After over two decades online debating the intelligent, the refined, the boorish, and the outright evil, I guess that time spent honing my rhetoric has not been entirely wasted. I seem to have passed at least a pittance of these skills on to my progeny - who is now State champion for debate in his senior year at high school. Also kind of bizarrely, the athletic director of his school told him he'd get a ring if he won states. My son laughed it off, but the school is committed to doing it. Gold ring with diamonds, his school logo and his name on it. I mean, I'm thrilled for my son but I'm not entirely sure I approve of that as a taxpayer. On the plus side though I do like seeing that they promote academics as much as sports in this way, and are getting rings for both my son and his debate partner. His partner is a very intelligent 2nd generation immigrant from Ethiopia. The two boys didn't know each other when partners were chosen, but have worked wonderfully together. Along the way they beat the #4 rated debater in the country and routinely beat the best teams from renowned schools like Thomas Jefferson and the School without Walls. What's more, the debate team was shut down so the program was new. They won it all in the second year of the program. Not a humble brag - this is all brag baby. Anyway, thanks for all the interesting discussions over the years. I'm sure they helped refine my own thought process, and at least some of that rubbed off on my son. It's both nature and nurture. Nah, who are we kidding, he got it all from his mother.
I'd prefer "vulgar/vulgarian", but (and yeah, jsut looked at the prices for Josten's. about 1000% mark up based on the price of a 10K gold band.)
Congrats. It's always a boost when your own child succeeds, even if you had nothing to do with it. Maybe we should start a "proud parent" thread. In the green room, maybe.
Good stuff that the AD is willing to give out a ring for an academic championship. I’m sure tax money is being spent in much less worthwhile spots. It’s also possible that the bling might be underwritten by boosters. Whatever, it’s a damn fine accomplishment.
I can see it now ... Opponent: Here are the reasons my position is right ... Demiurge Junior: Pics or it didn't happen. Opponent: Point of order! Demiurge Junior:
This is one of those times I laugh at my own jokes. I invited James here when he turned 18. He said “yea” and never logged in. So, I read this and thought “kids these days are just not into the same things we were into at that age”. This reminded me of another conversation I had years ago, but the topic was drugs because we were all in our late teens and early 20s in the late 70s/early 80s. I guess it’s kind the same. Drug addiction. Internet addiction ….
100 percent agree. As a taxpayer I'm all for it. I wish more schools provided recognition like this. Being able to articulate your viewpoint based on actual knowledge of the subject is badly needed in this country. And congratulations!
