Posted on 06/14/2010 6:58:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Abby Sunderland's recent adventure has everyone questioning teen safety. It all depends one how one defines it.
Parents, where are your teenage daughters? They had better be "safe" at home watching the perverse antics of Disney role models like Miley Cyrus or Lindsay Lohan on TV. Perhaps they're "safe" at school, where they are being educated about the sexual revolution, and in some states, being ushered "safely" by administrators to a clinic where the abortion procedure will be administered with you parents none the wiser. At the very worst, one can rest assured that even if America's daughters have ventured to a house party -- where the parents have purchased and readied all the alcohol and prophylactics -- never fear, because those parents have taken each attendee's keys. All are locked inside and "safe"!
In any of these cases, parents, hit your knees and thank God that your daughter does not run the risk that Abby Sunderland does. As far as I can tell, that is the ruggedly individualist risk of running roughshod, acquiring and exercising true grit, and cultivating a classical skill a tad more aged than cheerleading or speed-texting. The progressive parent asks: Is Abby Sunderland a teenage girl at all? Not a typical one: this aberration from the norm, and not any safety violation, is the true charge against Abby and the Sunderlands.
Cue the chirping sectaries in the news media; they're up. It's always a little strange -- and quite awkward -- when those relativists in the news muster enough moral sentiment, from time to time, to actually impugn someone. When they do so, it is never the right target. News folks have usually by that point stepped around dens of thieves and vipers to get to their next "fall guy": usually just a harmless, individualist soul not well-attuned to the drumbeat of liberalism. This is the case, no doubt, with the Sunderlands, whose foreheads are now feeling all the applied moral heat of the progressive-parent crucible, represented by popular news sources. Happily for the Sunderlands, progressive heat is rather tepid.
In a befuddling combo, society mavens prescribe both naturalist coddling and sexual prompting for our daughters. While the progressive approach to parenting has usually sounded that "children should make and learn from their own mistakes," stalwart young Abby's adventure has proven that liberal parents mean this only in the moral and sexual contexts. Trying your experienced hand at a legitimate craft which requires fortitude, skill, and even phronesis (Greek for practical knowledge) ought to be excluded from the relevance of such a dictate, apparently. In other words, the goal of child-rearing is, according to these "progressives," to cloister our daughters from the reality of the amoral, natural forces of the world while exposing them to all the immoral, conventional ones. And contrary to the teachings of the best thinkers ever produced, it is false that there are things worse than death.
This renders young Abby Sunderland neither fish nor fowl. She is neither parentally coddled from the earth's forces nor suffering from ennui sufficient to land her in the toil and moil of "harmless" teen concupiscence. The lib establishment cannot accept that a young woman has looked for her jollies outside the musty teen world that they have so deified. Hollywood, for one example, is an industry of middle-aged burnouts looking fondly backward to the empty promise of the teens; conversely, Sunderland is a teen who looks to the horizon of more meaningful post-teen endeavors. Neither fish nor fowl also because she was neither made male, like her brother, who performed the same feat at seventeen, nor made supple and mediocre like the pseudo-sexy pudgemeisters on the Disney channel (whose corporate aim, I've gathered, is to muddle all the bright-line age requirements in the heterosexual book).
In that vein, where in the world are the feminists, if not at the side of the Sunderlands? Surprisingly, feminists might be of some use in this case (perhaps they've forsworn usefulness): A young woman would be denied the facility of her well-honed skills on account of her gender! If the true aim of feminism is to show that females possess all the desiderata males do, one might mistake the silence prompted by Abby's sailing excellence for laudation. To those who deny that Abby possesses the skills requisite for her journey, please take another look at the course that she pursued. She made it halfway around. One abjectly unequipped for such a try would not make it that far. So why did she fail?
Answering this question is perhaps the most prominent lesson instructed by the whole affair. It's the ultimate classical lesson, learnable from the ultimate classical craft: the tragic worldview amor fati, loving life through both success and failure. One can make all the right moves and possess all the right skills and still fail. If our pudgy youth had a dose of well-fought, weather-worn failure, it would be a national shot in the arm. Contrary to the bumper stickers, this is not "mean" or "unfair." It is life. Abby Sunderland is hip to this tragic lesson, stoically quipping, "The long and the short of it is, well, one long wave and one short mast." God bless her...and her parents, who evidently made the way ready for such precocious wisdom. Such practical wisdom will grace her life with successes in the long run, no doubt, just as the failure to acquire it will render an overly soft, overly safe, overly sexed society...and one ironically impotent.
