The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior By Having Realistic Expectations For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others
After watching the entire interview of science teacher Sheri Lynn Davis, who was recently fired for "beating" 13-year-old student Isaiah Reagins, we have to admit that we do understand her actions. (WATCH: "Beating Caught On Tape: Teacher Speaks") That being said, we would not be shocked if law enforcement decided to file charges against Davis because we believe that she indeed acted inappropriately.
Sound like a contradiction? Let us explain.
On Monday night, Jamie's House Charter School in Houston fired Davis "after the recording of the April 29 beating became public." ("Teacher Apologizes For Recorded Beating Of Student") Since then, Davis has apologized to Reagins's mother, Alesha Johnson, and has granted interviews admitting her actions were wrong and expressing her wish that she would have acted differently.
However, after studying Davis's apology and explanation of the events of that day, we empathize with her frustration, and while we don't condone her actions and recognize that she looks pretty out of control in the recording, we can see how her frustration led to this type of behavior.
At Jamie's House Charter School, Davis teaches in a school where the students are completely out of control. According to her attorney Chip Lewis, as a teacher there, "[Davis] was forced to become 'not only an educator but also a bouncer, and enforcement officer.'" In fact, many of the students at the school have criminal records, and in her interview, Davis claims that the school is so dysfunctional teachers have trouble finding even basic supplies such as pencil sharpeners.
As parents, it is our job to raise children with character. We are responsible for their behavior in the classroom (and everywhere else) until they reach the age of 18. Today, so many children are unsupervised, undisciplined, and so disrespectful to others that there is absolutely no way any teacher could ever maintain control of the classroom. We personally know of many teachers who are taking early retirement, or changing careers long before retirement age, because they cannot endure the disrespect and lack of parental support day after day after day.
While we admit that Davis let her frustration get the best of her, we also can see how having to protect handicapped children (the reason she beat Isaiah) and police school hallways (she had broken up a fight between a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl just moments before!), along with all of the other pressures that are involved in such a hostile environment, it is understandable why she overreacted to a known constant troublemaker like Isaiah Reagins.
Parents, whether you can understand Davis's behavior or not, please listen to this teacher's words: Take time to be involved in your children's lives and teach them how to behave. Moreover, we would like to see parents putting as much energy into their children as they do acquiring material goods and furthering their careers. Our children need to spend as much (or more) one-on-one time with us as they spend with their friends or playing video games.
We know this is a challenge in our hectic society, especially for single parents, but if we want to raise the next generation to be people of quality, we have no choice but to make sure the job gets done!
Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior By Having Realistic Expectations For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others
Like so many issues in our culture today, the misrepresentation of Arizona's immigration law by the media, politicians, civil rights activists, and others makes it nearly impossible to have a clear understanding of what is truly occurring in Arizona and why this legislation is necessary. As believers in freedom and the importance of citizens' rights, we feel that many Americans are making a terrible mistake in not supporting Arizona, placing their allegiances instead with those who are in our country ILLEGALLY. Further, it is with regret that we watch communities, such as "Los Angeles, Austin, Boston, and San Francisco," denouncing Arizona's attempt to protect its citizenry, even going so far as to introduce boycotts. ("San Diego Faces Own Medicine As Arizona Residents Cancel Travel Following Boycott Of State")
In reality, this matter is really not that complicated. The Arizona legislation only applies to immigrants who are in our country illegally. It is not racial profiling. Rather, it is an effort to defend an American state from the overwhelming burden of having to finance and accommodate approximately 460,000 people who have no right to be in that state in the first place. In short, Arizona is being forced to do the job our federal government has failed to do for decades: protect our citizens from the devastating consequences of uncontrolled illegal immigration.
According to Magna Sententia, our societies, as well as our individual lives, will only be successful if we hold ourselves to a high standard of behavior. Living in a country illegally is not a high standard of behavior. Additionally, allowing others to break our laws and then defend their actions is not a high standard of behavior. To be sure, when citizens and communities favor those who are obviously breaking our nation's laws, our entire social culture is tarnished.
How can we teach our children to do what is right even when it is not the easiest choice, and to live lives of integrity and honor, when we support people who have no respect for our laws?
How can we force those who enter legally to follow all of the rigorous immigration laws and not be willing to punish those who enter illegally?
How can we expect our cities and neighborhoods to remain safe when we do not honor the measures that exist to ensure our national and personal security?
