More Homophobic Bullshit from Itawamba

[Medusa]

Remember Constance McMillen who has been all over the news as of late for being disallowed to the Prom?

As of late, we have discovered through various news stories that Constance was sent to a "fake" prom by parents and students. She, along with 6 other students, two of which who were learning disabled, were sent to a "fake prom" event at the country club while everyone else attended a secret parent-sponsored prom.

Today, I discovered that some kids have started a Facebook page to further bully Constance. The page is entitled "Constance quit yer cryin".

I have joined the page to voice my opinion and will be unjoining shortly. Hundreds of other folks have done the same.

To say that I am AGOG at the mean-spirited nature of what these kids and parents have done to Constance would be an understatement.

I have sent multiple letters to the school board and am now trying to obtain the address and contact info for the Parent Advisory Committee who helped sponsor the "secret" Prom.

Im just pissed and wanted to vomit.

[Diva]

Medusa,

I just went to Facebook and typed in "Constance quit yer cryin" and there was nothing there.....

Could it have been removed in this short amount of time?

Thanks.

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by Diva

Medusa,

I just went to Facebook and typed in "Constance quit yer cryin" and there was nothing there.....

Could it have been removed in this short amount of time?

Thanks.

You might be able to get to it through my wall, babydoll.

[Cyclopea]

Joe.My.God. had some photos up earlier from the "secret bigot prom" showing all the happy haters boogying down. I just went to post them but he removed them. That's okay, they would have made you puke. :nauseated smilie:

[Gemme]

Fuckers, the lot of them.

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by Cyclopea

Joe.My.God. had some photos up earlier from the "secret bigot prom" showing all the happy haters boogying down. I just went to post them but he removed them. That's okay, they would have made you puke. :nauseated smilie:

Tell me about it. I just looked at some of the pictures *eyeroll*
One of them was of a girl doing the whole "make your first two fingers look like a V and waggle your tongue through it to simulate eating pussy" thing.
*double eyeroll*

And to all - Remember that the kids are just kids, Im directing my anger at the parents who sponsored the secret prom.

[Gemme]

M---I have to say that even though they are just kids, if they are old enough to go to a prom, they are old enough to know right from wrong and that their behavior is hurtful to others.

For me, they get their share of blame and disgust as well.

[Cyclopea]

Originally Posted by Gemme

M---I have to say that even though they are just kids, if they are old enough to go to a prom, they are old enough to know right from wrong and that their behavior is hurtful to others.

For me, they get their share of blame and disgust as well.

What she said!

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by Gemme

M---I have to say that even though they are just kids, if they are old enough to go to a prom, they are old enough to know right from wrong and that their behavior is hurtful to others.

For me, they get their share of blame and disgust as well.

Oh yeah, and I prettttttty much agree with this - Im just thinking that some of these kids are closer to 15 and 16 than 17 and 18 and that their emotional intelligence is obviously lacking.
I do agree that they know their behavior is hurtful - I think back to the "mean girl and boy" mentality of high school and how kids who are too scared to think for themselves will often follow the crowd because its "safer" for them (thinking of all of those Queer kids who "act straight" in small towns in order to keep from getting the shit kicked out of them)

I think that people at that age aren't wholly formed yet and that maybe hearing and seeing the backlash might help them evolve a little. Or not.

I do think that Constance is incredibly brave and level and has shown immense grace under all of the stabby stuff. I hope that in some small way she gains strength from seeing all of the thousands of people who support her and love her.

[Selenay]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Oh yeah, and I prettttttty much agree with this - Im just thinking that some of these kids are closer to 15 and 16 than 17 and 18 and that their emotional intelligence is obviously lacking.
I do agree that they know their behavior is hurtful - I think back to the "mean girl and boy" mentality of high school and how kids who are too scared to think for themselves will often follow the crowd because its "safer" for them (thinking of all of those Queer kids who "act straight" in small towns in order to keep from getting the shit kicked out of them)

I think that people at that age aren't wholly formed yet and that maybe hearing and seeing the backlash might help them evolve a little. Or not.

I do think that Constance is incredibly brave and level and has shown immense grace under all of the stabby stuff. I hope that in some small way she gains strength from seeing all of the thousands of people who support her and love her.

If I'm able to the difference between acceptance and hate at 20, I'm willing to bet they know this stuff at 18.

I am unwilling to excuse their poor behavior simply because of their age; many of them will go off to college later this year, many of them will have their own bank accounts, cars, apartments.

