More people who really better hope I never become dictator
I mentioned last week that one of the kids at Mia's school is named Anakin. In the same pre-school class there is also a Takoda (I assume that's how it's spelled, but I can't be sure) and just the other day a new kid joined: Dakota (again, I hope that's how it's spelled). When did "Dakota" become the chic state name to call your child? Why not Minnesota? Or Delaware? Anyway, in Mia's pre-school: Anakin, Takoda, and Dakota. Arrrggggghhhh!
But those people may escape my wrath when I become dictator. After all, the kids have suffered enough punishment with those names, so why punish the parents? However, in yesterday's newspaper, this story made me want to march on Washington and seize power right now, just so I can throw these people in the concentration camps. Go on and read it and see if you don't agree with me.
There's so much in that story that makes me want to scream I don't know where to start. This 16-year-old has two cars, her parents paid $50,000 to rent a house for her 16th birthday party (which was broadcast on MTV's horror show, My Super Sweet 16, which will make your head explode if you watch more than three minutes of it - I push the envelope and watch two-and-a-half!), her party dress cost $5,000, her second car is "for the weekends" - it just goes on and on. You can visit her web site, too - but be warned: when you go there, her crappy demo song plays. Your ears may bleed.
It's not that I loathe Marissa for all this - she is caught up in this culture that claims you're only worth something if you're on television - but I do blame the parents, who know that she's spoiled, but they hope, as her mom says, that it's a "grounded spoiled." How the hell can it be? She hasn't earned any of this. Sure, she's been acting since she was seven, but there's a big difference between playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz for the Scottsdale Community Theater and actually having talent. Hell, I played Mayor George Shinn in our high school's production of The Music Man ("like a new Pacino" said our local newspaper), but you don't see me demanding that my parents fly me to Hollywood for auditions.
It's easy to blame the kids in this situation, and I certainly blame Marissa for her horrible singing (seriously - go check out her web site!) and the fact that, according to the episode guide for her 16th birthday party on MTV.com, some of the "non-popular" kids at her school were so desperate to be invited to her AdoreMarissa-a-thon that they had a "dance-off" to impress her and "earn" their way in. WTF? But, as usual, it's parents trying to buy their kids' love that's the real issue. I really hope I can resist, especially because the issue seems to be with daughters - I guess all sons desire are esoteric things like beating up nerds and scoring with skanky girls, so you can't really buy their love. I'd like to say it's not going to be a problem, but we'll see. I certainly won't be able to spend $150,000 on their 16th birthday parties, because I don't have that kind of money. Phew!
My nemesis, T., has some good thoughts on this, too. Yes, I'm agreeing with T. That strange sight you see out your window is blood falling from the sky and monkeys flying out of somebody's butt. However, T. didn't find the excellent story of Marissa. I think his head might have exploded if he did.
When I'm dictator, this kind of thing won't be happening, you can believe it. Marissa's parents will be thrown in the camps and dear sweet Marissa will have to get a job at Wendy's just like everyone else her age.
But those people may escape my wrath when I become dictator. After all, the kids have suffered enough punishment with those names, so why punish the parents? However, in yesterday's newspaper, this story made me want to march on Washington and seize power right now, just so I can throw these people in the concentration camps. Go on and read it and see if you don't agree with me.
There's so much in that story that makes me want to scream I don't know where to start. This 16-year-old has two cars, her parents paid $50,000 to rent a house for her 16th birthday party (which was broadcast on MTV's horror show, My Super Sweet 16, which will make your head explode if you watch more than three minutes of it - I push the envelope and watch two-and-a-half!), her party dress cost $5,000, her second car is "for the weekends" - it just goes on and on. You can visit her web site, too - but be warned: when you go there, her crappy demo song plays. Your ears may bleed.
It's not that I loathe Marissa for all this - she is caught up in this culture that claims you're only worth something if you're on television - but I do blame the parents, who know that she's spoiled, but they hope, as her mom says, that it's a "grounded spoiled." How the hell can it be? She hasn't earned any of this. Sure, she's been acting since she was seven, but there's a big difference between playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz for the Scottsdale Community Theater and actually having talent. Hell, I played Mayor George Shinn in our high school's production of The Music Man ("like a new Pacino" said our local newspaper), but you don't see me demanding that my parents fly me to Hollywood for auditions.
