Well, this was kind of disgusting:
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster wasn’t a supporter of National Walkout Day.
The Republican criticized the event, which involved schools across the Palmetto State and several in Columbia as well as the Midlands. He called it “shameful,” and something that was orchestrated by a “left-wing group.”
“It appears that these school children, innocent school children, are being used as a tool by left-wing group to further their own agenda,” McMaster told ETV….
“This is a tricky move, I believe, by a left-wing group, from the information I’ve seen, to use these children as a tool to further their own means,” McMaster said. “It sounds like a protest to me. It’s not a memorial, it’s certainly not a prayer service, it’s a political statement by a left-wing group and it’s shameful.”…
Really? What’s “shameful” about it? Mind you, I’m not a big believer in walkouts and other kinds of protests. I prefer for people to use their words rather than their feet (because, you know, I’m a word guy). And this is not the place to come to if you want to hear about how much wisdom we can learn from the children if only we’ll listen. You know me; I’m an “Alla you kids get offa my lawn” kind of guy, a believer in experience and the perspective that comes with it, the founder of the Grownup Party. I was born a crotchety old man, and thank goodness, I’m finally getting to the age where it doesn’t seem out of place.
But I certainly don’t doubt the sincerity of these kids. There’s a purity in it that experience tends to dilute, or at least temper. They may think and speak as children, but they really mean it.
And yeah, I know Henry means the — shall we use the phrase “outside agitators?” — who he claims put the kids up to it are the “shameful” ones rather than the kids themselves. But I see little indication that the kids have been manipulated. And if they had been, what’s “shameful” about persuading kids to stand up and say, “protect us?”
But Henry says that it is shameful, and sure, he’s a guy who knows all about doing and saying shameful things. Consider:
- This is the guy who was the first statewide elected official in the country to endorse Donald Trump for president, giving him a huge leap forward in viability. And he continues to stay attached at the hip, even as Trump daily demonstrates the madness of that endorsement.
- This is the guy who vetoed the gas tax increase, without setting forth any viable alternative for fixing our roads — a contemptible act of political cowardice and opportunism that the lawmakers of his own party had no qualms about rising up and overriding.
- This is the guy who’s going after sanctuary cities in South Carolina, even though there are no sanctuary cities in South Carolina. Given that inconvenience, which prevents him from going out and pummeling said cities, he’s demanded that they prove they’re not sanctuary cities.
All pretty shameful, right?
And now, he’s the guy impugning the integrity of the student movement against school shootings, calling it “shameful.”
Well, he should know…
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By the way, if you follow the link from the words “Grownup Party” above, you’ll get to my original column on that subject, from 2008.
In it, you will see me praise an idea Henry McMaster was pushing at the time, as a good example of grownup governance.
I miss the guy who pushed good ideas like that one, before he became so desperate to pander…
And he’s a slumlord.
So are 90% of rental property owners. If I had the renters they did, I’d be one too… why put money into a rental house when it’s going to be destroyed by the tenant. The worst one I’ve seen was a guy who was an investment banker, he and his family literally destroyed a friend’s house… who’d think a guy who makes over $100,000 a year would live they way they did. They had to tear out all of the carpet, some of the subfloor, paint everything in the house, and still ended up going with a professional cleaning company to get the smell out of the house.
Over on Facebook, I ran across a post on this subject from former Columbia City Council candidate John Adams that begins:
Kind of makes me wonder what he did as a youth in “lue” of getting his own “eductaion”…
Speaking of “excercise,” I need to run out and complete my 10,000 steps for the day. See y’all later…
Exercising your first amendment rights at school in a respectful way is part of a great educational experience.
You can bet your booty if these kids were protesting sanctuary cities these right wing ideolouges would be singing their praises. The Republican Party is nothing but a cesspool of nonsense and hypocrisy.
Told my wife that tonight.
So you both apparently would praise students who participated in a protest against sanctuary cities or a walkout in support of repealing Roe v. Wade (which has been responsible for many, many more deaths than school shootings)?
