So Mel, are we all supposed to be white, blond, and blue eyes? Is that "normal"? Would you feel better then?

The truth is, while he's "extreme", tolerance is VITAL to raising children who are compassionate. Whether it's toward a child/person with disabilities, a different skin color or two daddies, children (and clearly some adults) need to learn that "different" is ok. I personally do not want to live in a world where children grow up to be people afraid of being different.

In my world, acceptance IS expected, and I'm proud that my daughter is growing up to be a loving, tolerant, empathetic INDIVIDUAL.

"When kids grow up thinking that there are no standards of normalcy, they eventually become adults who lack basic life skills."

Really? Do you have any evidence for this? At all?

That is one of the most deeply flawed arguments I have ever heard.

First of all, a reference to one or more studies or some sort of evidence for that would be nice.

Secondly, he quite clearly does not think that acceptance is expected or that it is the way people generally behave, he explicitly says the opposite, and that the children should act in an accepting way which thus far has not occurred.

Thirdly, just because he is telling them that prejudice based on appearance should be gotten rid of, does not mean that he is advising there be no standards for normalcy, rather (this bit is my interpretation, however I believe that the implication is very strong) that standards for normalcy should be based on morals and behaviour towards others rather than elements of expression that are incapable of harming another.

Thirdly, basic life skills? Regardless of how you achieve them, basic life skills consist of getting food, shelter, etc. It is quite possible to achieve this without, say, employment or social interaction if desired. Besides, perhaps, a land issue (though going somewhere where nobody will ever find you is still not impossible), it is quite possible to grow all your own food, make your own clothes, and so forth.

If you mean basic skills for life in Western Capitalist society, i.e. making money (which in turn defines social status and often romantic success, regrettably) this is still achievable, indeed, this guy did it.

All in all that was not a very thought out thing to say.

Wait a minute...you said you not white but are "currently" blond. Is that "naturally occurring"? I certainly hope so.

Thank goodness we live in a society where we don't have to all look alike or be alike or even THINK alike. And I'll spend the rest of my life defending anyone's right to get tatoos, pierce whatever they want, LOVE whoever they want or even dye their hair blond. =)

Mel, I gotta tell you: if you're non-white but have blond hair, that is NOT "naturally occurring".

Meagan, you're right, I shouldn't have participated with Mel. I just wanted to try to understand why people like that are so afraid (because that's what it is, is fear) of others who are "different". Think of all the "normal" looking people who turn out to be serial killers!

I personally believe that people should be judged by their actions, NOT by their PERSONAL choices regarding piercing, tatoos or lavendar hair. And I'll raise my daughter to look beyond people's appearance.

(and by the way, I'm about as conventional looking as you can get; a fact I'm not necessarily proud of...)

I agree, it is good to talk to children about accepting people that are different but this man has altered his appearance to a point that he will not be able to get a job. That is not a good example for children.

SKL,
Sadly today there is almost unlimited 'work' for The Scary Guy.
There is so much prejudice, anger, hate and violence on the planet.
You're right about the 'employment' bit though. There is ZERO money in teaching about Love and Acceptance.
All the money is in Hate and Violence or in trying to 'control' it.

Do you understand what it is that The Scary Guy teaches?
Are you basing all your thoughts and comments about him on the article?

Which part of the article talks about 'employability' and what makes you 'assume' he regards that as a 'minor issue'?

Do you think Parents are judging him based on his looks?
Are you judging him because of the way he looks?

As an Attorney, I would have thought you would gather all the facts before making a decision; or am I judging you?

G42, yes, you are judging me, based on your own assumptions. I never said this guy considers employment a minor issue. I said some people act like it is. I was referring to people who believe educational policy should be influenced more by "humanity" stuff than by the stuff that enables humanity to support itself by working rather than taking from / harming others. Like, perhaps, the people who hired "scary guy" and those who think all other schools should do the same. I never said or implied that the "scary guy" was one of those people. Though it's possible he is.

And no, I am not judging the "scary guy" at all. It is a simple fact that there are very few employers who would offer a job to someone who has CHOSEN to disfigure himself in that manner. I have not said whether that judgment is right or wrong, only that it matters, because employability matters.

There's a difference between judging people for the way God made them, and judging their own conscious choices. He knew when he decided to get tattoos and piercings all over his face that he was going to limit his job prospects (and lots of other kinds of prospects), and he was obviously OK with that at the time he made the decision. Fine, but my concern is with how this example will impact young people, who don't always make such decisions with a full understanding of the lifelong consequences. The decision of the school to present this guy must at least be counterbalanced with a reality check about how the decision to make oneself radically different will impact all aspects of one's adult life.

And by the way, "scary guy" showed that he also judges people when he implied a message of tolerance can't be delivered as well by someone in a suit.