Tolerance
tolerance (tŏlʹər-əns)
noun
1. The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.
2. a. Leeway for variation from a standard. b. The permissible deviation from a specified value of a structural dimension, often expressed as a percent.
3. The capacity to endure hardship or pain.
“Teach your children well” is a line from a song by the Everly Brother’s I believe (let me know if that is not so I would like to download it.) I’ve been thinking about children a lot lately for a number of reasons, not he least of which is that they are vulnerable to all types of attacks. We hear almost everyday about another child that has been mistreated in one way or another, and it is truly a shame.
“Teach your Children well.” If you live in a big city with public transportation, you have probably encountered junior and senior high school students, teenagers. A little more developed than small children they believe themselves invincible, immortal if you will. If you look closely enough you can tell the type of upbringing they have had, and what type of adult they are going to be. I spoke to a young man on the bus once, one of those you might run away from, I asked him if he would mind not screaming in my ear. He shot back “I’m sorry ma’am, we’ll try and be a little more quiet.” I could hear him whisper to his friend,” She’s right you know our parents taught us better than that.”( I’m not a ma’am but that’s a reoccurring theme in my life. I’ shaped like mother, my hair is long, and I look like I’m still in my 30s; I like the 30s part though.) My point, children will be children when their parents are not around, but that doesn’t mean that they have not respect for adults or their peers, though they may be unruly for the moment.
“Teach your Children Well.” “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”(1 Corinthians 13:11)
When I was a smaller person in the 5th or 6th grade my mates and I used to get a kick out of making crank phone calls. It was fun to say sometimes nasty things to the people on the other end, it was a childish thing to do. (I guess I don’t have to tell you this was long before caller I.D.) Now with the Internet, World Wide Web, and blogs people can act just like I did when I was young, like anonymous buffoons. That’s all right though, get it out of your systems. The only difference is there is a written record of your buffoonery, and if it gets bad enough you can be traced through your IP address. My advice, I would take care in that which I chose to put in writing, for fear that one day it will come back and BITE ME. Now, I if you disagree with me or my conclusions, that’s fine. If you feel the need to voice you disagreement that’s fine too. If, however; you unable to do that in a civil manner, I would rather you voiced your course, crude, common, vulgar, intolerant, ignorant remarks on your own page where people can choose to read them or not.
“Teach Your Children Well.” As got older, an since nobody ever called me on my behavior, I got nastier. It wasn’t until my 17th year of life that my armor was pierced, and that just made me meaner and more self destructive. I had my awakening at 30 years of age when I realized that my way was not working, and I see this is something that a few have yet to learn. I changed. Thanks to God and a whole lot of people who believed in me, and that’s something that I realize not everybody has; a strong support structure.
“Teach Your Children Well.” Since then I have tried very hard to be a better person and make amends where, and when I could. Now you can believe or doubt my sincerity, that’s entirely up to you. I write here because it allows me to order my thoughts, and put things in perspective. I also write here in hopes that maybe just maybe my words and experience may touch or help someone. That someone might say, “My God Worf you too. I thought I was all alone in this.” It’s part of how I make amends to the society from which I have taken so much, and given so little over the years. That’s something else my parents taught me; do something nice for God.
“Teach Your Children Well.” I try to teach children that they don’t have to take the path I took. I want to spare them the pain and suffering that they will bring upon themselves, and their families. Through music and scripture I try to show them there is another path; that they don’t have to take a self destructive path as I did. That they don’t want to dig a hole so deep that it will take them 20 years to climb out if it, and see the light. I realize though, that ultimately it’s up to the individual. I make no excuses for my life or my choices. My parents didn’t fail me I failed them, and that’s something I’ll have to live with the rest of my life. Peace and Long Life
Love Worf
