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The Age of Helicopters
The Band Of Patriots ^ | August 31st, 2011 | Matthew Monos

Posted on 08/31/2011 6:13:50 PM PDT by orthodoxyordeath

We live in an age of babies. It's official. And I HATE it. Today, as I was fundraising for the YAF 9/11 Never Forget Project, I was pulled into the office of my head of school. I was told to take down the posters we had up, that read "Never Forget" with pictures of various attacks on Americans, such as 9/11, the bombing of the Marine barracks, and a picture of Daniel Pearl with a gun to his head. Now, my head of school said that the picture with the gun was inappropriate. Granted, I do go to a school with kids from Pre-K to 12th. Still, this is a perfect opportunity to educate all children on violence, and the violence committed against Americans. Censorship is part of the problem in this country. What we allow is violence in music, video-games, TV and movies. What we don't allow, is showing real life violence and what its consequences are for innocents.

This is a problem that is plaguing this country, these "helicopter" parents. I know I was subject to it once, because I remember 9/11, but I never understood it until about 5th grade. Parents have become too protective, but in all the wrong ways. Parents have dulled the outside world, playgrounds, schools, extracurriculars etc, so much, that kids go inside. Those studies that say we're addicted to the internet? We're addicted to movies and TV? We're violent because of video-games? Good job worried parent. That's probably your fault. You censor useful things, like literature (Harry Potter etc.) and instead let your kids play Call Of Duty, to go blow a Russian's head off.

This is the epidemic that contributes to America's problem. You know how all us conservative complain on government dependency and such? Well, part of that is due to the fact kids aren't allowed to grow up anymore. They can't go break an arm on the playground, because the playground is plasticized and "safe." They can't learn about violence because God forbid we teach about violence in school, we'll just let kids get desensitized at home without any moral or ethical basis for them to understand what they're watching. The point is, again, kids don't grow up anymore. Therefore, when they're older, and their parents don't want to support them anymore, they turn to Big Daddy, a.k.a., the government.

Yes, this may seem pointless, and rambling, and I am sorry. This is my first post in quite some time. I've been on a school retreat, fundraising for 9/11, at church and taking care of some personal matters. No worry, I should be back now.


TOPICS: Education; Humor; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: censorship; ignorance; parents; violence
Tell me what you think, am I wrong? Should I have had to take the poster down?
1 posted on 08/31/2011 6:13:55 PM PDT by orthodoxyordeath
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To: orthodoxyordeath

You shouldn’t have to and you’re right about overprotective parenting creating an immature society.


2 posted on 08/31/2011 6:18:43 PM PDT by cripplecreek (The GOP has been "moderated" into a coma.)
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To: orthodoxyordeath

It’s the wussification of schools, plus a heaping helping of P.C. by which we daren’t risk offending Muzzie kids.


3 posted on 08/31/2011 6:19:19 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (There's gonna be a Redneck Revolution! (See my freep page) [rednecks come in many colors])
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To: orthodoxyordeath

Ping.. For tons of input later.


4 posted on 08/31/2011 6:20:51 PM PDT by Celerity
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To: HiTech RedNeck

When I was in middle school we had kids walking around with shirts that said “Hey Iran” and had a picture of mickey mouse flipping the bird.

There was no ambiguity about how people in my area felt about the hostage crisis.


5 posted on 08/31/2011 6:23:25 PM PDT by cripplecreek (The GOP has been "moderated" into a coma.)
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To: orthodoxyordeath
Just put a note under the picture of Daniel Pearl reading,

"This is what our honorable men and women in the US Armed Forces are fighting to prevent happening to YOU if you were to visit an Islamic country."

That should clear things up.

6 posted on 08/31/2011 6:25:33 PM PDT by Track9 (Make War!!)
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To: orthodoxyordeath

slingshots, bb guns, fist fights, mini bikes, pocket knives, archery in PE, no air conditioning, dog fights, cat fights, paper routes, little league baseball, boy scouts...this is the way it was in my day.

But when it comes to war, we never talked about it in school. it was forbidden...too soon after the vietnam war. there would’ve been gang warfare in the classroom between them with dead brothers, and them that were hippy trash.


7 posted on 08/31/2011 6:30:18 PM PDT by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
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To: orthodoxyordeath
We live in an age of babies. It's official.

Actually, the USA is a society based on entertainment. All times and everywhere, even school, kids need to be entertained, not so much taught. The result is the same though - no trials, no view of reality, no contrast between good and evil may intrude on the Disney Parade.

8 posted on 08/31/2011 6:32:32 PM PDT by PGR88 (I'm so open-minded my brains fell out)
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To: orthodoxyordeath
Well, part of that is due to the fact kids aren't allowed to grow up anymore.

I identify women, i.e. mothers, and no fathers, as causes of this problem. Fathers, less emotionally strangled by their progeny, exercise the objectivity required to bring juveniles into reality. A profound truth, and palpably obvious through the leftism of, "for the children."

