The worst kind of “2-second rule”.
March 3, 2008 by seethirty
Yes, you read right. In Mesa, Arizona, the school district
can punish students for “hugging” too long. I’m the first
to admit that there are some things I’d not want to see
people, let alone kids, doing in public. But hugs? Definately
not on that list. What’s wrong with hugging?
One student, a 14 year old girl, even received detention
for a hug after school was over. Some of the students are
staging a public group hug in protest of this nonsensical
policy. Parents are apparently divided over the issue.
I think the school board needs to be made aware of just how
important such a simple display of affection is for humanity.
Actually, not humanity. Primates hug as well. Opossum cling
to eachother, as do raccoons. That is how interspersed this
behavior is in nature. A hug is not sex, and never has been.
Admittedly, there are sexual hugs, but a hug that lasts
any longer than 2 seconds by definition is not sexual by
default. Maybe the school board should be required to take
the initial sexual education classes, since they don’t seem
to know the difference.
So ludicrous I thought this story was when I first heard
of it, that I assumed only an overly puritanical community
could have incorporated such a rule into their schools.
Now, I realize that it is even less sensible. Atleast the
zealots have interpretations of a book to guide them in
their position. These officials just had the perverse ideas
born of their own minds to go on.
Awhile ago, I read a story where some man at a girls’
sporting event was complaining about how much skin that
the girls’ outfits were showing. I thought the same thing
in that situation that I think here. These are kids.
Don’t punish the kids for the perversions impressed upon
them by adults. Do not punish people, young or old, for
wanting to hug eachother.
To the parents, you allow hugging in your own homes, correct?
By remaining silent on this, you may be ushering in a future
where people are someday uncomfortable with affection.
Trust me on this. I’ve seen what happens when people go
through life without such simple acts of warmth. It alters
them. It can even affect how they assert themselves. Don’t
believe me? Look it up.
To the school board, if you are unable to make decisions
based upon wisdom and knowledge, please resign from your
positions. You have a responsibility to the parents, the
students, and above all, the community. Banning nature
is not something you can do without dire consequences.
