On changing opinions
So, last Saturday, our class hosted the school's Sadie Hawkins dance. We made a fairly nice profit off of it, but unfortunately, this may be a dance that will live in infamy. Due to inadequate, um, law-enforcement, the dance became something of a grind-fest. I might make some observations about the psychology behind such a phenomenon, but for now I have a particular point I want to make.
Teachers at school received numerous reports about the dirty dancing, and by Tuesday the repercussions were in order. Between 3rd and 4th period we all go into the gym for prayer, pledge of alliegance and announcements. The big announcement that day consisted of, naturally, a stern finger-shaking from the principal, but after that our principal made a pretty simple announcement. He basically said that all students who had not been directly involved in the "freaking" could leave for the 5-minute break before the next class, but those who had been involved? Well, they would have to remain in the gym. What is truly incredible is that our principal didn't have a laundry list of guilty faces he was demanding stay in that gym; he left it up to people's individual consciences as to whether they should stay or go. Naturally, pretty much everyone promptly left, but a few people stayed...And, ironically, my opinion of those people who remained (one in particular) has gone up about 150%.
What? But weren't these the very people who turned that dance into a semi-orgy? How can you possibly admire them?
Very simple, my friends. See, unlike many of the people who left that gym, those remaining had the maturity and guts to acknowledge their mistake and face its consequences, especially when one of those consequences consisted of an open advertisement of their guilt; it's not easy to conceal from your peers the fact that you're staying on those bleachers while they're going. Basically, they showed immense courage, dignity and honesty by staying put, and I can only hope that I could show similar fortitude in a situation like that.
Teachers at school received numerous reports about the dirty dancing, and by Tuesday the repercussions were in order. Between 3rd and 4th period we all go into the gym for prayer, pledge of alliegance and announcements. The big announcement that day consisted of, naturally, a stern finger-shaking from the principal, but after that our principal made a pretty simple announcement. He basically said that all students who had not been directly involved in the "freaking" could leave for the 5-minute break before the next class, but those who had been involved? Well, they would have to remain in the gym. What is truly incredible is that our principal didn't have a laundry list of guilty faces he was demanding stay in that gym; he left it up to people's individual consciences as to whether they should stay or go. Naturally, pretty much everyone promptly left, but a few people stayed...And, ironically, my opinion of those people who remained (one in particular) has gone up about 150%.
What? But weren't these the very people who turned that dance into a semi-orgy? How can you possibly admire them?
Very simple, my friends. See, unlike many of the people who left that gym, those remaining had the maturity and guts to acknowledge their mistake and face its consequences, especially when one of those consequences consisted of an open advertisement of their guilt; it's not easy to conceal from your peers the fact that you're staying on those bleachers while they're going. Basically, they showed immense courage, dignity and honesty by staying put, and I can only hope that I could show similar fortitude in a situation like that.
posted by James at
6:06 PM
