Collectivism Rears Its Ugly Head - Honors Night Cancelled in Rhode Island School

A middle school in East Greenwich, Rhode Island has cancelled the time honored tradition of "Honors Night".  It might hurt the feelings of some:

“members of the school community have long expressed concerns related to the exclusive nature of Honors Night,” 

Isn't that the point?  I mean really.  The honor roll is for students that worked hard and achieved a certain grade point average.  At least that is what I always led to believe.  I guess it has changed since I left school. Oh, but have no fear the students will indeed get their moment in the sun with "team based" recognition during graduation ceremonies.   

“This will afford us the opportunity to celebrate the individual and collective successes of all students and their effort, progress, and excellence,”

What I would like to know is did the collective do the homework and studying for the students that were able to make the honor roll this year?  If not, aren't they get recognized for something that they didn't actually do?  

This collective nonsense is killing this country.  We are not preparing students for the real world.  When you out looking for a job, it isn't a team.  It is you.  When you are out working that job, it is your work ethic that will make a difference in your pay scales, your job titles, and all else that goes with working in the real world.  Even if you are in a "team" environment, you still have to pull your own weight or you will get kicked to the curb.  Do you think if you are working in job that has this collective work environment that your "teammates" are going to be happy if they are working overtime to get the job done and you are walking out at five minutes to five?  Not likely.  

This school is teaching these children that their hard work doesn't really matter.  That is what we are teaching children in schools these days?  No wonder our education system is failing.   

R.I.P. America - PC Police Have Taken Over

Do you remember when you were little and went to your first Daddy/Daughter dance?  I remember mine.  I got all gussied up in a pretty dress, tights, and patent leather shoes.  (Hey, that was the style way back then) and went danced with my daddy.  Most school systems around the country have some form of this.  Over the years they have added things for Mom/Son to do together as well.  It is a great way to bond with a parent.  I would think this is a very special memory for you dads out there as well.

Well, these are a thing of the past, at least in Rhode Island.  Daddy/Daughter dances are no longer allowed.  They are deemed illegal.  Not for what you think either, they pass the title IX test, because they have activities for the boys as well (and let's be honest, the title IX freaks care none for equality of little boys anyway) no, it is because one single mother complained that her daughter was left out because 'she doesn't have a dad'.

Well, the sperm came from somewhere, so she has a dad.  But apparently this single mom is going it alone and the dad is nowhere to be found.  I find that sad for the little girl, I honestly do.  It should come as no surprise that I believe in the traditional family.  But I am sure many of the little girls that go to Daddy/Daughter dances around the country are products of divorce or have parents that were never married.  So I think that this is even more important for those families.  Again, it gives them time to create some special bonds and create memories.

I feel for the girls that don't have a dad to take them to the dance.  Some people die young and that is the reason that there is no dad around. But it would seem to me that in most of these instances there is another man in mom's life that can fill in for the daddy/daughter dance; a brother, your own father, or a close friend.  Apparently this woman has no man in her life that can take her daughter to the dance, so now no one can go.

That's right, every little girl in Rhode Island has been robbed of this coming of age experience because of this one woman.

We have now reached the point that one person gets to decide for an entire state what type of dances elementary schools will put on.

Excuse me while I go lie down and cry.

Sales Taxes for Thee, Not For Me

Senator John Kerry and his wife Teresa have bought a new yacht that they have named Isabel.  The ship was built in New Zealand and designed by a company based in Rhode Island. 

Isabel - Kerry’s luxe, 76-foot New Zealand-built Friendship sloop with an Edwardian-style, glossy varnished teak interior, two VIP main cabins and a pilothouse fitted with a wet bar and cold wine storage - was designed by Rhode Island boat designer Ted Fontaine.

The Kerry's will be docking the ship in Rhode Island instead of Nantucket, where they summer.  Why, you may ask?  Well it seems that back in 1993 Rhode Island rescinded the luxury sales tax on yachts.  By keeping his expensive toy in Rhode Island instead of in mooring it in Massachusetts he is saving $437,500 in sales tax and around $70,000 per year in excise taxes. 

It seems that Kerry is perfectly fine in voting for new taxes for thee, but finds ways to avoid paying them for "me".  Kerry's chief of staff denies that the ship is being moored in Rhode Island to avoid the taxes.  Because after all it makes perfect sense to moor your ship in Rhode Island when your home is in Nantucket.