Ben Parr

Wow. That's sad the students in her school are such jerks. Who'd actually say stuff like that to a person? What the hell are their parents teaching them? - Anika Malone

Its a middle school, a vast majority of them are full of angry jerks who just follow the popular kids blindly. - Amber aka SDA

What a brave young lady - and it seems like she's got quite a future if she decided to become a sociologist. But it was a bit frightening to hear that she received death threats for wearing that McCain shirt. Too much. - Melissa

Exactly: just the opposite happened here in my daughter's middle school and even my other daughter's elementary school. Not quite so harsh and personal: mostly aimed at Obama rather than at my kids, but still. - steplow = Steve Lowe

We should all try and recall what sort of a-holes we were at 13-14. I think this is an interesting article, and hopefully the exposition at the end gave the kids something to think about, but reading too much into the mental processes of 13 year olds doesn't get you far... - सत्याग्रह [Bren]

Anika I had the exact opposite reaction; this is exactly microcosm of real life, even here on FF. The "party of tolerance" screamed ageist remarks at McCain, and referred to Palin in many derogatory ways, as well. - Mark VandenBerg

While some conservatives will admit they are intolerant of certain groups. Democrats NEVER admit just how intolerant they really are. The biggest speech codes and thought oppression does not come from the right, it comes from the left. I admit, it hasn't always been that way, but it is today. The only reason Norm Coleman isn't a Democrat today is because he was run out of the party because he believed abortion was wrong. - Steve Olson

Mark, that microcosm doesn't really have to do with left and right wing, though. That microcosm is about who is the majority vs who is the minority. On FF, the left leaners are the majority. In my town, for example, the right leaners are the majority. In that situation the "party of individual rights" has called me a non-thinking Obama-maniac who's just going along 'because it's cool'. The majority will almost always take advantage of a position of power to deride the minority. It's human nature =/ - Stupid Blogger (aka Tina)

I'm not saying the Rs don't run out pro-choice candidates, they do. They just don't do it while claiming to be tolerant of diversity. - Steve Olson

@Stupid Blogger, scapegoating people with a minority opinion is hardly tolerant... regardless. - Steve Olson

What? The party of Hope 'N Change ain't tolerant? - Trevor Carpenter

Tina: A very keen observation. And I didn't mean to sound like this is related to one wing/party or another. Mr. Olson brings up an interesting point about the 'Right' being exclusionary but somewhat honest about it, but it would be tough to prove empirically. - Mark VandenBerg

@Stupid Blogger, a second thought, are you saying it is human nature to scapegoat people in the minority? If so, shouldn't we protect the minority from the majority, even when we disagree with them? - Steve Olson

THAT... is awesome. - Josh Mings via twhirl

@ Steve: "The biggest speech codes and thought oppression does not come from the right, it comes from the left." Can you elucidate? - Marko Bon

Steve, That's exactly what I'm saying: tolerance is *not* human nature. It's a VERY HARD THING to do and do consistently. But, is the fact that I am not perfect at something supposed to mean that I'm not supposed to hold it as a value, as a goal to work towards? And yes, the theory in the US is majority rules, but to protect the minority while doing so. Unfortunately, this goal is imperfectly implemented by BOTH sides of the aisle. However, many would argue that the 'intolerance' might be better measured by how many minority groups your particular majority manages to disenfranchise. - Stupid Blogger (aka Tina)

@Steve Madisonian principles FTW! - Victor Ganata

@Tina, I'm not big on either party right now... and I agree with you. Very intelligent reply to a difficult issue. - Steve Olson

@Marko, Too complex for these short comments. Maybe someday on my blog. Probably not though. I will give you an anecdote in my next comment. - Steve Olson

@Marko, In a college English class during the 90s, the prof gave me a list of words that would be considered grammatical errors eg bellboy, fireman. I wrote my next paper using every one of them and it was returned without a grade. - Steve Olson

Very interesting read. Brave girl. - Josh Haley

@ Steve, I'm willing to admit that during college I found myself virulently disliking the Left. Couldn't stand em. Didn't major in Semiotics because the kids taking the courses drove me batty. With professors like the one you describe. I too got a bad grade on a paper for a similar reason as yours. In the broader world I find little support for your statement. However can agree that Lefty kids can be a real nasty lot, whose statements are supported by 26 yr. old teachers who should know better. - Marko Bon