tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post2989404332996092995..comments2024-01-01T20:33:52.554-08:00Comments on a moon, worn as if it had been a shell: The Perils of Adolescence, My High School and Mitt RomneyElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03313726816776097840noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-39265779578018224442012-05-17T22:19:54.751-07:002012-05-17T22:19:54.751-07:00Adina:
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a c...Adina:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment! I read that Almond article -- I'm a regular Rumpus reader and really liked it.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313726816776097840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-64272652831991819802012-05-17T22:19:08.214-07:002012-05-17T22:19:08.214-07:00Catherine,
Thanks for your comment. I have to dis...Catherine,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment. I have to disagree that we should overlook someone's past -- his high school years in this case. I think Maggie World said it best in the comments. These were acts of cruelty that Romney is specifically whitewashing.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313726816776097840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-32341238537616625502012-05-17T20:06:28.122-07:002012-05-17T20:06:28.122-07:00I love this post, and I'm so glad I've fou...I love this post, and I'm so glad I've found your blog. And your last sentence summarizes so efficiently what so many of us are thinking -- or at the very least, what I am thinking.<br /><br />If you haven't already seen it, you might want to check out Steve Almond's piece on the same subject. It's definitely worth reading, and complements your post very nicely:<br /><br />http://therumpus.net/2012/05/the-week-in-greed-6-to-behave-like-the-fallen-world/<br /><br />- AdinaAdinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15051413021454359799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-26881301491622317882012-05-16T15:10:23.974-07:002012-05-16T15:10:23.974-07:00He apologized. Whether he remembers or not, who c...He apologized. Whether he remembers or not, who can tell for sure? All of us have had youthful foibles. At my class reunions there were many who remained jerks, but also many who have truly grown up and become wonderful people. I would not judge Romney by these stories.<br /><br />There are plenty of other examples of Romney's intolerance and lack of sympathy for those less able. No need to go back to his middle school, high school or college days.Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11149885637140617891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-82569047205770026362012-05-14T09:29:47.494-07:002012-05-14T09:29:47.494-07:00Here's the problem- the people who are going t...Here's the problem- the people who are going to vote Republican are going to vote Republican no matter what the candidate does, did, or might do. <br />I swear to you. This is the truth.Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-51111142634219116992012-05-13T17:57:21.624-07:002012-05-13T17:57:21.624-07:00Of course he didn't recall the incident. Who w...Of course he didn't recall the incident. Who wants to remember things about ourselves that we don't choose to embrace? Man up, Mitt. Admit it and apologize and make some meaningful gesture that shows you've changed if you can (support gay rights? support funding for disabled persons?)<br /><br />Except that a leopard can't change his spots, so it's a moot point.kariohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10150537989886423212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-90738546316584340202012-05-13T12:55:11.335-07:002012-05-13T12:55:11.335-07:00Tell it, sister!Tell it, sister!Camp Papahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03918758148818443535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-55273985254544663702012-05-13T08:43:29.199-07:002012-05-13T08:43:29.199-07:00Earlier this week I heard a radio interview with S...Earlier this week I heard a radio interview with S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders (I remember high school as a greaser) .... Then Romney was in the news with this story and I thought about what a soc he was and still is.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10818795902981871173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-76352368667386404082012-05-12T14:57:59.612-07:002012-05-12T14:57:59.612-07:00Yikes. I hadn't heard anything about this. It ...Yikes. I hadn't heard anything about this. It doesn't surprise me, however, to hear that Ken and Barbie actually act like. . . Ken and Barbie.Vesuvius At Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783271096885148080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-59796399393084125512012-05-12T10:00:06.014-07:002012-05-12T10:00:06.014-07:00As Mitt's people said, "We all have some ...As Mitt's people said, "We all have some things to be ashamed of from our high school days." Me included. I may have slighted someone, I may have not invited someone to a birthday party. I may have excluded someone from another activity. These are the "hi-jinks" or high school years. <br /><br />I never assaulted or tormented anyone in high school, before or since. I have never discriminated against or acted out against a person because of their sexual orientation, I have never laughed at a disabled individual unless they were actually funny. These things are not normal in high school or anytime. These things are cruel and hugely disturbing. <br /><br />He is lacking in character. He should be man enough to admit it, and be shamed publicly. That would go a long way to stopping the acceptance of such behavior, that we all know still exists. <br /><br />In fact it might even make his look presidential. (eek!)<br /><br />This one cannot be swept under the rug. It must stay in the forefront for a long while.Maggie Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12578683202372124444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-3395496968331667602012-05-12T05:06:56.658-07:002012-05-12T05:06:56.658-07:00Yeah, he remembers. But politics demands that he c...Yeah, he remembers. But politics demands that he can't apologize, right? I think it would be such an important act if he'd break the political rules, admit what he did, and apologize in a sincere way. He doesn't want his children to be treated that way, or to treat others that way, right?<br /><br />My most generous reading is that he knows and does cringe, but he does it privately because he believes he's not allowed to speak honestly about this and still have a chance to be President.Alison Piepmeierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17972854288403934814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-7520666046784753752012-05-12T05:03:18.254-07:002012-05-12T05:03:18.254-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pam Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04654328283909435708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-31562154702938064212012-05-12T04:53:34.184-07:002012-05-12T04:53:34.184-07:00I can relate to a lot of what you're rememberi...I can relate to a lot of what you're remembering here and I certainly think that I'd remember if I'd done something so outrageous to a classmate no matter how long ago. I don't believe for a moment that Romney doesn't remember the incident. I had not heard about his being entertained by the teacher almost walking into a plate glass window. He makes me cringe!<br /><br />Best,<br />BonnieFrom the Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00789641912016566894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-62446893533167495872012-05-12T03:50:11.125-07:002012-05-12T03:50:11.125-07:00Yes, yes yes...and then when a perp who is confron...Yes, yes yes...and then when a perp who is confronted by his abusive behavior says, "I'm sorry IF anyone was hurt or offended..." is a moron. Of course, anyone would be hurt by these "hijinks". The man with the silver spoon doesn't get it and never will...Phil Dzialohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04150881545903849250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-36990524593827456012012-05-11T22:43:23.533-07:002012-05-11T22:43:23.533-07:00It's sad that we have to "tamp down the b...It's sad that we have to "tamp down the brain" as young people. That's been one of my pet peeves since school -- that in order to be cool, kids can't afford to look smart. I hate that.<br /><br />As for Mitt, I'd say these revelations are pretty consistent with the opinion I'd already formed of him -- which is consistent with your last sentence.Steve Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4863417462909147257.post-26635163359651166832012-05-11T22:17:15.257-07:002012-05-11T22:17:15.257-07:00@#%& him.@#%& him.Denise Emanuel Clemenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10982725113569943337noreply@blogger.com