Consider this...
A pre-teen/teen has heard many unkind remarks about person A. At some point, that pre-teen/teen meets person A at a celebration of achievements of the peers of that pre-teen/teen. Person A offers personal words of encouragement to the pre-teen/teen. When addressing the group, person A gives words of encouragement and provides information to help keep them on the right path.
A pre-teen/teen has heard many unkind remarks about person B. At some point, the pre-teen/teen is on a class trip when person B comes out of his office, and motions the group to come into his office. Person B then offers encouraging words to the group of which the pre-teen/teen is a member.
In both cases, what do you think the pre-teen/teen will think of the people who offerred encouragement? What do you think they will think of the people who offered the unkind remarks?
Suppose I told you that both instances happen to be true?
Suppose I told you that person A is Jesse Jackson/Q. Mfume/Elijah Cummings?
Suppose I told you that person B is Clarence Thomas?
A person's actions mean much more than their words. Teaching kids that may keep them from falling for the flowery prose or "encouraging words" of any man.
Posted by: walter at August 12, 2004 04:56 PM