It's that time of year again, the time when stuffy high school auditoriums fill to bursting, and soon-to-be high school graduates are bursting with self-importance. When you get stories like the teenage Marine who wanted to wear her dress uniform only to be told "no" by her school, prompting a whole lot of hew and cry on behalf of the "support our troops" contingent and "wave your freak flag" sector alike. Stand back. It's time to burst some bubbles.
If you've made it to graduation, you should be old enough to realize you're just part of the pack during the commencement exercises. I'm a support the troops gal all the way, but the Pennsylvania high school that told newly minted Marine Lindsay Starr she needed to wear her cap and gown just like her classmates was right on target.
Graduation is supposed to mark an added level of maturity. I'll argue that these are still, by and large, kids, and they should be allowed to have fun at the event (really, mortarboard throwing is tradition, cranky principals, just let it GO!). But is a kid really ready for adulthood when they throw a hissy because of their outfit?
I dare say a Marine in particular should embrace the concept of uniformity in the processional. But this isn't just about Lindsay. It's every time you turn around. Kids want entire graduation ceremonies moved to suit their schedules. They want to turn a secular ceremony into something religious with their speech content. They want. They want. They want. We're supposed to feel good about the future of America with these brats forging our future?
Parents? Where are you? Your precious darlings need you, pronto, to give them a good swift kick in the rear (figuratively speaking). You "socialized" them to prepare them for kindergarten, but what happened to prepping them for the real world, where they'll have to compromise? And make concessions? Where nothing revolves around them? Where you choose the important battles, which almost never revolve around clothing choices?
I don't want to show up at a graduation ceremony to see one Marine uniform and 50 kids in caps and gowns. I want to see 51 kids who figured out how to make one thing work for them, who came together, who sucked it up, who have shown they can act like adults.
Should kids get to dictate the rules of their graduation ceremonies, or should they have to go with the flow?
Image via j.o.h.n. walker/Flickr
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Comments 22
I totally agree with you. The sense of entitlement of some of these kids is repugnant. She isn't graduating from the Marine Corps, she's graduating from high school and needs to follow the rules they set. One thing she better learn very quickly if she is going to survive in the military, is that rules are made to be followed and no one gives a rats ass what you think. I think the quote from the Major at the end of the article says it all, "As Marines, we respect the rules and regulations of all levels of government".
She's proud of the choice she's making and wants to show those around her that she's excited about her next step in life. However, she will understand VERY shortly that she is one of many and that she, in the grand scheme of it all, is not as important as the group as a whole. This is difficult for young minds to wrap around as they are, by nature, egocentric... they think about themselves first. I think the school did the right thing, and this will be one of many lessons this young marine will encounter on the same subject.
How about a compromise and she wears her dress blues under her cap and gown? I don't know if her school does this, but when I graduated, prior to the graduation the school took several class photos, some in our cap and gown, and others where we were just in our dresses and suits for graduation. After graduation, we mingled with our families, friends and teachers in whatever we wanted, dress outfit or cap and gown. I don't think the school is wrong for saying no, it's her last chance to be apart of a group of people who helped shaped who she is. Once this is over, she will forever be apart of another group who will continue that shaping.
And for what it's worth, I went to a DoD school, on a Marine Corps base where many of the graduating students go into the military themselves. Starting a fight over this would have been unheard of.
Can't she wear her uniform under her cap and gown?
I know the military has spoken about this in other cases and their statement has always been that the proper uniform needs to be worn at the proper time and in this case the proper uniform is the cap and gown.
Meatball-Technically, she can't, but I wonder if her CO wouldn't make an exception for this one instance. Or if not, she can change after the ceremony and wear what she wants.
I can almost bet that most of the people commenting have never served in the Military because I personally did the same thing this young Marine did. I joined the Army and left to Basic Training as soon as I graduated High School. She might seem like a yound selfish teenager but she is also a young proud American. An American who is going to fight for the freedoms that most people take for granted everyday. I served in the Army for 11 years and I joined when I was 17, halfway through my Senior year. While I agree she should wear her uniform under her cap and gown, she is still proud of her decision to join the Military.
It is very rude to say that "she can Parade in it", that Child that you speak of will go through more challenges and sacrafice than most people can ever dream of.
I agree with you. It's fine to be proud of who you are and where you're going but finish this chapter first and then move on to the next. The next ceremony will be thrown by the Marines and in that one you can wear that uniform. I agree with tinypossom that this is a high school graduation and not a military celebration so one must follow that protocol. Both things are wonderful and it's kind of a shame it's turned into this. I just don't understand people who cry foul like this and ruin it for everyone else while trying to make a point. It seems so self centered.
I'm trying to figure out how she made it through bootcamp thinking she's special enough to be different? I have friends in every branch and over and over they tell you how conforming to the standard and rules is drilled into you, there is nothing special or different about you. I would love to see what her CO would say if she asked to where cami's when dress uniform was Uniform of the Day