Wow. I was expecting merely to read a good story, but got so much more. I definitely needed to read this today. Thanks for both the good story and the reminder of a truth we so easily forget.
When you stood up to that tyrant, you were at the time the one of the very few. I too had done similar things with teachers who played vicious control games on students. I even stood up for others.
Nowadays, I think the number of people like us increased. It's still not at a critical mass yet (theorized at 3% as history shows with civil rights and other changes the crooked politicians had to implement). However due to con-vid, it's been dramatically increasing. Sooner or later, pop. No more bullshit because people are finally standing up to the people who reinforce authoritarian shit.
Even if we can’t, as a single person, stop an authoritarian, we can always be a speed bump and make them think twice or slow down in the future. Then at least we did something, and we can still have some self-respect.
I love this story. I can really feel what you are expressing so powerfully here, Chris. Thank you for being you, and for holding the ground for what’s good and real and true. 🙏❤️✨
Yes, it was definitely a story that needed telling!
I have to admit, it'll be my very first Zoom performance! Having to change how I usually play my songs due to distortion/sound challenges but I'm cool with that!! See ya later! :)
I'm glad you loved it and the feeling came through Jacqueline! That story is one I think of occasionally but never wrote about. I figured now was the time. Looking forward to seeing you and your performance at Salon 2 tomorrow!!
Heck yeah, man. I had to look up " feather of MAAT " . Don't let anyone tell you I am a genius. I am not! I loved your story and the message. I know just what you mean. I have read quite a few posts about the body being sacred today. I am receiving that message. Also, the thing you said about your voice causing a change, that's so true. Even just the little things that you do or say or don't do or don't say, cause a change. People expect a "certain reaction" in a "certain time". As soon as you change up the pacing or the conversation you can FEEL a change take place in that space. The person thinks "oh, I guess it's not exactly what I thought" or something. My youngest son told me one day that the math teacher only smiled when she tells him to sign the "think book". I was always checking in with him to see what he liked about his teachers, you know, just staying on top of how he was doing in school. If he ever reported "he/she never smiles" , I knew we were in trouble. Haha. He did have trouble with her all year, she was a poop face. I believe that's the technical term. Also, when I was a kid, I moved from Michigan to Arkansas. I had a really mean teacher, I called her "prune face" because that was her expression everyday. I didn't say "yes, ma'am" I was a YANKEE. She would ask me a question. I would answer respectfully with a complete sentence. She would demand "Yes, I did my homework, MA'AM!" I was confused? She would repeat what I had said, "yes, the answer is A" or something and then YELL MA'AM! at the end. She sent me to the principles office. This was back when they still used a paddle. The principle paddled me. My mom showed up and raised holy heck. I sat outside the principles office with a sore butt laughing. My mother WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED with! She was about 5, 8 - 5, 9 , a southern (Bridgeport Alabama Southern) , red/brown haired Irish woman with possibly some bipolar or maybe some manic depressive things going on. It remains a mystery to this day, but you did not mess with my mother. From then on, for the rest of the year, the teacher would avoid asking me any questions because she knew that I would respectfully reply with a complete sentence and not say Ma'am! The very idea! Also, that principle would not have paddled me again for the WORLD. I guarantee you that. Yeah, people need to earn respect. A lot of people don't get that, when they are the elder they assume they have earned it by living however long. Sorry for your luck. If you want respect you have to show respect. I seriously dislike it when older people are disrespectful of younger people and then get upset when they aren't being listened to. It's ludicrous. I also don't like it when older people assume that they know how a younger person should live their own life. Then they talk about what he/she needs to do, like it's a given. We have no place treating our young people that way. Amazingly, if you treat a young person with respect, you usually get it back. Weird, I know.
I laughed so hard at the story of your mother and the teacher. Love it! You are correct about showing respect to get it. My son told me the other day that a kid he has a class with told him, "Your dad is really cool man." This was only because I had a nice conversation with him at the gym. I also asked him about his life, just stuff like sports, school, etc. Then he opened up. Teenagers want to open up to adults. I spoke to him no different than I would to any adult. I'm glad you loved the story. It's one I think of from time to time but never wrote about it. I figured now was the time. Be well!
Wow. I was expecting merely to read a good story, but got so much more. I definitely needed to read this today. Thanks for both the good story and the reminder of a truth we so easily forget.
