2A I SEPTE1\1BER 26,2008
Bln.,.lET~N FROM THE BUBBLE
, ,
Help Decide'TheF ateof1be TeenF -BombThrower
Should this H P HS student befed to the wolves, or should we let him gofree.p
I recently
received a gem
of a reader
e -m a il. from
an' HPH$ stu-
dent: It was
Merritt in re s pons e
Patterson to my Sept. 12
column, Sit
Down, Shut
Up, Behave.
The subject line was
brief; it consisted of a four-
letter word starting with
the letter "F" followed by
the word "You."He used his
real' name and proceeded,
to rant about how I needed
to respect the youth run-
ning amuck at Scot football
games because they are
the "future 'leaders of our
country." He also reminded
me that HPHS students are
known for how they "excel
and progress gracefully
through life."
That's good news because
I have four kids in the early
PARK CITIES PEOPLE
stages of HPISD schools, 'Teen, have saved yourself a world because of the gifts that outside of it, you have no
and it would be cool for, I've really struggled over of hurt if you'd listened. geography bestowed upon power, and people feel less
them to one day be worthy whether or not I should You're very lucky to live you, you're in for a rude inclined to put up with your
of adults bowing down to forward your nasty-gram in the Park Cities and attend , awakening. The .success.. grossly inaccurate sense of
, them in a stadium setting, . to your parents. While I'm school in one of the 'finest leadership, and graceful accomplishment.
simply out of awe for what deciding if I'm going to rat, districts in the country. You progression you refer to are Or you could shape up
, they might accomplish in . you out, I'll give you a little. ' will have more opportuni- not earned by doing your now, save the four-letter
'the-future and because they time in the halls of HPHS. words for your peers who
are among wealthy, well-
equipped peers with sue- .
But here's the kicker, if vou .'
They are developed by stu-
dents who wisely use the
find it an acceptable part of
self-expression. and keep
cessful predecessors.
But seeing how the like-
think you get a totally free . tools they've been given.
Though I hope I'm wrong,
your premature, unshak-
able confidence on the
lihood of such unearned
treatment is low, how do I
ride to be a jerk because of the I predict you'll continue to
launch similarly entitled
; down low. Practice appear-
ing humble, and learn more
teach my kids to be respect- gifts that geography. bestowed F-bombs until one explodes effective methods of telling
ful, and not use profanity d, '.f'. university style, at which people off. In fact, I think I'
- especially with grown- upon you, you re a ru e Ifl l'Of time you'll return home to can help you with that.
ups? And if by chance I keni live in your old room and Yours Truly,
miss that boat completely, awa,' enlng. blame others for your fail- Merritt Patterson
how do I make sure they're ure. Your former classmates
smart enough not to write will hang out with you over' Vote this kid's fate by
it down and send it with advice. ties for success because Of Christmas break and you'll visiting peopJenewspapers. I
an electronic signature in, I know you can't process ' the education you've bedn , tell them how working for com/parkcities. Note to I
a-community where all the it now, so just cut this col- provided and the valuable your dad's friend is what voters: If the kid apo~ogizesll
'parents know each other? umn out of the paper and
'Which br ings me to my file it under "lessons I was
next point. too smart to learn as a teen,"
connections your parents'
street address has afforded
you've alwayswanted to do:
You'll make it sound
you. But here's the kicker glamorous 'and live the rest'
before this poll ends' at 51\
p.tn. Monday, he's free. I /
I
One day you'll rediscover it .-:- if you think you get a of your life without leaving I'
Dear F-Bomb Dropping and realize that you could totally free ride to be a jerk. the community, because, ,I