Police stand in for fallen officer at his daughter's kindergarten graduation

Today ^ | May 23, 2013 | Eun Kyung Kim

[EveningStar]

Tatum Raetz graduated from kindergarten this week, just three days after her police officer father was killed while investigating a drunk driving case.

But the 5-year-old girl definitely felt her father’s presence at her ceremony, thanks to nearly 300 uniformed officers standing in his place at her Phoenix elementary school.

[ConradofMontferrat]

You are right on the money. I saw what the "lockdown" (we are now no better than convicts in a prison cell?) in Boston was all about, and it was scary.

Once upon a time, it was called "marshal law" and had to conform to legal checks and balances.

No doubt that a lot of libs in Boston celebrated the blue "heros" who frog marched whole INNOCENT families out of their houses at gun point, and STILL DIDN'T FIND THE PERP!!

Even after TERRORIZING a whole community.

This is a case of bureauKaRATZ flexing their muscle. Nothing less.

I'll stop now, before the IRS decides I need an anal.

[Gabz]

But I think what you are trying to say has just flown completely over the heads of all who are caught up in the emotion of the moment.

Nah, most of the others have too much class to call you both out for your crassness.

[ansel12]

Thank you! If it was this kid's high school graduation, I could buy it. But kindergarten "graduation"? Come on, who's kidding who? This had nothing to do with the kid.

Yeah, a full Army battalion's worth of uniforms and guns, I wonder how many vehicles.

[ConradofMontferrat]

Oh, goodness, please specifically point out the “crassness!”

In my opinion, there is no “class” amongst those who neither know nor worry about the evils of institutionalization.

Go study what that term “institutionalization” means, then get back to me about “crass.”

At that point, we can have an informed conversation.

I am not being rude or insulting here. This is a matter ideology and you and I have different opinions about the current attitude of bureauKaRATZ.

Have a good weekend and a very good Memorial day.

I do mean that sincerely.

[Finny]

Wow. Baaaaaa-aaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaah

[Finny]

Why is it such a good thing to introduce 5-year-olds to the public display "ceremonies" of life passages that are ... ordinary?? KINDERGARTEN graduation?!? You're training five-year-olds to attach anxiety and significance on others (looking for daddy in the audience and when he's not there, being disappointed) when an ORDINARY event passes. Please be honest enough to recognize that any public display celebration of something any normal kid does at such a young age, is ONLY for the adults.

Stop being so touch-feely and start thinking.

[NonValueAdded]

Training them? Nay, not me. I simply observed what the children DO and reported the same. You are the one imputing agendas. Look inside yourself, Clarice. Re-read and think again.

[Finny]

No, Clarice, you pretend that you're "observing," but in truth you're lamenting how disappointing it is to kids when parents don't show up for charades like kindergarten "graduation." You are indirectly ENDORSING the validity of the charade, and I am merely observing that when adult society endorses such charades, the result is to train children to attach importance to trivialities.