A truly disturbing sickness consuming America. And Barack Obama is as much a symptom as a cause.

Incidentally, you do know that China has NO women in it political power structure.

Johnny Suntrade

9 posted on 08/31/2011 6:45:16 PM PDT by jnsun (The Left: the need to manipulate others because of nothing productive to offer.)
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To: Celerity

Ok, At a real keyboard.

First off, kudos on the title. I love Helicopters, I clicked. But to my surprise, the article wasn’t about Helicopters. I still don’t get the whole Helicopter reference. But on a side note, Helicopters are majestic creatures - Just watch Airwolf. The Bell 222 and subsequently the 230 and even the 240 series are stunning to look at, and the aggressive rotor positioning makes them wonderful fast-flight VTOL purchases. The million dollar price tag leaves something to be desired. But I suppose if you get the Hughes / McDonnell Douglass 500 as a sportier, “Man about the town” helicopter, you could find balance.

I digress.

I take it you’re of our younger posters - And welcome to you ! Been a while, and I’m glad to see you back. I’d like to add to your post, each paragraph from last to first:

“This is the epidemic that contributes to America’s problem. You know how all us conservative complain on government dependency and such? Well, part of that is due to the fact kids aren’t allowed to grow up anymore. They can’t go break an arm on the playground, because the playground is plasticized and “safe.” They can’t learn about violence because God forbid we teach about violence in school, we’ll just let kids get desensitized at home without any moral or ethical basis for them to understand what they’re watching. The point is, again, kids don’t grow up anymore. Therefore, when they’re older, and their parents don’t want to support them anymore, they turn to Big Daddy, a.k.a., the government. “

As you stick around this planet a little longer, you’ll see that what you’re living through “Has all been done before”. The violent video games and those who demonize them ? Well, that was Rap and glam bands back in my day. Before that, my parents had “Rock and Roll” and “Suggestive Dancing”. Attempts were made in my Dad’s hometown to ban Denim Dungarees (Blue Jeans, because “Jeans” were something different then), unless one was on their way to or from work. These things are always here. I grew up in a car without seatbelts. Never had a baby seat. Things that would get you arrested these days. And sure enough, in my past many different people turned to the Government for support. Many of my family included.

“This is a problem that is plaguing this country, these “helicopter” parents. I know I was subject to it once, because I remember 9/11, but I never understood it until about 5th grade. Parents have become too protective, but in all the wrong ways. Parents have dulled the outside world, playgrounds, schools, extracurriculars etc, so much, that kids go inside. Those studies that say we’re addicted to the internet? We’re addicted to movies and TV? We’re violent because of video-games? Good job worried parent. That’s probably your fault. You censor useful things, like literature (Harry Potter etc.) and instead let your kids play Call Of Duty, to go blow a Russian’s head off. “

Again, I’ll refer to my last comment. I used to play with yard darts. Imagine that. I hear ya here, but at the same time these Helicopter Parents (I get it.. Hovering over their kids) don’t WANT to hover over their kids. Recently I had an argument with my wife, who is 7 years younger than I. She mentioned that if I wanted to have kids, I would have to sell the car and get a newer one. My car is a 91, and has rear seatbelts with shoulder straps. She can’t fathom the idea of putting a kid in a car without at least 200 airbags, A direct and continuous data stream to LifeStar, and 8 televisions with dedicated Playstations. (I kid, of course, but you get the drift..) Parenthood means different things to different people - and it’s important that those people come together with some middle ground. In fact, I even recall my Dad being scolded by his sister for putting his kids in a car without seatbelts - Saying that he really should buy a Volvo with the best safety features. Come to think of it, I’ve never been in a car accident, and she was in about 10. With injuries.

Internet addiction is not your parent’s fault. I ran a BBS when I was 13, and my dad ran one since I was 6. Think “Grandpa Internet”. I played outside, I went to school, I talked on the phone, and I hung out on the BBS’. BBSesses. Bulletin Board Systems. My parents often told me how they weren’t allowed to talk on the party line telephone until they were 30. Again, same things - Ad infinitum. Finally, as a hats-off to violent video games - I can say that to demonize them would be to demonize Books about War, every movie that John Wayne was in, or comic books. The slope is slippery, watch your step.

“We live in an age of babies. It’s official. And I HATE it. Today, as I was fundraising for the YAF 9/11 Never Forget Project, I was pulled into the office of my head of school. I was told to take down the posters we had up, that read “Never Forget” with pictures of various attacks on Americans, such as 9/11, the bombing of the Marine barracks, and a picture of Daniel Pearl with a gun to his head. Now, my head of school said that the picture with the gun was inappropriate. Granted, I do go to a school with kids from Pre-K to 12th. Still, this is a perfect opportunity to educate all children on violence, and the violence committed against Americans. Censorship is part of the problem in this country. What we allow is violence in music, video-games, TV and movies. What we don’t allow, is showing real life violence and what its consequences are for innocents.”