Forgot to add regarding the Coast Guard :
Basic training is tough. You’ll be challenged every day, both mentally and physically. You’ll be pushed and tested. You’ll work harder than you ever thought possible. But when you graduate, you’ll do so with the knowledge that you’ve accomplished something of which both you and your family can be proud.
I have two nephews in the Coast Guard. One actually was deployed near Banda Aceh ( Indonesia ) when the Asian Tsunami struck. The other was involved in Logistics rescue when Katrina struck New Orleans.
After graduation, you’ll understand the true meaning of teamwork as well as the importance of attention to detail, hard work and a positive attitude.
* FIRST FEW DAYS : You arrive at Sexton Hall in Cape May, N.J. Most of the next few days will be spent getting oriented, learning your way around, receiving uniforms, getting haircuts (females may pin their hair up within regulation standards), and yes, filling out forms.
You’ll meet your company commander. He or she will be your mentor, instructor, leader, coach and guide. Your company commander will break you down. Your CC will teach you self-discipline and how to obey orders. His or her job is to motivate you, and to teach you about commitment and how to serve as a productive team member of the Coast Guard.
You’re about to get in the best physical shape of your life, for one good reason: your ability to perform at your best may be the difference between life and death.
They will want to know that you will be able to carry out your job in the Coast Guard to no matter what the circumstance. The training center’s expert staff will help prepare you to meet the physical fitness qualifications. So, in order to graduate from basic training, you’ll need to accomplish these physical tasks:
* Men will be expected to perform:
29 push-ups in 60 seconds
38 sit-ups in 60 seconds
Run 1.5 miles in under 12:51
Sit and Reach 16.50”
Complete a swim circuit
Tread water for 5 minutes
Jump off a 5-foot platform and swim 100 meters
* Women will be expected to perform:
15 push-ups in 60 seconds
32 sit-ups in 60 seconds
Run 1.5 miles in under 15:26
Sit and Reach 19.29”
Complete a swim circuit
Tread water for 5 minutes
Jump off a 5-foot platform and swim 100 meters
Next question -— WHAT WILL THEY LEARN ACADEMICALLY ?
Well, for one — you won’t major in fluff courses like Gender studies or black history and the like....
While in recruit training, you will learn many things taught in formal classrooms. The academic program is designed to provide you with a basic orientation to the skills and knowledge that you’ll need to succeed as a seaman apprentice in the field. You’ll receive training in everything from the Uniform Code of Military Justice to Coast Guard history, from addressing military personnel to fire extinguishing methods. You’ll learn to handle heavy lines, survival equipment and small arms.
Also, for the academically oriented, you have the chance to study engineering, industrial management, logistics, operations and the like.
During the latter weeks of your training, you’ll participate in a variety of practical instruction including small arms training, seamanship, fire fighting and damage control. You’ll attend classes on small arms safety and nomenclature, and you’ll fire the basic pistol course.
You’ll participate in seamanship training and learn how to handle lines, practice helm commands, learn about safety procedures and much more.
If that kind of life appeals to you -— JOIN THE COAST GUARD.
If not, go someplace else.
I think the comments about homeschooling are a bit over the top.
This is quite true - Folks forget that she successfully rounded both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope on this trip - No small feat, either one. I highly doubt that she is as inexperienced as folks here would believe...
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>>>> "These parents are lower than whale poop.
I wish the authority that recognizes records in sailing would make the boat put up bond for any cost related to rescue or admin expense for a country. Plus require 18 years old as the entry level.
I am so frosted about this.
Sending your kid to her potential death is child abuse in the first degree. The kid failed, was behind schedule, put in for repairs and was then advised by her father to continue the march.
Put those parents in a Dingy in the middle of the Southern Ocean in Winter. Let's see what hero's they are. That girl was facing weather worse that what crashed her for the next two months.
Honor the rescuers. The fishing boat crew that got her lost production, and the captain, almost his life. Fell into the water. I'm hot about this.
Check out real sailors comments, post #2944.
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=102689&st=2925
Hennie,
PLEASE! Research before posting.
A literature search of social skill development compared to public schooled children would have told you that the home schooled population has measurable increases in social skills when compared to the public schooled student.
Interestingly, the home schooled student population also is ahead of the private schooled student population in terms of social skills.
Research is our friend.
It wasn't bad luck. It was lousy planning that even the American Sailing Association wouldn't endorse.
Google “freak waves” and you may find it easier to understand what happened. Both the parents and the daughter made reasoned, informed decisions which were properly theirs to make.
It was a lousy choice as to the time of year but they HAD to try for the record!
There are freeper sailors decrying this attempt. The American Sailing Association and a solo sailor, Ian Kiernan. It was foolish, not heroic! And lets not forget the TV reality show that's been filming at her house for the last 4 months!