Just checking to make sure it’s only Republicans who are hypocrites.
I’d gladly and wholeheartedly support my son or other students if they wanted to respectfully protest something they cared about.
I was very impressed with some of the students I heard talking about their reasons for the walkout protest. Not sure I totally agree with any of them but that didn’t matter to me.
I can’t imagine a circumstance where I would oppose them just because I might disagree with them. I think that is nuts.
I’m curious, what was gained by this walkout? I know it hasn’t changed anything directly in my life has anyone here been impacted by the walk out and will that last with you more than a day or two? I’ve never understood the whole, walkout, march, rally, sit-in, burn the city down mentality. I’ve never participated in one, and doubt I ever will.
Yep. I found the Tea Party protests pretty ridiculous but I supported their right to do so. I certainly never said anything as absurd as Henry McMaster. And by the way I’m sure Roe has SAVED lives not cost any. If you don’t punish the women who get abortions then you really are just creating more risk to the mothers not fewer abortions. Red Herring for dinner anyone?
We had hundreds of kids participate at my school. Pretty impressive. Those who didn’t want to participate stayed in their classrooms with their teachers. Most of the 8th graders stood in the hallway totally silent for 17 minutes–a remarkable feat. Others went out to the courtyard and silently walked the perimeter. The most inspiring aspect was seeing those kids who stepped into leadership roles and managed the walkout. I was thankful I was a witness.
Good stuff. Nice to hear.
My 8th grader told me he chose to participate at his school. Same thing from my 11th grader. They both decided while at school. I didn’t tell them what to do. We just spoke briefly about the idea behind the walkout.
Changing the subject, in reaction to the 17 minutes thing… how long is a “moment?” I’ve always sorta kinda associated it roughly with a minute (while knowing it’s not exactly that), just as I think of an “instant” as being akin to a second.
But how many of you have been at an event in which a “moment of silence” has been called for, and everyone quietly bows their heads — for about 10 seconds (I say “about” because I always forget to time them)>
We used to do it almost weekly at Rotary, usually for a member who has passed away.
And I always think, “Well, that was certainly a cursory tribute…”
“how long is a “moment?””
From my experience about twice as long as it needs to be.
I wonder where drunkenly “pantsing” a waiter at the Palmetto Club falls on our esteemed Governor’s Shame Meter.
Tell us more. I want to hear this.
He’s talking about one of Henry’s brothers, who was banned from the club for life…
By the way, we don’t have these kinds of incidents at the Capital City Club. Harrumph…
No at the Capitol City Club you just have wait staff finding used condoms in odd places… behind closed doors where the only people in the room are politicians and young female pages. This comes from a guy who works for a catering service that used to work at the Capitol City Club. Don’t know if it’s true, but I’ve heard plenty of stories of Legislators and female pages… in their offices, in the back seats of chauffeured state vehicles, etc… to not believe him. Some men over there can’t keep their pants zipped to save their life and could give Bill Clinton a run for his money. Some are no longer there… either booted or voted out of office. Some are dead.
Then there are the proud parents of little Susie who they write about in their Christmas letter how she’s working at the State House and making all kind of high profile contacts which will help her in her future career.
Anyone who lets their daughter work as a page is a fool.
I worked as a page for 2 years. I didn’t seee any of that. I saw some flirting but nothing all crazy.
Would you let a daughter work as a page?
I’m not sure what that salacious anecdote has to do with the Capital City Club. “a catering service that used to work at the Capitol City Club?” Catering services don’t do work at the club. By definition, anything at the club is “catered” by the club.
That would take a pretty daring couple. There aren’t a lot of dark corners to hide in. Sounds more like the kind of stuff that used to happen at the Townhouse hotel long ago. I don’t know where such things go on now. But a place where other people are dining doesn’t sound like a good spot for it…
He didn’t work for a catering company for the Capitol City Club, he used to work at the Capitol City Club and now works for a catering company. What he described happened at least once during an event held at the Capitol City Club. May have been the Townhouse… I wasn’t in an in-depth discussion with the guy.