When you stood up to that tyrant, you were at the time the one of the very few. I too had done similar things with teachers who played vicious control games on students. I even stood up for others.
Nowadays, I think the number of people like us increased. It's still not at a critical mass yet (theorized at 3% as history shows with civil rights and other changes the crooked politicians had to implement). However due to con-vid, it's been dramatically increasing. Sooner or later, pop. No more bullshit because people are finally standing up to the people who reinforce authoritarian shit.
Right on Rob! I'm glad to hear you stood up for others too. Always appreciate your insights.
Even if we can’t, as a single person, stop an authoritarian, we can always be a speed bump and make them think twice or slow down in the future. Then at least we did something, and we can still have some self-respect.
I love this story. I can really feel what you are expressing so powerfully here, Chris. Thank you for being you, and for holding the ground for what’s good and real and true. 🙏❤️✨
Yes, it was definitely a story that needed telling!
I have to admit, it'll be my very first Zoom performance! Having to change how I usually play my songs due to distortion/sound challenges but I'm cool with that!! See ya later! :)
I’m sure it will be great!
Me too! All of it. 😊
I'm glad you loved it and the feeling came through Jacqueline! That story is one I think of occasionally but never wrote about. I figured now was the time. Looking forward to seeing you and your performance at Salon 2 tomorrow!!
I didn't learn the power of no until later in life. It became my favorite word. It probably still is.
It is not often I hear someone other than myself say that people are divine. I think you were at the Salon last night? Subscribing.
Heck yeah, man. I had to look up " feather of MAAT " . Don't let anyone tell you I am a genius. I am not! I loved your story and the message. I know just what you mean. I have read quite a few posts about the body being sacred today. I am receiving that message. Also, the thing you said about your voice causing a change, that's so true. Even just the little things that you do or say or don't do or don't say, cause a change. People expect a "certain reaction" in a "certain time". As soon as you change up the pacing or the conversation you can FEEL a change take place in that space. The person thinks "oh, I guess it's not exactly what I thought" or something. My youngest son told me one day that the math teacher only smiled when she tells him to sign the "think book". I was always checking in with him to see what he liked about his teachers, you know, just staying on top of how he was doing in school. If he ever reported "he/she never smiles" , I knew we were in trouble. Haha. He did have trouble with her all year, she was a poop face. I believe that's the technical term. Also, when I was a kid, I moved from Michigan to Arkansas. I had a really mean teacher, I called her "prune face" because that was her expression everyday. I didn't say "yes, ma'am" I was a YANKEE. She would ask me a question. I would answer respectfully with a complete sentence. She would demand "Yes, I did my homework, MA'AM!" I was confused? She would repeat what I had said, "yes, the answer is A" or something and then YELL MA'AM! at the end. She sent me to the principles office. This was back when they still used a paddle. The principle paddled me. My mom showed up and raised holy heck. I sat outside the principles office with a sore butt laughing. My mother WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED with! She was about 5, 8 - 5, 9 , a southern (Bridgeport Alabama Southern) , red/brown haired Irish woman with possibly some bipolar or maybe some manic depressive things going on. It remains a mystery to this day, but you did not mess with my mother. From then on, for the rest of the year, the teacher would avoid asking me any questions because she knew that I would respectfully reply with a complete sentence and not say Ma'am! The very idea! Also, that principle would not have paddled me again for the WORLD. I guarantee you that. Yeah, people need to earn respect. A lot of people don't get that, when they are the elder they assume they have earned it by living however long. Sorry for your luck. If you want respect you have to show respect. I seriously dislike it when older people are disrespectful of younger people and then get upset when they aren't being listened to. It's ludicrous. I also don't like it when older people assume that they know how a younger person should live their own life. Then they talk about what he/she needs to do, like it's a given. We have no place treating our young people that way. Amazingly, if you treat a young person with respect, you usually get it back. Weird, I know.
I laughed so hard at the story of your mother and the teacher. Love it! You are correct about showing respect to get it. My son told me the other day that a kid he has a class with told him, "Your dad is really cool man." This was only because I had a nice conversation with him at the gym. I also asked him about his life, just stuff like sports, school, etc. Then he opened up. Teenagers want to open up to adults. I spoke to him no different than I would to any adult. I'm glad you loved the story. It's one I think of from time to time but never wrote about it. I figured now was the time. Be well!
I got that a lot with my son's friends as well. It was for the same reason. I treated them like individual human beings. Mind boggling :)