Are rules made to be broken?“In a former life”, I would have jumped to my feet with
affirmation.Then, rules were more of a
guideline and provided that actions could be rationalized, rules could be
broken… into 12 billion pieces! Take for example, the dress code at my high school.I was a detention frequent flier because of
my disregard for these rules.It is not
that I thought of myself as “better” than anyone and therefore those rules
applied to me.More accurately, I did
not view the rules as important, so did follow them.Where these rules important to my high school
education?Did they affect how fluently
I would learn a foreign language, master geometry, or memorize the value of a
Mole (which is 6.02 x 10^23 by the way)?No, however the consequences of these rules (the AM detentions) ensured
that I learned there are consequences for my actions. Recently, there was mother on TV who after, driving on the
side walk to avoid a school bus, was sentenced to hold a sign stating that she
was an idiot.Well, this mother was
quoted as saying to her children that this was the consequence for her
actions.But I wonder what her children
are actually learning about following the rules when you see the mother’s
attitude while fulfilling the consequence
Just like my detentions, this mother is not teaching
anything about respect for rules.Ultimately,
rules must be followed despite the consequences.And just because someone is willing to accept
the defined consequences for breaking a rule does not mean that they are ready
to accept the consequence of being dubbed a rule breaker.
As assignments pile high it is obvious that the end of the
semester is quickly approaching.Similarly, the end of the calendar year is also easily recognized as the
“Best of” lists begin to appear.
The list created by Mashable.com (accessible here) is, if
not informative, is engaging… because there is nothing like corporate
insensitivity to the tragic movie theatre shooting in Colorado
This list brings to light an issue to which I have an aversion: ·The irritability of the public and the
subsequent sanctioned apology First, I am not saying that the shooting in Colorado were
anything but an appallingly dreadful loss of life. In the same turn, the Tweets in question were
not posted with the intent of even referencing the shooting, let alone affronting
those affected by the event.Yes, the
Rifleman Tweet called their followers “Shooters” but it is the R-I-F-L-E-M-A-N Twitter
account – it is not unreasonable to suppose that most of their followers are “Shooters”.Ok, the Celeb Boutique folks should have done
some fact checking before assuming that the trending “#Aurora” was about their
dress – but they just concluded major marketing of a dress by the same name –
forgive them if they believed their promotion efforts/ dollars paid off!
Beyond the petulance of the nation, I loathe the immediate
and pathetic apology that most companies issue after such an event.As Alexander Hamilton said, “If you don’t
stand for something, you will fall for anything.”And corporate America is tripping all over
itself.It is confident companies like
another mentioned in the mashable.com article that impress me:Chick-a-fila.When confronted with Biblical truths about marriage, they confirmed
their beliefs!FINALLY!