If you are old enough to get behind the wheel and risk not only your life, but that of others (you can do that at sixteen, so even if they are young for their grade...) then you are 100% responsible for the affect of your "nonviolent" "harmless" actions.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Oh yeah, and I prettttttty much agree with this - Im just thinking that some of these kids are closer to 15 and 16 than 17 and 18 and that their emotional intelligence is obviously lacking.
I do agree that they know their behavior is hurtful - I think back to the "mean girl and boy" mentality of high school and how kids who are too scared to think for themselves will often follow the crowd because its "safer" for them (thinking of all of those Queer kids who "act straight" in small towns in order to keep from getting the shit kicked out of them)

I think that people at that age aren't wholly formed yet and that maybe hearing and seeing the backlash might help them evolve a little. Or not.

I do think that Constance is incredibly brave and level and has shown immense grace under all of the stabby stuff. I hope that in some small way she gains strength from seeing all of the thousands of people who support her and love her.

Group think, absolutely, and trying to blend in and stay under the radar are definitely memories from high school I could do without. I am so glad to not be there now.

I agree that Constance has behaved with a grace light years ahead of her age. I appreciate that she's kept mum about her gf's name, to keep the backlash and media off of her. Whether it was her decision or the parents of the gf that decided that, it shows a maturity in her that she respects her gf's privacy.

Maybe I'm more harsh because:

1. I don't like teenagers in general.
2. I am a product of Mississippi and I turned out well and was respectful at that age, so why the Hell can't others be?
3. Living in a Navy town, I constantly come into contact with teenagers who've enlisted and I see the change that structure and emotional growth sponsor.
4. I want to enlist all of them that went to the parent-sponsored prom. Now.

I didn't know of many freshmen or sophomores who went to prom at my school. It was almost all seniors and some juniors. Or maybe I've just blocked those years out. Anything's possible.

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Oh yeah, and I prettttttty much agree with this - Im just thinking that some of these kids are closer to 15 and 16 than 17 and 18 and that their emotional intelligence is obviously lacking.
I do agree that they know their behavior is hurtful - I think back to the "mean girl and boy" mentality of high school and how kids who are too scared to think for themselves will often follow the crowd because its "safer" for them (thinking of all of those Queer kids who "act straight" in small towns in order to keep from getting the shit kicked out of them)

I think that people at that age aren't wholly formed yet and that maybe hearing and seeing the backlash might help them evolve a little. Or not.

I do think that Constance is incredibly brave and level and has shown immense grace under all of the stabby stuff. I hope that in some small way she gains strength from seeing all of the thousands of people who support her and love her.

I don't think this has anything to do with lacking "emotional intelligence." As for thinking for themselves, I also don't think that has anything to do with their age. Adults will also very often fall into the mob mentality just because it's safer and they prefer to be a part of the group than against it. To me this event has nothing to do with being a teenager or an adult, but has to do with the general human tendency to discriminate against and dehumanise those who appear to exist outside popular "moral standards." They refuse to think outside of what they know because they're afraid not to know, or not to understand, and that their structured world will stop making sense to them. Most people love to think of what they've been taught as set in stone or absolute, and when they're faced with something that threatens what they thought to be "right" or "true" they lash out. I think it has more to do with insecurity among both adults and teenagers.

[evolveme]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Oh yeah, and I prettttttty much agree with this - Im just thinking that some of these kids are closer to 15 and 16 than 17 and 18 and that their emotional intelligence is obviously lacking.
I do agree that they know their behavior is hurtful - I think back to the "mean girl and boy" mentality of high school and how kids who are too scared to think for themselves will often follow the crowd because its "safer" for them (thinking of all of those Queer kids who "act straight" in small towns in order to keep from getting the shit kicked out of them)

I think that people at that age aren't wholly formed yet and that maybe hearing and seeing the backlash might help them evolve a little. Or not.

I do think that Constance is incredibly brave and level and has shown immense grace under all of the stabby stuff. I hope that in some small way she gains strength from seeing all of the thousands of people who support her and love her.

I also agree that Constance should be commended. She's certainly brave.

What I want to speak to here is the back-and-forth about the developmental capacity of teenagers - whether we should expect them to be responsible (I believe we should) and to own compassion (I also believe we should) provided that we also understand their brains* and their environments. We need to have compassion *for* them, in order to expect it *from* them. And being from Mississippi, I can tell you that there isn't a meaty air of compassion from which to draw in the first.

