Continued from Alec Baldwin Part 1...
I’ll give you an example from my own life. When I was a young teen I decided to cut school with a friend on a Friday. I was a good student, a smart kid, and respectful of my elders. But when a friend suggested cutting school on a really nice weather day, I did it. I also got caught. When my father found out I was scolded in a similar manner to what Mr. Alec Baldwin did to his child. Perhaps not as harsh, but to many these days that think spanking a child is a vile act I’m sure it was no less intense. I was not ‘altered for life’ nor was anything else other than understanding that I failed to respect my mother and do what expected of me.
Being a smart kid, my logic told me on the following Monday, that I could cut school again. Who would ask after the threat of a beating given on Friday? Smart as I was, my logic was flawed. I was caught again. When my mother awakened me and my siblings she had only one thing to say, “Your father is in the living room.” I was justifiably fearful. After my father explained in detail the travails he had to endure to reach me and my siblings that Monday night, with a few expletives included, he hauled me into a room and proceeded to “straighten my ass out” on the concept of listening to my mother and respecting the words both of them had said to me. It was a vigorous lesson that involved few words. Again I was not scarred for life. I was reminded that respect of my parents and elders was an obligation that actions have consequences, and decisions may not always have the outcomes you expect or want. Pretty good life lessons I think. I also learned that if I’m going to do something I need to plan well. Sorry mom, but I did cut school again, in my later teens, but I learned to be smart enough about it to make sure I didn’t get caught. Another lesson of sorts, depending on how it is applied.
The point of this is simply that parents have outburst. Some are justified, some not. A child that has been cared for directly by their parents (or grand-parents) with discipline, involvement, and physical punishments when needed (and in moderation) turn out as often as not to be well adjusted adults. But as more parents that can afford to do so use therapists, drugs, and the latest books’ theory on child-raising the kids seem to be more screwed up than ever. No system is perfect as is no parent. But I have found more parents acting like my own in the Black and Hispanic communities than in others.
But in listening to Mr. Baldwin I am reminded to an extent of my parents. Not perfect, he was over the top, but similar. He was obviously frustrated because he loves his child. IF you’ve heard the full call you will know that. He knew he was wrong and apologized long before anyone else in the world heard word one. He has never been accused of any abuse to his child ever.
What has been horribly abusive is that a private conversation was released to the world. His daughter has been embarrassed in front of her peers and the world. Somehow, someone let this private call get out to the public. IF it was Mrs. Kim Bassinger, that was an abusive act.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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