Kid’s don’t educated about violence. Kids know about violence. I do feel that to sit a kid down and teach about violence is similar to pushing a sexual agenda on them. Kids need to be sat down and taught History, English Grammar (And foreign languages as an elective), Math, Science, and how to open a milk carton. That’s school. When you’re good at those things, you can expand on them with classes like “Southern Hemisphere Astronomy” and further into your college “Astro cartography with a focus on stellar telemetrics and time distortion interpretation on gathered data”. Followed by underwater basket-weaving.

You, my FRiend, were not censored. You were knocked back into play by the referee. There is a time and a place for everything - and your school isn’t the place to post pictures of people being maimed, hurt, or killed. The tried and true September 11th memorial is found in the beauty of the human spirit. When New Yorkers and The Beltway Folks pulled together. When an entire country looked at one another and came together in a way that still defies explanation - even description. I was there. I remember. I remember our entire congress standing on the steps and pledging allegiance, singing the anthem. Even those who would later turn to be the most evil, despicable people in the land. For a brief moment, we saw what American values renders, and what America is capable of.

What you were doing was reminding those around you what Islam is capable of. While it may time for the people to learn what Islam is capable of, it is NOT the place, and this is NOT the date. You see, Islam is attacking the West on all days, not just this one. Don’t let people associate our enemy with a specific date. If you do, you forever set the precedent that on the other 364 days a year, our enemy can proudly stand and walk our streets.

September 11 is NOT about our enemies. It is about our friends. We do not dedicate even ONE MINUTE to think of our enemies. Don’t let September 11 be “their day”. You’re giving power to the enemy, and you’re making your stance appear to be fringe, out-of-touch and insane.

Your stand against censorship is a valiant one. I would like to, however, offer a word of caution.

In days of old, before the problems we have today, we had other seemingly trite problems. Skirts above the knee, boys and girls dancing together, Skipping church on Sunday. Spending Christmas sledding with your friends. All of these things were major social issues in the day, but seem to be insignificant today. That is BECAUSE censorship has been so lax. Censorship is what filtered out the garbage that young people were exposed to, so they could focus on growing into complete adults. Educated, moral, and friendly. Without censorship, we have seen the bell-curve shattered.

Someone on Free Republic said something, MANY years ago (My god, has it been that long ? Like.. 6 years ago) words that I remember to this day:

“Back in the good ol’ days, Sex wasn’t taboo. It was special.”

That means that we, in today’s world, thought our old world was so wrong. So stiff, so un-bending. We thought that Sex had been taught as a wholly wrong thing - a no-no in the eyes of god. Something to be ashamed of. That’s incorrect. You see, “Back then” Sex was taught as something that you don’t go around giving to everyone. Not because it’s wrong, but because it’s a special bond between two people. Since ditching this philosophy, we see that sex is all around us - and teachings of this new, ugly idea of sex is now being taught younger and younger - And recently even with infant care.

Be careful about your stance on Censorship. It does matter.

-> Steve


10 posted on 08/31/2011 6:56:31 PM PDT by Celerity
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To: Mears

bfl


11 posted on 08/31/2011 6:58:39 PM PDT by Mears
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To: orthodoxyordeath

Ping - I replied to myself, and not to you. Sorry.

On a further note, I would say that if these posters are your way of conveying 9/11, You are wrong to say that you didn’t understand it until the 5th grade.

If this is your way of memorializing September 11th, You still don’t understand it.


12 posted on 08/31/2011 7:00:47 PM PDT by Celerity
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To: orthodoxyordeath

You should have stood your ground.

It’s real.
It’s educational.
Parental objections never matter when conservatives complain about homosexual indoctrination.


13 posted on 08/31/2011 7:21:26 PM PDT by G Larry (I dream of a day when a man is judged by the content of his character)
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To: jnsun
A truly disturbing sickness consuming America. And Barack Obama is as much a symptom as a cause. Incidentally, you do know that China has NO women in it political power structure.

Obama is just another water carrier. THIS is the organizer, leader and main consumer of that disturbing sickness suffered by millions of women - and also the only female the Chinese political structure needs:


14 posted on 08/31/2011 8:05:38 PM PDT by Talisker (History will show the Illuminati won the ultimate Darwin Award.)
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To: mamelukesabre

We had A/C... well, swamp coolers, at least. That, and we had an afterschool gun club. You had to leave the gun locked up, out of sight, in your car (or a friend’s car... or leave it locked up at the local gun range). Then, after school, everyone headed over to a local gun range to shoot.

We also had kids building package bombs as their science project for the science fair. The FBI came out once for that...

And this was in the early ‘90s in rural Florida.

Heck, even the local cops were nice. They’d let you shoot off a few rounds if you wanted to head over to the firing range with them.


15 posted on 08/31/2011 8:15:17 PM PDT by gogogodzilla (Live free or die!)
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