In 1968, with no sailing experience, he competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30ft yacht called Dytiscus retiring just past the Cape of Good Hope
RE: It wasn’t bad luck. It was lousy planning that even the American Sailing Association wouldn’t endorse.
So, what they are decrying is NOT the attempt, but the poor planning that went with it ?
In other words, had they planned the odyssey correctly, taking into account weather and wind conditions, they would have been OK with the attempt ?
I didn't say they weren't.
Are you unable to read??
I simply stated that all the neighbors said the family was NOWHERE to be seen.
I wondered if Abigail had ANY extracuricular activities or had any friends outside the house.
KINDLY DO NOT DIRECT ANY FURTHER VITRIOL TOWARDS ME.
I will no longer read ANY words you write on this forum.
GOOD BYE.
Did you also MIS-read my comment????
I stated that the neighbors interviewed said the family was never seen anywhere, that the family had nothing to do with the neighbors, that the ONLY thing known about the family was that they homeschooled.
NOWHERE did I state ANYTHING whatsoever negative about homeschooling or homeschoolers.
You know exactly what I mean.
I guess you have no response to common a sense question. It's obvious that to set a new record, someone younger will have to do it. How young are you willing to go?
If the skill is there, age is irrelevant.
I read some of the posts, until my gag reflex acted up.
Here is one such reflex stimulating post from the site you lauded.
“I was hoping she was dead. Just to teach her parents a lesson for pushing her into doing it. 16 year old kids don’t decide to go sail around the world on their own. Mommy and Daddy plant that idea when they are very young.”
Sounds like a sea going DU.
Also, is there a cable channel associated with this reality show --- OR is this a filming of a "proposed" reality show?
Thank you very much.
As per post 105, a 15 year old, Laura Dekker, is now going to try. At what age are you not willing to sacrifice a child for a sailing record? I wouldn't allow a 16 year old but then I value children lives, not useless records.
I stand by my statement as is.
In 1968, with no sailing experience, he competed in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, aboard a 30ft yacht called Dytiscus retiring just past the Cape of Good Hope
It is undeniable that Chay Blythe was a remarkably skilled sailor, especially considering his inexperience.
Now we know that rogue waves are simply a consequence of the probability of wave forms piling up on each other in response to atmospheric, and sometimes tectonic movements. We usually see just the small ones since they are very highly probable. We see the 75 to 120 foot high monsters every now and then of course, and the 50 footers that took out this little boats mast more frequently ~ but not every day.
You stay at sea long enough in the right latitudes you will eventually see giant waves.
Actually I don't.
If the skill is there, age is irrelevant.
Her skill is questionable, see post 127, and I guess you value a useless record over a kids life.
Have a nice day.
“There are LAWS in the American system about child abuse and child endangerment.
And obviously there should be. This child doesn’t even know how long she lost consciousness when the mast hit her and gave her a concussion.”
Take a deep breath, calm thyself, and then examine once again what you just posted.
How can a law be written, much less enforced, which will mandate awareness of how long one was knocked unconscious?
And, please spare me the ‘concern fer the chilrun’ bit.
People get concussions from bicycles, skate boards, etc.
PS The laws enabling government intervention in a family/child relationship are failures. Using the Florida child protective data, it is well established that a child removed from a physicall abusive home and placed in foster care will be physically abused more than in the original home.
Ditto for children placed in state supervision foster care because of sexual abuse.
The sum and substance of the facts are that when a child is placed in the care of the state, that child is beaten more, or screwed more.
Alas, evil does exist, and removing the carefully crafted restraints on government which the Founders put into our Founding Documents will only allow more of the very abuses.
Still want to spend our tax monies supporting child beaters or Chester The Molester?
Just wondering.
He failed to recognize that one of them was a member of one of the main noble families in Sweden (the DeLaGarde's), but he had their first names.
So, how'd they get there? Where were they going? Why?
The answer is very, very simple ~ at that time in history it would not at all be surprising to find three Swedes in a boat in any ocean rowing their way to something.
The oldest man was probably in his 40s, but the other two were certainly barely teenagers.
Wow! This thread is a rich vein, indeed.
You wrote of 13 year olds reproducing long ago, “Surely you don’t think that should be done today?”
Your tax dollars are supporting the reproduction of many 13 year old females in all too many places in America.
When government is allowed to do charity, that government would subsidize “bastard farming” (lawyers term), became inevitable.
Might I suggest Googling Davy Crockett and Horatio Bunce” - as Rep. Crockett learned “It is not yours to give”.
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