Monday, May 21, 2012

The New Norm

There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch(Ohio) a few days ago about teachers in the Olentangy school district. The Olentangy schools, I presume, are the fastest growing and most financially sound in Ohio. Olentangy schools offer the very best with the most up to date facilities. To the victors go the spoils. The teacher's settled a contract last week. It didn't provide for much in the way of a pay increase BUT one provision stood out. Teacher's who are in a civil union with another person, even though that person is not employed in the system will receive equal health benefits. Does that sound strange to you? This might the first time you've hear about it. Then after awhile it becomes no big deal. Why? Because it's the 'new norm'. Times they are a changin'. What was 'verboten' five years ago is A-Ok now. You can come up with examples. You'd be surprised how many there are if you put you mind to it. A number of years ago I taught high school in southeast Wisconsin. One of my friends, before he retired five years ago, told me a 'new norm' story. A janitor was employed by the school. His name was Larry. On the first day of school the principal, over the PA system, announced that from now on 'Larry' was to be called 'Larissa'. It took about a week for the 'new norm' to kick in.
I read an announcement about TV programming for the upcoming 2013 season. We are about to be inundated with more gay-type shows than one can imagine. I think we have two now: Modern Family and the soon to be departed Glee. If there are 10% of the population who are homo's(there fewer) why should we all have to suffer? Because television producers are libs from the East and West Coast who think they know what's best for flyover people. It's the' new norm'. Did you know that the obnoxious and gut wrenching MTV is having a show next year with the subject matter being about how to get teen-age girl's to lose their virginity? Isn't that disgusting? But for a lot of folks in this country, even though they won't take the time to watch this garbage, it very probably will become 'the new norm'.
The 'new norm' is sad. A value system is destroyed because good folks get worn out and tired of trying to uphold a value system. We get used to things. One of the Kardashians, the fat one, was on Fox and Friends' yesterday morning for a nine minute segment. Unbeknownst to anyone she had a nipple exposed for the entire segment. She knew. It was on youTube for awhile. Was it big news anywhere? Was it like Janet Jackson exposing whatever she exposed. I forget. Was it her breast? Hmmm! I'm not sure because it's now 'the new norm'.
I could go on and on for hours but you get my drift. Our society is out of control.

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