Some adults need to learn manners
I spend most of my time trying to teach my children right from wrong, not to tell lies, monitoring their activities, telling them when they have done good or bad and guiding them in the way to being law-abiding, respectable adults. Not mentioned, but I?m also a shoulder to cry on, a doctor, a teacher and a money tree.
Needless to say, I?m kind of tired after almost 15 years of this. With the end in sight, at least for the raising, though not the monetary/shoulder to cry on part, I think I might make it.
When all is said and done, I aspire for my children to be well-brought-up adults and behave like it. However, when I read or hear about adults who are acting more like children than children do, I can?t help but feel a little bothered by their behavior. What makes it worse is when the people acting like spoiled brats are educated people who are supposed to be, in different degrees, in positions of importance.
? Locally, when District Attorney General Lisa Zavogiannis took over office after defeating Dale Potter, in a not-so-nice campaign by Potter?s camp, she found the computers in the office erased and the tabs on the phone lines missing. Potter stated ?The previous DA did the same thing to me but we didn?t whine about it.?
? More recently, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-North Carolina, unseated R-Charles Taylor. When Shuler took office, he found the computers were stripped of their operating systems.
? Shamefully, this kind of action goes all the way to the top. When George Bush defeated Clinton, Bush?s staff found all the ?W? keys were missing from the keyboards, among other things. These acts were called ?pranks typical of a change in administrations? and left at that.
All I can say is, ?Grow up! Even a child would be ashamed of the way you are behaving!?
If you must act childish, go off by yourself, lay down on the floor, kick your feet, pound your fists, scream and cry like a baby. While you are at it, yell ?It?s not fair, it?s not fair? until your throat hurts.
When the tantrum is over, get up off the floor, straighten your clothes, wash your face and exit the room. Then, collect your personal belongings and leave with your dignity intact.
It also really bothers me when the behavior gets shrugged off like it?s nothing, with those involved acting as if that kind of vindictiveness is OK, expected or legal. Everyone knows that the action was taken because you lost your job to someone else and you are upset by it. Doing vengeful things is just a way to make life as hard on the next person as possible.
Granted, I understand the frustration of losing a job. I lost not one but three jobs. I lost two jobs to other people. The other job I lost to another country. This, after I voted for the guy who claimed he would keep that from happening, but I never once thought about getting even by being vindictive.
Trust me, after the initial shock has lifted, life goes on. Because life does go on, do you really want to look back and realize that not only did you lose your job but you lost your dignity?
In politics, I would assume the likelihood of losing a job just increased tenfold. With that in mind, maybe people should consider whether they can handle losing graciously before beginning a political career.
I can?t think of one mom who would want their child, even when grown, to act as if they weren?t raised right. If people would act as if their moms are watching, they would behave a little better. If that doesn?t work for you, maybe you should act as if your children are watching. If you have any, trust me they are.
Lisa Hobbs is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191.