Soapbox Tuesday
Tuesdays are fun because I get to look for the absurd news story of the day and then talk about it. The sad thing is I usually dont have to look too far for a absurd story. Today it took all of five minutes.
This story starts in the little town of Northport New York where two senior students choose the following quotes for their yearbook. Christopher Koulermos picked: Strength lies no in defense, but in attack. Philip Comptons choice was: The great masses of people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. Now these quotes arent exactly friendly but not really Earth shattering. That is until you find out the book these two quotes come from; Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler.
The fact that students picked two quotes from Hitler isnt really that surprising. In my high school senior group shot there are three guys with their arms straight up either hailing Caesar or Hitler one of them being an African-American. So seniors doing shocking things just isnt that shocking anymore. But some of the things in the story that really go my attention are the responses to the act.
The Principal and Superintendent both are apologizing for the publication of these quotes. The yearbooks student staff and advisor saw the quotes but either didnt think they should be edited or just didnt realize where the quotes came from. But then again I wonder how many people off the street would recognize the quotes without the credit included. But that means if they staff didnt see it, then someone got the quote and recognized it immediately or, the two kids were dumb enough to brag to the wrong person that they got the quotes in. My guess its the bragging thing.
Two of the things they are considering to rectify this grievous offense either reprinting that section of the yearbook or and I LOVE this one offering special tape to people who want to cover the quote. So a piece of duct tape or a black marker isnt good enough? Special tape has to be made and offered to all the people who bought the book? What makes the tape special? Does it have the words: Im sorry I was a dick. On the tape to put in the original quotes place? And what if you dont request the tape, does suddenly everyone in the town think youre a Nazi?
But the best part of the whole thing is the reaction of Steven Compton, the father of 18-year-old Phillip I quote this from the CNN story: I guess he seriously didnt consider the source; he was more interested in the quote. Hes a child Now there are a LOT of things wrong with Mr. Comptons response. First if his son didnt seriously consider the source then someone didnt teach him a damn bit about history. And for him to have picked the quote, it means that either hes read the book or he specifically decided he wanted a Hitler quote and went and found one I dont think people accidentally come across quotes by Hitler. Second, the says his son was more interested in the quote about fooling everyone with the big lie this is something you want to admit? Your sons favorite quote is about bullshitting the most amount of people possible? And third hes 18 he may be immature and stupid but hes no longer a child.
These two guys most likely said to each other Lets put in quotes from Hitler, it will be funny. Its not funny to a lot of people, but this is the stupid kind of things 18-year-olds do have the kids write letters of apology to the people who bought the book and then suggest to anyone who is offended to just mark the quotes out. The last thing I think this story needed was nationwide attention. Then again, maybe I just made it worse by covering it here oh wait, no one reads this anyway.
Tuesdays are fun because I get to look for the absurd news story of the day and then talk about it. The sad thing is I usually dont have to look too far for a absurd story. Today it took all of five minutes.
This story starts in the little town of Northport New York where two senior students choose the following quotes for their yearbook. Christopher Koulermos picked: Strength lies no in defense, but in attack. Philip Comptons choice was: The great masses of people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. Now these quotes arent exactly friendly but not really Earth shattering. That is until you find out the book these two quotes come from; Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler.
The fact that students picked two quotes from Hitler isnt really that surprising. In my high school senior group shot there are three guys with their arms straight up either hailing Caesar or Hitler one of them being an African-American. So seniors doing shocking things just isnt that shocking anymore. But some of the things in the story that really go my attention are the responses to the act.
The Principal and Superintendent both are apologizing for the publication of these quotes. The yearbooks student staff and advisor saw the quotes but either didnt think they should be edited or just didnt realize where the quotes came from. But then again I wonder how many people off the street would recognize the quotes without the credit included. But that means if they staff didnt see it, then someone got the quote and recognized it immediately or, the two kids were dumb enough to brag to the wrong person that they got the quotes in. My guess its the bragging thing.
Two of the things they are considering to rectify this grievous offense either reprinting that section of the yearbook or and I LOVE this one offering special tape to people who want to cover the quote. So a piece of duct tape or a black marker isnt good enough? Special tape has to be made and offered to all the people who bought the book? What makes the tape special? Does it have the words: Im sorry I was a dick. On the tape to put in the original quotes place? And what if you dont request the tape, does suddenly everyone in the town think youre a Nazi?
But the best part of the whole thing is the reaction of Steven Compton, the father of 18-year-old Phillip I quote this from the CNN story: I guess he seriously didnt consider the source; he was more interested in the quote. Hes a child Now there are a LOT of things wrong with Mr. Comptons response. First if his son didnt seriously consider the source then someone didnt teach him a damn bit about history. And for him to have picked the quote, it means that either hes read the book or he specifically decided he wanted a Hitler quote and went and found one I dont think people accidentally come across quotes by Hitler. Second, the says his son was more interested in the quote about fooling everyone with the big lie this is something you want to admit? Your sons favorite quote is about bullshitting the most amount of people possible? And third hes 18 he may be immature and stupid but hes no longer a child.
These two guys most likely said to each other Lets put in quotes from Hitler, it will be funny. Its not funny to a lot of people, but this is the stupid kind of things 18-year-olds do have the kids write letters of apology to the people who bought the book and then suggest to anyone who is offended to just mark the quotes out. The last thing I think this story needed was nationwide attention. Then again, maybe I just made it worse by covering it here oh wait, no one reads this anyway.