I just discovered that if I have a bad day and make sarcastic (but nonspecific) comments related to my job on my personal blog that don't encourage violence or endanger national security, I just might 1) attract national attention, 2) be the subject of several discussion forums on which people who have never done my job will judge and make sarcastic comments about me, 3) get suspended from my job, but with pay, and 4) cause everyone to lament the state of public education and blame a wide range of people, including me.
Guess I won't be doing that. But Natalie Munroe, a teacher in PA, did, and I bet she wishes now that she'd kept her human feelings and thoughts to herself. Still, I can't help but be a little upset on her behalf. Seeing as how I know my blog gets posted on the Internet and on Facebook and I happen to be friends with students, parents, and colleagues on Facebook who could easily see whatever I write, I am definitely thoughtful about what I publish. HOWEVER, despite how "careful" I am, I know that not everything I say will be considered wonderful and there is always the possibility that someone will be offended/upset by my words. How do I know this? Because I'm a human being who recognizes that people think differently from me. I know that I don't like everything I see and hear. What I hope is that those who disagree with me respect my right to express myself, as I respect their right to disagree with me. I would hope that they wouldn't bring a lynch mob to my door insisting on my punishment, silence, or even worse, demanding that I change my mind because what I think is wrong. This is America. We don't really do that.......anymore........right?
Unfortunately for Ms. Munroe, someone who was reading her blog was offended by her comments. Instead of recognizing that as a human being, Ms. Munroe is more than entitled to her feelings and thoughts, the offended person(s) decided to go the lynch mob route rather than to do what we all have the power to do: stop reading, make a mental note that it was offensive, and move on. People who are so inclined even have the power to offer comments on things they read or send messages to others sharing their opinions. I cannot speak to whether I would've agreed with Ms. Munroe's comments (the "offensive" entries aren't available for me to read), but it doesn't even really matter. Denying her humanity would be denying my own.