We could go on and on: This new law only allows authorities to question those who are stopped for another offense, and offenders can only be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail, even when they are repeat offenders. ("U Of A Professor Discusses His Role In U.N. Criticism Of Arizona") However, the most important consideration when assessing Arizona's new law is: Does it protect the citizens of our country, as well as immigrants who are here legally? The answer to that question is a resounding, "Yes!"
Therefore, we fully support Arizona and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, and it is our hope that others will change their minds and decide to side with them as well. As for communities like San Diego who choose to boycott Arizona for standing up for its citizens: we have no pity for their lost tourism dollars.
We sure know where we won't be traveling this summer!
Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Having Realistic Expectations
For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others
Let me start by saying that I am not a member of the Republican Party. Or I guess more accurately, I am no longer one. But that doesn't mean I don't care about the GOP. I do. I really do. With the disaster that is President Obama's political agenda being hammered through Congress, there is nothing I want more than to belong to a movement for personal freedom. The Republican Party could be the powerful embodiment of this. But they're not.
I grew up in a "liberal" area. In school, I learned that we must respect everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. However, I also learned that we are all victims (with the exception of white men) and throughout time, white men have been the ones who "oppressed" us. Government intervention has been, and will continue to be, the only way for us to escape victimization. Additionally, we are "selfish" if we want to be the best at something, and we are "greedy" if we want to keep what belongs to us. Share, for the good of everyone. How dare you think of yourself! By the way, if you so much as think of protecting yourself, you must obviously believe in violence. You hate-filled warmonger, you!
Needless to say, all of this Big Brother, Communist bull angered me so much that I couldn't wait to turn 18 and register "Republican." After all, the Republican Party was the party of the American Dream, right? The party that kept government out of our way and let us determine our own future. The party for free markets and rewarding merit. The party with my Holy Grail of political platforms: personal freedom and limited government. Um, on further inspection: No, not quite.
The summer before I started high school, my family and I moved halfway across the country to a place that is as Republican as it gets. I quickly discovered that, at best, half of what I just said is true. I found that Republicans believed in personal freedom, unless you were gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. They believed in limited government, unless it came to prayer in schools and the "war" on Christmas. They believed in freedom, if and only if freedom didn't violate their religious convictions. The United States of America, a Christian nation. (No, I'm not an atheist.) I officially changed my affiliation to "Unaffiliated."
The death of the Republican dream was a very big blow for me. It may not be ideal, but we have a two party system, and until this changes (if it ever will), you have to belong to one of the major parties to have your voice heard. When I left the Republican Party, I became politically homeless, and I have remained so.
What I don't understand is why our only two options are running toward socialism and walking toward theocracy. Tax and spend vs. borrow and spend. Big government vs. big government. Doesn't anyone believe in freedom anymore? Doesn't anyone remember the lessons of history? Socialism is oppressive and doesn't work. The colonists came to America seeking religious freedom. The Constitution was clearly meant to keep government limited, and the Bill of Rights was clearly meant to protect personal freedom. Free people plus small government equals the most prosperous nation the world has ever seen. It isn't that complicated.
I love the ideal of America in my bones, and if the Republican Party would choose freedom over religion, I'd be there in a heartbeat. If they would give me a political home that stands up for limited government and personal freedom, I would give them everything I've got.
Ellie Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Having Realistic Expectations
For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others
I was talking to a friend about capitalism the other day, and her opinion is one that more and more Americans share: The only thing capitalism does well is produce greed, selfishness, materialism, and ultimately violence. It puts the good of one over the good of many, destroys cultures and the environment, and is incarnated by the likes of Bernie Madoff and Kenneth Lay.
I wrung my hands under the table as I tried to keep my head from exploding.
I wanted to remind her of all of the violence inflicted by communism: the estimated 73 million (and counting) killed in the People's Republic of China, the 59 million taken by the Soviet Union ("Communist Body Count"). I wanted to tell her that resources (water, food, land, gas, health care) are limited, and if you divide them by "need," someone (i.e. a government official or committee) who doesn't know you or your situation will be in charge of determining what you "need." I wanted to impress upon her the value of incentive. I wanted to make her understand that free markets are essential to producing free people.