It's easy to blame the kids in this situation, and I certainly blame Marissa for her horrible singing (seriously - go check out her web site!) and the fact that, according to the episode guide for her 16th birthday party on MTV.com, some of the "non-popular" kids at her school were so desperate to be invited to her AdoreMarissa-a-thon that they had a "dance-off" to impress her and "earn" their way in. WTF? But, as usual, it's parents trying to buy their kids' love that's the real issue. I really hope I can resist, especially because the issue seems to be with daughters - I guess all sons desire are esoteric things like beating up nerds and scoring with skanky girls, so you can't really buy their love. I'd like to say it's not going to be a problem, but we'll see. I certainly won't be able to spend $150,000 on their 16th birthday parties, because I don't have that kind of money. Phew!
My nemesis, T., has some good thoughts on this, too. Yes, I'm agreeing with T. That strange sight you see out your window is blood falling from the sky and monkeys flying out of somebody's butt. However, T. didn't find the excellent story of Marissa. I think his head might have exploded if he did.
When I'm dictator, this kind of thing won't be happening, you can believe it. Marissa's parents will be thrown in the camps and dear sweet Marissa will have to get a job at Wendy's just like everyone else her age.
Labels: My daughters, Spoiled children, When I rule the world
posted by Greg | 10:30 AM
11 Comments:
The combination of your Marissa article combined with another article on this topic I read today has inspired me to revisit this sorry topic. I'll do so later today.
And yes, my head did explode. Nice post by the way, Greg.
Greg-
I posted about this show back in October: http://rogerowengreen.blogspot.com/2005/10/i-have-seen-future-and-it-is-ugly.html
It literally hurt to watch that program. We were only watching it because some of my wife's students thought it was a cool show, which worries the hell out of me, too.
Roger - I remember your post. Man, what a horrible show on a network with a lot of horrible shows. Right after I posted this it was on and I watched about two minutes of it, tempting fate again! Then I almost vomited, so I had to turn it off.
I'll have to read later, T. It's fun to bash spoiled kids and their crazy parents!
TRY WATCHING A FULL SEASON OF THIS SHOW. I SEE IT LIKE THIS IT'S ALL IN THE PARENTS HANDS. THEY WANT THE EXPOSURE AS MUCH IF NOT MORE THEN THE TEENS. I HAB A SWEET 15 PARTY (MEXICAN VERSION) AND TRUST ME IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT AND MY GUEST LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE HAVING AS MUCH AS FUN AS I WAS. THE GUEST ON THE SHOW LOOK LIKE THEY WISH IT WAS THEM.
Watch those capital letters, Ms. Melendez! You're out of control!
I know the 15th birthday party (whatever the heck you call it - the quinc-something) is a big deal with Hispanics, but in the years I taught you guys, I never heard it go as nuts as this. Sure, it's a big party, but that's fine. These Sweet Sixteens are just nuts.
Greg, I won't support you as dictator, but I will send you a check if you run for office (elected official) and this is part of your platform.
Come on, Ashley - I'll be a benevolent dictator!
If and when I do run for office, I'll have to put this in my platform. I wonder if I'll alienate the spoiled teenager vote!
In one of the articles I linked to in my post, it mentions who the "quince" craze is catching up to the sweet 16s and bar mitzvahs in terms of extravagance:
"The quinceañera, the Hispanic community's celebration of a 15-year-old girl's introduction into society and her church, is getting a higher profile thanks to Quince Girl, a new magazine that acts as a heels-to-tiara reference for all things quince. The rite was off the national radar a generation ago, but with the USA's Hispanic population reaching 41.3 million in 2004 - vs. 22.4 million in 1990 - the likes of Wal-Mart and J.C. Penney have become quinceañera gear emporiums.
The reception, rather than the religious element, has become a "much bigger part of the equation," says Will Cain, president and publisher of Quince Girl. "The extravagance seems to have taken on a life of its own," to the point where families of all income levels save up for the splurge.
And non-Hispanics are following suit. Sylvia Solheim started Fort Myers, Fla.-based Quinceanera-Boutique.com in 2001, then began receiving requests for sweet 16-specific scepters and other accessories. Now, she says, the sweet 16 business is "catching up" to the quince business."
"who" in the first sentence of my last comment should actually be "how"
I've learned a few things.
1. Ears can bleed with really atrocious music.
2. I will never buy a car from Mark Mitsubishi or Kia.
3. Marissa needs to be dropped into a ghetto/starving nation/country where human rights are not rights.
4. So do her parents.
I hope Marissa's parents look at your website and that people decide not to buy cars at his dealerships. I was sickend when I saw her and the show and how her parents let this little witch do whatever she wants. There are people who have nothing because of disasters like Katrina etc. It's just too bad that our society has people like this and act like this. It's great she has parents that make good money but to act like she deserves it and to flaunt it like she does is pathetic
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