Sometimes it's the little things in life that piss me off. Sometimes it's like I have a rock in my shoe and just can't get it out... this morning was one of those times.
In most ways it was a typical morning - nothing out of the ordinary. Kids came down while I was making breakfast (pancakes for him, cereal for her) - and everything was fine until my son (for whom no rule is too small) loudly informed my daughter that she's not allowed to wear camouflage to school.
Ummm.... what?
It was only then that I noticed that my daughter was wearing a dress with a really muted camouflage theme to it. Now, anyone who knows my daughter knows that she has always "marched to her own drummer" when it comes to her fashion sense - so I guess I'm just used to her dressing... ummm... "creatively."
Time for that whole "engaged parenting" thing...
When I asked my son if that's true - he said that the last time HE wore a camo shirt to school - he was sent to the principal's office. Apparently the principal explained to my 9 year old that because "...some kids who wore cammo took some guns to school and shot people..." that it was against the rules to wear camo.
*sigh*
Not wanting my daughter to face that situation - I asked her to change (and after wailing and gnashing of teeth and a pretty serious "stink eye") she agreed.
A few minutes later she came down in a pretty blue dress with red and white striped shoulder thingies and dark blue bows. Adorable!
When I asked why she was wearing the camo dress - she said it was because today at school they were having a big assembly to honor the veterans who were going to come to their school in honor of Veteran's Day. She went on to explain that last year some of the veterans wore camo, and so she wanted to wear camo as well - so they "wouldn't feel different."
Boy, did I feel like an ass... but since it was time to go - we just let it drop.
It was only after I got back to the office that this issue started to bug me...
I mean, I understand the intent behind the rule, and I know it's a stupid, silly rule made by a bunch of whining, out-of-touch-with-reality bureaucrats - but the more I thought about it - the more angry I got. My kids go to a public school - so it's not like they have to wear uniforms or anything - but it seems silly to me to restrict clothing with one type of design on it because some crazy kids with irresponsible parents brought some guns to school and killed innocent people.
I'm just glad those whack jobs didn't wear jeans and a t-shirt! What ever would we do?!? Would our kids be forced to wear a suit and tie to school? Or shorts only? What if they wore red, white and blue? Would we ban all colored clothing?
I mean, here are grade school kids - going to celebrate the sacrifice of our honored military and the ones who survived World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, War with Iraq and some folks coming back from Afghanistan - people who fought (and others who died) in order to preserve our precious freedoms... as long as they're dressed "correctly?"
According to the Jefferson County Colorado Sheriff (as reported by CNN) the two shooters at Columbine were not wearing camo:
Klebold was dressed in cargo pants, a black T-shirt that said “Wrath,” and a black trench coat.... Harris, also wearing a black trench coat, wore a white T-shirt underneath that said, “Natural Selection.”
DOH! Now I guess black T-shirts, white T-shirts, cargo pants and black trench coats are also "out"...
HEY - WAIT - I don't think I see anything about camouflage in there. I guess that means either the school district bureaucrats are:
a) Scared of people who hunt
b) Scared of the military
c) Believe that all people who wear camo have guns
d) Believe that all parents of 9 year olds who wear camo have idiot parents who leave loaded guns around the house and encourage little Johnny to bring them to school
I think it's time for a little reality check. Shootings (regardless of where they happen) are a serious issue. Shootings at schools are a terrible, terrible tragedy and every effort should be made to help ensure our kids' safety at school.
I'm just not convinced that a ban on a camo shirt (or dress) is one of the most effective ways to help protect our kids.
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