However, I also wanted her to enjoy her evening, so I kept my mouth shut. But for those of you out there who are interested in debating this topic, here are some of my thoughts on capitalism:
First off, it is incorrect to hold up criminals, such as Bernie Madoff and Kenneth Lay, as examples of capitalism gone awry. Greed is a part of human nature, and thus there will always be a few bad apples who manipulate others (or the system) in order to take what does not belong to them. In America, we have laws prohibiting and punishing this type of behavior because it is not in keeping with our values or our underlying economic system. These criminals are not capitalists, and severely regulating or completely abolishing the private sector will not stop them because bad people always find a means to their ends and whether you live in a capitalist, socialist, or communist society, there have been/are/will be corrupt government officials. The trick is never to give governing bodies too much power so that when corruption occurs, the majority of power still remains in the hands of the people.
Capitalism is not about stealing, swindling, or screwing the little guy. On the contrary, capitalism is about the creation and exchange of value: It is about the individual improving his or her own situation by producing something of worth that improves the lives of others. True capitalism increases the good of the whole by creating incentive for the individual to increase his or her own good. Notice the keyword "incentive." Without incentive, specifically the incentive of physical and intellectual property rights, people are less willing to work. Capitalism is not about selfishness; it is about inspiring creativity, production, and innovation.
Unfortunately, when capitalist countries such as ours become extremely wealthy, there is the tendency to forget about creating value and focus only on consumption. Consumerism leads to materialism, fiscal irresponsibility, and in my opinion, a sense of entitlement. If we do not refocus ourselves, take responsibility for our financial well-being, and instill a work ethic in our children, our economy and our country will not be as strong as it could be.
Another problem that can occur in capitalist systems is businesses valuing short-term gains (this quarter's profits) over long-term benefits (employee retention, sustainability). This makes absolutely no sense because if you mistreat your employees or completely destroy your surrounding environment, you decrease the likelihood of your business's long-term success. The founders of FLOW, John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, and Michael Strong, perfectly capture these ideas in their "multiple stakeholder relationship (MSR) business model," the "organizational foundation" of the economic ideal they call "Conscious Capitalism." ("C3: Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism")
Sir Winston Churchill claimed, "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." (Another of my Churchill favorites: "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.") Personally, I believe that capitalism is the worst form of economic system except all the others that have been tried. Yes, it has its flaws (it involves people), but it produces more good and freedom than anything else, both past and present.
Ellie Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior
By Having Realistic Expectations
For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others
Last Sunday in Lakewood, Washington, four police officers sitting in a coffee shop were gunned down in cold blood. The victims were: "Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; Officer Ronald Owens, 37; Officer Tina Griswold, 40; and Officer Greg Richards, 42." ("Police: Suspect Dead; Had Slain Cop's Gun") They each had at least eight years of law enforcement experience. "All of them were parents."
Thankfully, after an immense manhunt, Maurice Clemmons, 37, the man responsible for the killings, was finally found on Tuesday morning near a "parked stolen car that was unoccupied but running" by a "seven-year veteran" police officer. When Clemmons would not show his hands to the officer and "started to run around the car," the officer was forced to protect himself, shooting and killing Clemmons.
On the surface, senseless violence such as this makes you wonder about the world. The details of this tragedy, however, are enough to infuriate anyone: Clemmons had talked about killing police before he acted, but no one took him seriously. Worse, "authorities have arrested at least three people on suspicion of aiding Clemmons after the shooting." These individuals allegedly "provided [him with] medical aid, housing, a cell phone and money," in addition to "trying to get him out of the state" and "call[ing] in false leads to divert investigators." How anyone could not only neglect to turn in this piece of garbage, but actually help him escape is beyond us.
Last but not least, Clemmons, "an ex-convict with a long rap sheet in Washington and Arkansas," should have been in jail. In 2000, at 27, he was in Arkansas serving a 95-year sentence he had received at only 16 for "robbery, burglary, theft and taking a gun to school." ("Suspect In Police Shootings Pledged To Turn Life Around") At that time, Clemmons told then Gov. Mike Huckabee in a statement, "'I have never done anything good for God, but I've prayed for Him to grant me in His compassion the grace to make a start.' [. . .] 'Now, I'm humbly appealing to you for a brand new start.'" Huckabee commuted his sentence, and he was released. "He was back in prison by September 2001."
After relocating to Washington in 2004, Clemmons still did not clean up his act. He was "recently charged in the assault of a police officer and rape of a child. [. . .] He spent several months in jail and was released on $150,000 bail Tuesday, days before the shootings." This is just one more heartbreaking illustration of the devastating effects of releasing dangerous criminals before they have served their time.
Our hearts go out to the slain officers' families, fellow officers, and friends.
Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society
