The general definition of tolerance is:

a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.

I am starting to wonder if I really am tolerant. So many things I have read in the past make me feel frustrated, mad and intolerant.

Something that I read in the Palm Beach Post in November 2008, made me feel intolerant… the title of the article is “No life lessons out of virtual kindergarten” by Frank Cerabino. I knew this was coming, I read about it in many different places, but it never really struck me as to what it was all about. I must say, I never really paid that much attention to it. Then I read it was for kindergarten to 12th grade… it was the Elementary school part that got to me…

From the Florida Department of Education:

The program shall provide virtual instruction to full-time students enrolled in full-time virtual courses in kindergarten through grade 8

You are joking right? Kindergartners sitting in front of a computer for 6 hours? Sigh… And the money spent on setting this up… I hope it is worth it. I know home-schooled kids that are doing great. The parents take them on outings, there are special PE classes set up for a group of home-schoolers, there are special classes at the museums…. and that I have no problem with… this whole ‘online’ for kindergartners… doesn’t seem like it is set up to have them move from in front of the computer. Maybe I read it wrong… I hope so… but I see a bunch of kids with little to no social skills happening.

Now on to another item that set me off…

This article in the Chicago Tribune that the Grouchy Old Cripple posted Go on… go read what the Grouchy Old Cripple had to say… back? Good… what scares me is that this can happen on so many different levels. What are we teaching our children? Not just about politics? I had a long talk with Tater about Obama and McCain. What I liked and didn’t like about each candidate and why I choose McCain. I also said it was ok if Obama got into office. I talked about some of the reasons why I liked Obama. What got to me was the other kids in his class. VERY OPINIONATED about Obama. There was ‘no tolerance’ for McCain. I look to see what is next on the agenda for my son to learn about from others… Race? Religion? What????

Luckily he asks me about these things and I have the opportunity to help him understand there are two sides. You pick a side that fits you best, but you need to understand the other side. Do you have to agree? No. But should you be mean? cruel? cause them to be an outcast? refuse to be their friend? No. Yet, I saw it happening in a 1st grade class. This scares me. It makes me wonder where our country will be in 15 years?

Yet, I went out on Black Friday and everyone was nice. At 5am in the morning… everyone said “Excuse me”, “Sorry”, and “Here let me move out of your way”… it was amazing. Maybe, just maybe there is some hope. Give an extra prayer during this Holiday season that our country, our kids and our fellow patriots remember the good values we need… Maybe we should start following the rules that George Washington learned in school… you know 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation… which can be found HERE or HERE.

Number 50 hits home: Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any.

Tags: behavior, civility, george washington