it’s leading to more troubles. Somehow we have to learn to tolerate all things, and respect our country and its way of life .. rules and regulations for the sake of it are crazy; but unfortunatley each new appointment feels they need to add or tweak things, without understanding the implications or the background, it gives them kudos they’re doing things, but doesn’t actually help – it’s a sticking plaster .. but for what?

Dreadful .. petty – but so inciteful .. Hilary

By: Lori Hoeck

Lori Hoeck — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:43:29 +0000

Hi Vered,
As a senior martial arts instructor, I’ve had to deal with tempers fueled by anger and adrenaline in tournament sparring competition and in-class sparring matches between lower ranked students. I could never teach students self-control, inner peace, and calm confidence by fearing those moments or letting those times get out of control. So much could have gone right that day in California, but it was handled without wisdom.