Racism? Political Correctness? Or just stupidity?

So I'm sitting in the Gardendale Library while my son attends a class, and this evidently is a hangout for some kids from the Gardendale school system while they wait on their parents to come pick them up. I get John to his class, look up a few books for him, and while I'm doing this, I notice 4 black boys, probably 12-13 years old, maybe older, sitting in the kids section, occupying a table that's for the kids. They're being semi loud, but no louder than anyone else, so that's not a problem. One of them is talking on a cell phone, when not even 5 feet away, there is a sign that says "Please refrain from the use of cell phones in the Library- (place on silent) If you must take a call use the lobby. One of the employees asks him nicely if he'd please move to the lobby to finish his call. He sits there for a minute, then gets up, immediately grabs the side of his pants to hold them up, and walks towards the door. A few minutes later, he returns, having completed his call, but holding his pants at the waist line just above his crotch.
I was sitting a few feet away from where he rejoined his friends, and was on facebook at the time, and made a status update saying "dear Young Black America: If you'd buy pants that fit, and learn how to tighten your belt, you wouldn't have to walk around holding your pants up as you walk, meanwhile they're showing your butt off in the process. Just a friendly little tip from your pal Hammer" more or less due to my frustration of seeing a rather annoying site.

One of them evidently was looking at me as I posted it because he turned to his friends and said something about the guy talking about black people on his computer. He turned and asked me why I posted that. I replied "well, belts were made for a reason, and that's to keep our pants up, and your friend obviously doesn't know how to use his." Out of all the things he could have argued or got mad about, this was not it. He replied, "no man, the thing about "BLACK" America...
I asked him what he'd prefer to be called, and his reply was the stereotypical "African American". I asked him where he was born. He said right here in Birmingham. I asked his friends in return, where they were born. 1 in Gardendale, one in Birmingham, one in South Tennessee. So I asked, why would they want to be called an AFRICAN American, if they were born in Alabama, with respect to the one having been born in Tennessee. He looked at me rather annoyed, and turned back to their friends. He replied "I don't like being called black". This argument could have continued had I chosen, me stating I don't like to be called white, and I really don't like the word 'Caucasian'. But that's my personal feelings. What should I be called? Tan? Olive? Multiple colors since I have various shades of complexion from my body and it's various exposures to the sun?

My point is, I think we've gone too far with political correctness. I think the racism has gone too far. When I was in school, kids were called that white kid, or that black kid, and nobody had a problem with it. How could a 13 year old kid know about racism? Why would his parents teach him about things like this?
It's pretty sad. This could turn in to a very long rant or posting about this topic, but I'm not going to do that.

I don't understand how people can still take offense to something that started over 200 years ago, something that has no direct affect on ANY generation today...
I don't think I would care to be called a Arizonian American since I was born in Arizona. I don't think these kids should be called Birminghamian Americans since they were born in Birmingham. We've painted ourselves in to a corner with the political correctness. Where do we go with it? Why do people have to be so offended over such stupid, minor, trivial stuff?

So, does my thoughts and feelings on this make me Anti PC? I hope so. Racist? I don't think so. Against kids who wear their pants down to their knees because they obviously don't know what a belt is and the proper use for it? You bet your bare butt I am.

Just another senseless rambling from your friendly neighborhood Hammerman.

Food reviews

I think I'm going to start doing independent reviews, and maybe submitting them to companies. Might help them out a bit on this note.

Today, I ate at Wendy's in Trussville on Hwy 11 just before the big shopping plaza. I would give more information on location, but I do not recall getting my receipt.

First off, I haven't eaten at Wendy's in years. No major reason, other than there are none close by and I find better value other places. Today though, I craved fries and a frosty.
So I walked in to the restaurant, very clean upon first notice. The cashier lady was nice, friendly, and quick to help. I ordered from the value menu: a double stack, a value fry, a value frosty, and a value drink. All 99 cents a piece. She was very knowledgeable on the product in when asking if the double stack came with mayo she knew it did not. When I ordered a frosty, she asked nicely if I wanted chocolate or vanilla. To which I replied "vanilla?? When did they start making vanilla frosties?? That's a travesty! That's just wrong! It's always been chocolate! Why, I remember when I was a lad, we'd get CHOCOLATE frosties and dip our fries in them!" All in a joking fashion, in which she found rather amusing was my rant, and laughed with a reply saying they've been doing this for a few years now, where have you been?" I like that kind of humor.

I got my food, at a moderate time, but as the burger and fries were very fresh, I had no complaints. Wendy's has gone to a healthier french fry, having natural cut and using sea salts. Good taste, although it just wasn't the same taste I remember as a kid dipping them in to my frosty.
The double stack for 99 cents...hmm...this was my worst complaint. It wasn't much larger than a Krystal burger in my opinion, even with having two patties to Krystal's one patty. One might suggest that's what is to be expected for a value meal burger. Compare the size to McDonald's or Burger King, which have dollar doubles as well, and you'll be disappointed. I will however say that the double stack tasted great, leaving me with wanting just one more bite after I finished with my burger. I like that.

While I sat there enjoying my meal and watching the darkening skies, I slight rush crowd came in and they handled the rush very efficiently. I hope all were as pleased with the service as I was.

So in closing, I'll give my ratings.
Cleanliness: 5
Friendliness: 5
Product Knowledge: 5
Value: 3
Taste: 5

Good job Wendy's. There are not as many around as some of the others, but they definitely have quality over quantity in my opinion.

What's wrong with these teachers??

More and more I'm hearing of cases when a teacher sends letters home to the parent of "your child is disruptive, he does not keep focus and attention, maybe you should have him tested for ADHD and get him on some medicine to help him." Then the parent takes the time, sets up the appointment, spends the money for the appointment, and the doctor says well yes, your child does show signs of ADHD, but not serious, and not enough for meds. He just needs to be challenged more. He's a bright child.

My thoughts on this are simply this is the way most teachers will deal with a situation, rather than getting out of their lazy comfort zone, and actually helping a child to learn, putting more of a challenge to him. There are a handful of good teachers out there that will do what they can, even make suggestions for your child and things he can do when he's not in school to help him...but for the most part, teachers HAVE become lazy, and will NOT move out of their comfort zone to help a child. My question to those, are, why are you in a teaching position if you are not in it to help the children? We have too many teachers of the young today, not just school teachers, who claim they care for the children, but they are in it more for their own personal agenda. For some, it's a paycheck. For some, it's a position of power. The chance to say, "I made a difference in that child's life"...but the difference you made, is not for the better, I can promise you that.

If you are going to be a teacher of children, do all that you can. And understand, that it doesn't take just one person to teach a child. Get as many as you can involved. Yourself, the parents, anyone that a child looks up to, is a teacher. If you can't be that teacher, then maybe you need to re-evaluate what you do...