Raisin' Hell with the Histrionics and the Cowboys

 Normalize calling people out when they are acting like jerks. Hear me out.

I know that we live in a society where, around every corner, there is someone just waiting to be offended about something. I also know there is something to be said about picking your battles. Being a teacher, I inadvertently stumbled into knowing a lot about this. In my mother's words, sometimes you have to decide whether it's "a hill you want to die on."

I have also noticed that we live in a society that seems to be devoid of the concept of consequences. It is "easier," in whatever fictional rationality some people have made, to let individuals be. I have heard a phrase along the lines of people "living their truth." People are under the impression that they and they alone inhabit the center of the universe. Everyone and everything revolves around them, their opinions, and what they had for breakfast that morning. Nothing is as important as whatever is in that precious little head of theirs and, because they want something to happen, the universe should fall in line at the mere will of its center inhabitant. Now I don't claim to be an expert at anything, but that math is not mathing to me.

Because of this epidemic of apathy and self-centeredness, we are now seeing teenagers who are under the mistaken impression that they are fully formed adults. With that comes a non-fully-formed brain (it's science, look it up) with raging hormones actually believing that they have the right to do and say whatever they want--to whoever they want--whenever they want. The bow tieing all this together is the mindset that the entire world should care about and bend to whatever is in that pretty little entitled head of theirs. Lest we forget, however, that pretty things are often fertilized with manure.

So, this is what no consequences have gotten us. This is where no accountability has dropped us off and said "have fun with that." We are breeding a generation that cannot really do much but think they are owed everything. A generation that have made themselves out to be celebrities in their own little blue-light squares staring up at them. A generation that considers themselves untouchable. 

I am reminded of a couple of parts of one of my favorite movies--Lonesome Dove. One in which Capt. Gus McCrae demands the respect he deserves as a former Texas Ranger by "whackin' a surly bartender". The other later on in the movie when, after beating the absolute dog mess out of man, Capt. Woodrow Call declares "I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it." Far be it from me to condone violence as a solution to surly or rude behavior, but I am sure those men did not soon forget their "lessons."

There are always roses among the briars. There are those working hard, holding their values, and being the change. There are those that spread their light among the darkness. There are those that know how things should be and know what things to keep close and dear. There are ones that still hold respect. Those that stare in the face of stupidity and roll their eyes. The old souls. To those, all I can say right now is I hope the thorns you hold yourself are sharp because we are going to need them.