I guest-wrote this for another blog. And I was just gonna let it be. But after she
made a big point of correcting my typo of her name in a private email, she went
ahead and typed my name wrong,
on the published post. So any ethical qualms I may have felt
about letting her have my piece all to herself were quashed, right there and
then.
Before you jump to the conclusion that I'm a big meanie, read the
post... it's ironic that it happened this way, considering the topic.
I
am all about empowering parents to make their own choices and I am all for
women not judging other women on their mothering abilities or limitations. I am
a firm believer in democracy and the power of an engaged citizenry. I am a card
carrying member of the freedom of speech and would fight for anyone’s right to
spew inanities, if they so wish. Because I am not perfect, as a parent or as a
woman, because the alternative is not acceptable, and because I can easily stop
listening or change the channel on my TV.
I can see the grey area in any argument, provided it is reasonably posited and
backed with supporting facts. I may lean for or against a piece of argument,
based on my own personal preference and past experience, but I don’t know
everything, so I’m genuinely open to hearing your side.
But, there are some things, in parenting, politics and life in general, that
are simply common sense. Touting counter-logic as an alternative lifestyle
choice will simply not fly.
Allow me to demonstrate:
- If
you teach your children that hitting is bad, then turn around and use
spanking to discipline them, don’t be surprised that your non-violent
stand is not sticking. Children learn vicariously through the adults who
influence them. It’s do as I do, not do as I say.
- If
you want to extol the virtues of extended breastfeeding because it is a
private choice, then don’t pose for the cover of a magazine with your boob
in your 3-4 year-old’s mouth. It’s incongruent at best. You can have
private or you can have public, you can’t have both; I’m afraid they are
mutually exclusive.
- By
the same token, if you want to sell magazines for their content, don’t put
a questionable photo on its cover and flank it with a confrontational
question, then wonder why no one is taking your content seriously.
- If
you are discontent with the divisiveness of the political discourse around
you, starting a sentence with “you people” will not really demonstrate the
opposite, will it?
- If
you run for political office, your political voting record and your past
political positions are part of your platform, whether
you like it or not. You cannot pick and choose which ones you can list on
your current resumé.
- And
by the same token, if you promise something, publically, and garner
support for and because of it, don’t be surprised when you are expected to
deliver on that promise. Sticking your head in the sand and playing
ostrich will not get you off the hook.
- (added) If you chastise others for misspelling your name, don't be surprised that they get pissed off when you turn around and misspell theirs.
So there you have it, folks: Cognitive dissonance, be it in
parenting, politics, or life in general, is not persuasive. Period.
How do you like them apples? What inconsistencies peeve you?
Under construction: The name of this blog is being changed to Megan Blogs (thanks
to the advice of people much smarter than me). Please bear with me during the
rehauling process. I'm assured the mess will eventually make way for a much
tidier digital experience both for you and for me.
