Liar liar pants on fire.
Remember hearing that in school? It was a common saying. So where did that saying come from? Is it still around today? From what I have heard, that is old school. Today kids are more modern and say more up to date things like; You are ugly. You are stupid. I hate you. Everybody hates you. You know, kid stuff. Nothing to worry about, it’s just kids being kids. Or is it?
Sticks and stones.
My mother always told me: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” This may be true from a physical standpoint but so wrong from a mental angle. I was picked on all through school and to this day I carry the mental scars. It changed me and shaped me into what I am today. Some people argue that since I am basically a good person and successful, those scars didn’t hurt and perhaps strengthened me. But I have to wonder if perhaps I was meant for greater things and because of what happened in my early years, I never reached my full potential. I will never know.
As a responsible parent, I try to teach my children right from wrong. I have always taught them the Golden rule.
The Golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
No that isn’t it.
How about “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Yes, That’s it.
Sadly, that first golden rule seems to be more prevalent these days. So while I teach my children to be good citizens and functioning members of a God fearing society, I wonder what other parents are teaching their children. I am afraid it’s things like; “it’s not wrong if you don’t get caught” and “you don’t get anywhere in life by being nice”. In fact I know it’s true. I can see it all around me.
The other day, here at work we had an interesting discussion during lunch. The news came in that someone who we work with had just caught a 10 lb largemouth bass in one of the plant ponds. For anyone that doesn’t do a lot of fishing, that is an impressive largemouth bass. However I know for a fact that this person doesn’t have a freshwater fishing license. Company policy says that to fish on company property you need to follow all state regulations which means that you must have a license.
So I made the comment that if anyone needed a little bailout money, all then needed to do was call “1-800 game thief” and they could collect the reward for turning in a poacher. You wouldn’t believe the looks I got. So we got into a discussion about breaking the law and it came down to these reasons why it is ok for this guy to fish without a license;
It isn’t like this is a real crime. The guy is just fishing.
Everyone does it so it is ok.
There are really plenty of fish out there.
There are too many laws anyway and this is a stupid one.
It’s just like speeding. If you don’t get caught, it isn’t breaking the law.
It was all I could do to keep quiet when one guy made that last statement, I wanted to say; “So if someone breaks into your house takes all your things and rapes your daughter, it isn’t a crime if he doesn’t get caught?” But I let it go. Alas I could tell I was out numbered and I remembered rule #1. Never argue with a fool, people might forget who is who. Then the bell rang and lunch was over. Saved by the bell.
So what are you teaching your children? Are they having a hard time fitting in if they try to live by the golden rule? Just wondering if we are along on this issue.
Have a great day,
Greg
Sticks and stones.
My mother always told me: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” This may be true from a physical standpoint but so wrong from a mental angle. I was picked on all through school and to this day I carry the mental scars. It changed me and shaped me into what I am today. Some people argue that since I am basically a good person and successful, those scars didn’t hurt and perhaps strengthened me. But I have to wonder if perhaps I was meant for greater things and because of what happened in my early years, I never reached my full potential. I will never know.
As a responsible parent, I try to teach my children right from wrong. I have always taught them the Golden rule.
The Golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
No that isn’t it.
How about “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Yes, That’s it.
Sadly, that first golden rule seems to be more prevalent these days. So while I teach my children to be good citizens and functioning members of a God fearing society, I wonder what other parents are teaching their children. I am afraid it’s things like; “it’s not wrong if you don’t get caught” and “you don’t get anywhere in life by being nice”. In fact I know it’s true. I can see it all around me.
The other day, here at work we had an interesting discussion during lunch. The news came in that someone who we work with had just caught a 10 lb largemouth bass in one of the plant ponds. For anyone that doesn’t do a lot of fishing, that is an impressive largemouth bass. However I know for a fact that this person doesn’t have a freshwater fishing license. Company policy says that to fish on company property you need to follow all state regulations which means that you must have a license.
So I made the comment that if anyone needed a little bailout money, all then needed to do was call “1-800 game thief” and they could collect the reward for turning in a poacher. You wouldn’t believe the looks I got. So we got into a discussion about breaking the law and it came down to these reasons why it is ok for this guy to fish without a license;
It isn’t like this is a real crime. The guy is just fishing.
Everyone does it so it is ok.
There are really plenty of fish out there.
There are too many laws anyway and this is a stupid one.
It’s just like speeding. If you don’t get caught, it isn’t breaking the law.
It was all I could do to keep quiet when one guy made that last statement, I wanted to say; “So if someone breaks into your house takes all your things and rapes your daughter, it isn’t a crime if he doesn’t get caught?” But I let it go. Alas I could tell I was out numbered and I remembered rule #1. Never argue with a fool, people might forget who is who. Then the bell rang and lunch was over. Saved by the bell.
So what are you teaching your children? Are they having a hard time fitting in if they try to live by the golden rule? Just wondering if we are along on this issue.
Have a great day,
Greg
Comments
We are extremely lucky that they have cultivated friends that are good people. The worst they have done is getting caught in class texting me to asking me bring something to school.
We can't complain but we aren't letting up either.
Notice how athesist work so hard to prove God doesn't exist. Why do they care if we believe? same principal.
I loved your quote about arguing with a fool. I will remember that one.
This reminds me of 4th of July. Our city has a "no fireworks" law in residential areas, but every year, one of the houses behind mine shoots off fireworks. Aside from the fact that they might set someones home on fire (like mine), I get really angry that they are teaching their children it's perfectly fine to break the law if you don't like it or agree with it. Geez, if you don't like the law then get it changed. Now THAT would set an example.
Ok, I'll give you back your soapbox now. :)
My son is no angel, for the most part he shows a great deal of respect to adults...ya know as long as that adult is not me. Something about Mom's and boy's, they just think we are a few crayons short of a box. Anywho, I fear sometimes he may get made fun of as he gets older, because he will not act up at school out of respect for his teacher and he gets his feelings hurt if he thinks he has let her down in anyway. He also reads his children's bible at free reading and I wonder if the other kids are like what is he doing. It makes me proud that he makes good choices for the most part.
From volunteering up at the school I think "Liar, Liar pants on fire" will get you a nice one way trip to the principals office.
How I wish more adults were to good!
Love and Hugs
Wanda
Us old (honest)fogeys will have the last laugh on them - wait and see, Greg!
Another great post. My children are also grown. We did teach our children the golden rule and we taught them to take resposibilty for their actions. I find that really missing in everyday life. Seems blaming the other person is easier then taking any personel responsibility. I really like the line about fools too. I'll have to remember that!
Great post, Greg! I'm with you 100 percent.
This is where folks need to be on the same page when they're teaching kids manners and morals, if Mom and Dad aren't in agreement, one of them is going to feel hurt when the kiddo follows the other's ethics.
You're right, as usual, Greg. It doesn't matter if you don't get caught, it's still a crime. And we should be living crime-free not because we're worried we'll get caught, but because we know it's the right thing to do. But far too many of us were taught that the real issues is whether we get caught at it, not whether it's actually right or wrong. (Personally, though..... I"d say that some of these issues are more a matter of mores than true right or wrong. Would I rather see somebody fishing illegally than starve? You bet! Come a depression, I fully expect that even the most moral of us will be willing to break laws in order to feed our family. Not to say that it won't hurt or be wrong morally to steal from another in order to feed your child, but it's also highly immoral for a child to die because the grocery store owner -big business owner in a LOT of cases these days- is worried about losing out on that $3 from that loaf of bread.)
Thanks for the thought provoking post, Greg. It never hurts to have the reminder to teach one's children right from wrong on a DAILY basis.