Well can't really deny what they reported was wrong especially since most came out and said so. I still stand by my opinion though, and that's just me as a parent of my kids. Not how I taught my kids to treat elders, no matter who/what. And as a disclaimer before Stewey or someone else claims "selective outrage", I had none, no outrage even before seeing the whole video, not then, not now. It's becoming the norm and I'm just growing accustomed to it, sadly.
I'm sorry, not trying to argue but I see this whole response as you being able to deflect all of the wrongs committed by the media, all the false reporting, but still be able to simply say here - I still disagree with the kid. Far more wrongs were committed by the media and the left and the counter protesters here - but let's still let the kid have it.
You've mentioned several times this isn't how you raised your kids. I would love to have been able to put one of your kids in this kids shoes at 15 or 16 in this exact situation and to able to see how they would react. To have a strange old man banging a drum walk up to your child at this event, invade your child's personal space, bang a drum literally in your child's face, chanting so close to your child's face you can smell his breath, to be caught completely off guard and feel threatened...and to see what your child would have done.
I'm willing to bet you would have been surprised at their reaction. It's easy to say you know what they would have done. You don't.
Given the situation this kid was put in, I can offer nothing but praise for his utter poise. Most would have been freaked out by this random event and invasion of space and I daresay the majority of people would have reacted much, much more negatively than this young man did.
And when did smiling become a crime? Because he smirks? Have you ever heard the term BRF? Like "Wow that woman got some serious BRF?" Means Bitchy Rest(ing) Face, meaning even when a person looks normal, they have that smirkish, or bitchy look.
We all remember Jay Cutler.
He was notorious for having this look. A look that appeared condescending. Judged his whole life for it. Now I'm not saying he didn't deserve a lot of what he brought on himself. But he was judged too often and too quickly for his appearance. Yet people don't know that Jay Cutler is SUPER gracious with his money and his charity. He reportedly would weekly visit the children's hospitals with his wife and give gifts and spend time with kids and generally refused any media to tag along because it wasn't about him it was about the kids.
As far as raising kids, I've taught mine using Jay Cutler as a literal example telling them don't judge a book by it's cover. Get under the covers to figure out what someone is really about.
Seems the entire Leftist population has judged this kid because of a "look" on his face. Calling it disrespectful. Taunting. Everyone judging based upon what they see. Not a damn bit on what they know.
I simply say shame.