Does he have any proof… I doubt it? Did it happen, I’d say there was a 50/50 chance of it happening.
So what happens now? I’m guessing this will be much like the NFL players who knealt during the national anthem. A lot a talk about the protest but no action on the reason for protesting. While it demonstrates awareness of the issue, I’m interested to see just how far the students are willing to go to achieve what they are seeking (do they even really know)?
How many of them would walk out of school for a whole day? a whole week? Are they willing to make an actual sacrifice to achieve their objective? This walkout will be forgotten by Monday if there isn’t a next step.
How about canceling prom and putting all the money they would have spent into lobbying efforts? Surely the deaths of students are more important than dancing and drinking?
How about that young angry David Hogg fellow, the one who’s seen smiling for pictures at CNN shortly after his classmates were killed and right before he goes on with his scowling face trying to be the face of this protest.
https://www.puppetstringnews.com/blog/florida-shooting-survivors-look-too-happy-today-before-cbs-interview-for-being-survivors
Kids are pretty mercurial. They’ll run hot and cold and back again in a skinny minute.
Of course, I know nothing about the person you mention, as I don’t watch cable TV “news”…
You’re not missing anything other the worldly opinion (scripted on many occasions) of a know-it-all 17 year old spoiled millennial.
A high school student smiling one minute and dour the next: Stop the presses.
Sounds like every 14-17 year old I know- and I know a bunch considering two of my children are in that age group.
Puppet String News??? Are you serious?
The blind following the blind; or is it the blind following the trolls?
Did Puppet String News photoshop the photograph? If not, does it matter who posted it online? How about this one?
https://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/parkland-shooting-crisis-actors.jpg
What’s the problem?
Anyway, I think what Mark’s saying is that he’d like to see more information from actual, professional news organizations rather than from amateurs with an ax to grind. For instance, this link is to a website with the cultish name “Fellowship of the Minds,” and runs items with such headlines as “Bombshell: Jerome Corsi says Justice Antonin Scalia was a pedophile, murdered by 13 y.o. boy”…
Some have already sacrificed. Some of the students in Florida appearing on tv to advocate for their positions have received death threats aimed at them and their families.
I would guess that some of these students will likely be motivated to run for office in the next several years, maybe while in college or afterwards.
Canceling prom? I don’t see them spending much money. They are taking advantage of the publicity to speak their opinions and voice their concerns. That doesn’t take much money. Even if it does, that is their choice.
Some of them already had prom canceled when they died on the floor of their school. No, if there is one thing those students need is prom, and everything else that goes with being a student.
Barry you have to understand something about Doug (if you haven’t already figured it out). He conveys cynicism for EVERYTHING with the standard retort that money and pleasure drives every human activity. If these kids want to have prom that proves their motives are impure because they won’t sacrifice something of value. Hence they must be ignored.
I know. Thanks.
I have an uncle like that. We pretty much ignore him too.
Ok, so let’s see what this symbolic token walkout accomplishes. It was the least they could do. I’m just interested in how many of them are really interested in making a sacrifice rather than being lemmings who just following the crowd. Doesn’t have to be money. Will they give up anything besides 17 minutes? If not, I’m not impressed.
No one is trying to impress you. No one cares if you are impressed.
I do.
Doug, they’re children. What do you expect of them?
And for that matter, what action of theirs do you think could be effective?
Members of Congress who want the same things are powerless. What do you think these kids could do, that you are condemning them for failing to do it?…
I expect more than posters and walking around a school if they are truly committed to a cause. Otherwise it’s just a waste of time. This was a made for the internet event. What happens next week?
But I’m willing to hear what exactly these children want. I’d be very interested to hear the specifics that go beyond bumper sticker depth. Do they want to discuss how many of their classmates are on prescription drugs that affect their minds? Are they willing to convince their parents to give up THEIR guns? Will all of the 18 year olds vote in primaries and general elections this year? That might be harder than walking around a parking lot.