"Hate Free Zone"

I work at a public high school, and as we all know, public education is run by well-meaning but absolutely deceived people who are bound and determined to improve the self-esteem and self-worth of kids. My school has a diversity club whose acronymic title boasts that the purpose of the club is that students will Learning "Acceptance" through "Education." I hesitate to name the club's real title lest some kid google it, find this here blog, and get me railroaded out of town for the upcoming tirade.

The club is officially not about sexual orientation decision issues; it is ostensibly about race relations - which in my school actually are a big deal. But the sponsors of the club and others around the school have "Hate Free Zone" signs hanging in their classrooms and office spaces. The original "Hate Free Zone" poster was created, printed, and distributed by the local Gay/Bisexual/Transgender alliance. The "Hate Free Zone" poster makes me incredibly cranky, and the picture at left is my response to such idiocy. If you click on the picture, it'll bring up a big version, and you are welcome to print it and hang it in your office or classroom.

I've got one hanging by my door. For now, at least, I still have my right to free speech.

Guess how old this boy is

That's right.

Old enough to spell his name.

Old enough to "take care of" his "baby" (the penguin at the bottom left of the picture).

Old enough take trips to the moon, to Chicago, to a lake, to track meets, to the country of "spee-chu-spahn," etc. all from the rocket/airplace/boat/van/catamaran that is our living room couch.

Old enough to use the potty "all by myself."

Old enough to say "No, I amn't."

Old enough to recognize the haircut place every time we drive by it at 45mph.

Old enough to be influenced by brands and logos: "Daddy, there's Target. There's Home Depot. Let's go to Sam's Club. Is that Wal-Mart?"

Old enough to not need a bib because he will eat his yogurt carefully.

Old enough to enjoy a banana split and choose his own toppings for it.

Old enough to repeat phrases daddy shouldn't say in front of him (and probably shouldn't say at all).

Old enough to recognize the flag of the United States.

Old enough to recognize (in traffic) a bumper sticker with an outline of Texas with red, white, and blue and the lone star on it as "part of a United States flag."

Old enough to say (as only a child could say) that Texas has lots of guns in it. How he knows this I have no idea.

Old enough that I must be older than the 22 years that I wrote down on some form the other day.