The brains of teenagers are not fully formed. Their frontal lobes are "sluggish." They are high on impulsiveness and weak on decision making skill. This article from NPR came about when a pediatric neurologist decided to study what the heck was up with her teenage sons and why they appeared to be making such ridiculous decisions.

It isn't believed that brains are fully developed until into the twenties. So, I agree with Medusa, that while we can (must) hold these teenagers responsible for the poor choices they are making (we have to teach all kids to be accountable for themselves), it is really the parents here who must own what has occurred. Constance and every other teenager like her deserves that much.

[SuperFemme]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Oh yeah, and I prettttttty much agree with this - Im just thinking that some of these kids are closer to 15 and 16 than 17 and 18 and that their emotional intelligence is obviously lacking.
I do agree that they know their behavior is hurtful - I think back to the "mean girl and boy" mentality of high school and how kids who are too scared to think for themselves will often follow the crowd because its "safer" for them (thinking of all of those Queer kids who "act straight" in small towns in order to keep from getting the shit kicked out of them)

I think that people at that age aren't wholly formed yet and that maybe hearing and seeing the backlash might help them evolve a little. Or not.

I do think that Constance is incredibly brave and level and has shown immense grace under all of the stabby stuff. I hope that in some small way she gains strength from seeing all of the thousands of people who support her and love her.

I think the mean girl/boy mentality is just as prevalent in adults as it is in the young ones. It has been my experience as a parent that the children who use homophobic slurs towards my children (just for having Queer parents) are parroting what they hear from Mom and Dad.

We are all products of our environments, and it takes a lot of reality to break free from the group think of ones own family.

I think Constance is also a product of her environment, one that is accepting and loving and strong. One that stands up for what is good and just.

[Cyclopea]

Originally Posted by Medusa

Tell me about it. I just looked at some of the pictures *eyeroll*
One of them was of a girl doing the whole "make your first two fingers look like a V and waggle your tongue through it to simulate eating pussy" thing.
*double eyeroll*

And to all - Remember that the kids are just kids, Im directing my anger at the parents who sponsored the secret prom.

I disagree. Seniors in high school are responsible for their own actions- or lack thereof.

[Corkey]

They are old enough to know how to hate, they are old enough to learn compassion.

[Diva]

I couldn't find the Parent Advisory Committee contact info. But I DID find this:

The Itawamba County School District needs to hear from YOU:

Superintendent Teresa McNeece
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us
phone (662) 862-2159 Ext. 14

Principal Trae Wiygul
twiygul@itawamba.k12.ms.us
(662) 862-3104

Let's keep those phones ringing off the hook. And I would encourage you, if possible, to fax your letters in addition to emailing them. The school's fax number: you can send a fax to (662) 862-5494.


Enjoy being subverse.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Diva

I couldn't find the Parent Advisory Committee contact info. But I DID find this:

The Itawamba County School District needs to hear from YOU:

Superintendent Teresa McNeece
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us
phone (662) 862-2159 Ext. 14

Principal Trae Wiygul
twiygul@itawamba.k12.ms.us
(662) 862-3104

Let's keep those phones ringing off the hook. And I would encourage you, if possible, to fax your letters in addition to emailing them. The school's fax number: you can send a fax to (662) 862-5494.


Enjoy being subverse.

I love you...bumping because...

Thanks Diva...I love writng and faxing...Wheeeeeee

[Martina]

i emailed the superintendent a day or so ago. No reply of course.

[Jet]

you have a lot of conviction and social conscience.
good for you.

Originally Posted by Medusa

Remember Constance McMillen who has been all over the news as of late for being disallowed to the Prom?

As of late, we have discovered through various news stories that Constance was sent to a "fake" prom by parents and students. She, along with 6 other students, two of which who were learning disabled, were sent to a "fake prom" event at the country club while everyone else attended a secret parent-sponsored prom.

Today, I discovered that some kids have started a Facebook page to further bully Constance. The page is entitled "Constance quit yer cryin".

I have joined the page to voice my opinion and will be unjoining shortly. Hundreds of other folks have done the same.

To say that I am AGOG at the mean-spirited nature of what these kids and parents have done to Constance would be an understatement.

I have sent multiple letters to the school board and am now trying to obtain the address and contact info for the Parent Advisory Committee who helped sponsor the "secret" Prom.

Im just pissed and wanted to vomit.