Caring and Doing

[G M <herecomestheflood@yahoo.com>]

Lois,

If you knew me personally you would realize that I am and have always
been actively and vocally opposed to the compartmentalization of women
and men of any age and that I have often spoken out publicly against
narrow-minded people narrowly defining others.  

As the father of two young, post-teen adults and as a long-time
observer of social trends I am keenly aware of how our present culture
can be hatefully intolerent and misunderstanding of individuals and
groups for a number of reasons, from physical appearance to economic
status to sexual orientation.

I, like so many parents, obviously want the best for my children and
hope that my example and words and love play a role in creating young
adults who will help lead the way to a truly kinder, gentler, more
tolerant  society.  Yet I know that they will ultimately develop their
own set of values and morals.  That is what makes them free-thinking
individuals.  If they at least accomplish being able to think clearly
and critically for themselves instead of succumbing to someone else's
dogma about what is "right", then I consider that success.

I'm not clear as to what extent "parents and leaders" should be
"monitoring" all of this.  But I do strongly believe that if we hope
to raise a new generation of Americans who are less superficial than
we are in this Sport Utility Vehicle-crazed, environment be-damned
nation, who not only care about civil rights, personal freedom and the
needs of others but are willing to actually DO something to preserve
and protect those ideals, "parents and leaders" must demonstrate that
they care enough about these same concerns by addressing rather than
avoiding them.

That's why I used the terms "but seriously" and "somewhat" trivial.


Greg Meyer 


>
--Lois Melina <lmelina@moscow.com> wrote: 

> Whether the young women of Moscow walk down a catwalk in bikinis to be
> "judged" on their physical appearance is not trivial because it
speaks to
> the values we as parents and as community members want our young
people to
> have. I want the young women of Moscow, like young women everywhere,
to
> value themselves enough to want to be evaluated for a broad range of
> abilities. I want the young men of Moscow, like young men
everywhere, to
> look at women and see more than what immediately jumps out at them.
When we
> "measure" our young women I hope it is to see to what degree they have
> fulfilled their potential and given back to their communities; not
to see
> what their bra size is. When our young men look at our young women,
I hope
> it is to see the depth of their character not just the depth of their
> cleavage. Unless we as parents, and as leaders in the community,
monitor
> this, we will raise a superficial generation--one that does not have
the
> capacity to care about the civil rights of welfare recipients.
> 
> Lois Melina
> ----------
> > From: G M <herecomestheflood@yahoo.com>
> > To: Vision 2020 <vision2020@moscow.com>
> > Subject: Bikinimania
> > Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 6:46 PM
> > 
> > 
> > Can't the bikini contests just wait until we get the new pool
built? 
> > And then, to appease/please Mayme Trumble, include guys?
> > 
> > But seriously...all this reaction about teens in bikinis while
> > virtually no one comments on recent posts concerning the dark and
> > forboding nature of:
> > 
> > 1) Requiring welfare recipients to submit to urinalysis.
> > 
> > 2) Proposed broad investigatory powers of FDIC.
> > 
> > Wow.
> > 
> > I'm no "Beach" fan, but considering other scenerios looming before
us,
> > young adults parading in two-piece bathing suits seems somewhat,
well,
> > trivial.
> > 
> > 
> > Greg Meyer
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _________________________________________________________
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> 



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