Friday, September 5, 2008

Brainwashing, Yay or Nay?

I'm gonna say yay. This came to me, oh, about four years ago. I had a little distaste for the current pres and my very impressionable children must have heard me on the phone, or when people were over or crying in my sleep and picked up on it. To the point that I had them at the pool at our club and we came home and Chase's eyes were very red and Rachel said, "Chase, your eyes are so red." To which he replied very solemnly with all the wisdom of a five year old, "Yes....Bush put to much chlorine in the pool." Oh, how I laughed. Marc didn't think it was quite as funny. He told me I couldn't brainwash them. I thought, oh yes I can, they're so young and willing to learn, if not now, when?
So there were a few things I decided to go with while their brains were still pliable. Good things, be polite. Ask anyone, they are polite kids. And be kind, over everything else, be a kind person. Kind they are. It's easier to be nice to the mean kid then mean to the mean kid but do stand up for yourself. So see, good things. I also taught them at a very young age what being gay meant cause they have a gay uncle. Where's Uncle Mark's girlfriend was gonna get old quick. I also taught them it doesn't matter if you are gay or not gay, black or white, fat or skinny, young or old, happy or sad, Jewish or Catholic, rich or poor, smart or dumb, we are all people and all people have feelings and to respect them. We don't make fun of other people or take cheap shots at them at any time, you know during a speech or at a sporting event or anywhere, or try to make someone feel bad about who they are. It's to bad a lot of adults don't understand this. What a nicer world it would be.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

"It's to bad a lot of adults don't understand this. What a nicer world it would be."

You hit the nail on the head with this statement.

Anonymous said...

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
- Thumper's Dad

One of my favorite quotes.

Anonymous said...

Bushy Baby loves the chemicals, so don't rule that one out. I think Chase was on to something.

Anonymous said...

personally, I wish you were my mom, and would brainwash me. Then I wouldn't have to think for myself. Holla! I think it's very good looking out.

Amy said...

Anonymous, is that you Rachel? Come on, sign your name. And if it is Rachel, juno as well as I do that me doing the thinking is not always a good idea. Show me how smart you are. :)

While I'm at it, PRD- thank you. I loved your iggy quote yesterday btw.

Kathy, Totally.

And Bushless, seriously your names are one of my favorite parts to my day. That is still making me laugh.

MarkNYC said...

Maybe you should brainwash Sarah Palin. Lacking sufficient knowledge on issues, she resorted to nastiness over substance in attacking Obama. Of course, there is a large contingent of Americans who love this stuff. Those are the adults who don't understand your outlook on life, which, like my boss's, is all about choice and tolerance. Call it brainwashing if you must, but your kids are lucky they are being taught how to live and love with open hearts and minds.

Meredith said...

Ok, NOW I know why I liked Brother Mark as soon as he took the time to comment. If you need further explanation - see # 37 on my list of 100 things.

Brainwashing is our right, and one of many benefits we have to birthing these creatures. My parents must be distraught that theirs didn't take.

Lula! said...

This is so good, Amy! Seriously.

My kids have been taught, on a daily basis: There is NO reason whatsoever to be rude to anyone. At any time. For any reason.

That being said, they do pick up on our convesations. Today, while driving to Richmond, we passed a car that had a bumper sticker that read, "Obama Oh-*hit!" We laughed quietly, then Libbey said, "Hey, there was a bad word on that car! Are we still voting for McCain?" We told her, "Yes--but it's not nice to say cuss words about either candidate, Republican or Democrat, just so you know." And then, to our delight, she replied, "Well, that Obama guy is part black and part white, just like Logan!" (Logan is our nephew.) We were proud--'cause she was dead right! How she knew this I'll never know...but she did. I so love it! (And even thought we are conservatives, we are definitely teaching open hearts and open minds--it's a very big deal in our house!)

And your kids are beautiful--just like you!

Simple Answer said...

Yea. I knew where this was going.

What about the woman who was rude re: your nose ring? I dunno. Maybe there was a bit (and I mean that with love) of an in-your-face post about it? On which I am totally on your side about. She too needed to learn to just be nice.

But me? I love a kick-ass smart remark!

Amy said...

Mark, I knew I could leave it to you to read between the lines. Of course that's what I mean't.

Meredith, Mark loves you too. And of course we must brainwash, they'll be voting some day.

Lula, You are so sweet and of course your kids are too. It's all about tolerance.

SA, I'm not sure I understand. I remember saying she seemed nice and was "cute". I told the story like it happened. I said her son was rude, which he was, but even so, I never said it to my kids. Although, sometimes I think rudeness can be pointed out so they know how not to act. So, I'm not sure I get it. I will say I am certainly not perfect, but I'm also not running for VP. Love, Amy

Simple Answer said...

So you have to be perfect to run for VP? Holy crap we're in trouble!

@TiffanyRom said...

"If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me." Love that line.

Isn't funny how perfectly nice people get all excitable when politics come up? When my father (a wonderful man and a staunch Democrat) heard that I was considering McCain, he said, "Well, fortunately California will go to O'Bama, so in the end, your vote won't really count.".

Seriously, my own father. Geez. Guess he should have brainwashed me better! :)

Anonymous said...

Juno we're already in trouble. A little perfection might not be a bad thing. Paris

MarkNYC said...

I'm not sure objecting to the way this country has been run for the last eight years and wanting a complete change in direction qualifies ones behavior as "excitable." In fact, the current leader of the Republican party has among the lowest approval ratings in our nation's history, and 4 out of 5 Americans believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. Not so much "excitable" as prone to good sense, so-called "perfectly nice people" simply want better foreign policy; an improved standing for America in the world community; a stronger dollar and improved economy; affordable healthcare; a better standard of living than we have now. Say, something more akin to 2000 than what we have in 2008. And we want a better life for all, not just Democrats. We care less about keeping others from doing what they want with their lives... having responsible abortions and marrying the mate of their choice. We care less about proving our military might, which is, by the way, far diminished from what it was 8 years ago. Contrary to being "excitable," we're simply exhausted from what our government has done to our country and the American way since 2000. Apparently, the potential next leader of the Republican party is exhausted from it, too. After all, he couldn't have done more to distance himself from Bush during the RNC, despite having voted with Bush 90% of the time. I'm not sure how to trust that kind of person. I think he's trying to brainwash us, and not for the better.

Amy said...

Yeah Yeah, what he said, what he said.
I love my brother.
Very much.
~A