I realized that I didn't have the bandwidth to play devil's advocate on this one.

Now that's a mindset I can easily understand these days.

I think for many people, you do what is right for your own sense of self-worth. bonny, for the jerk in high school, it might have been that the teachers were pressured to pass him on for a variety of reasons.

And Joe's point about wanting to train people who might lead his own daughter is a good one. Acting as though your own loved ones would be directly affected is a good attitude.

On the bright side, a friend's nephew is a career Marine, and she once told me about how he was worried about being able to bring his men home safely, and what he could do to keep them as safe as possible in Iraq. He was less worried about his own safety than his men's.

What DO you say to the anti-christ?

Well... whatever you say, try to avoid hyperbole.

He was less worried about his own safety than his men's.

There is a tremendous nobility in that. I wonder, have we ever had that in 'normal' society, or is it only born in military or 'noble' stratas of life? By noble, I mean both the actual 'high borns' of olde who were obliged by birth to look after others, and helping professions.

Well... whatever you say, try to avoid hyperbole.

Good one.

I just found the required book, etc. list for my Jane Austen class for the fall. I CANNOT WAIT!!!

Todd, you are absolutely right. There was terrible pressure, from what I understand, to pass that guy. But that seems even worse. His habits weren't secret, yet none of the teachers were willing to declare the emperor bare.

In a way their lack of integrity...and active discounting of my own (Don't cause trouble!)...was way more disillusioning than his.

Well... whatever you say, try to avoid hyperbole.

Good one.

I mean, I'm no fan of the guy in any way, and I'm not sure I'd be able to say anything at all to him, were I given the chance. But we do ourselves no favors to fall prey to sloppy thinking, just because it's easier. That's exactly what we're talking about.

It's kinda like the Force....

Ugh. I need a sad-nap now. Maybe I'll wake up less demoralized. Sorry for hijacking the discussion. It's just been very high in my mind lately.

eta:

But we do ourselves no favors to fall prey to sloppy thinking, just because it's easier.

Total agreement! Coming off as a raving lunatic advances the cause for morality and sane thinking not at all...but NOT saying something seems equally undesirable to me.

Bonny, I would think it depends on whether his misdeeds were sonething under their purview. One of my brothers was totally a dick to girls in high school, and a huge pothead and got several DUIs--on the other hand, he was impeccable in academic terms. I don't think they could have done anything for behavior he engaged in off school property.

He grew up to be a lovely man, I am happy to say.