Sometimes it's interesting and illuminating to see our country... our world... through the eyes of an outsider. This story is from a Russian woman living in New York and an experience she had in a public restroom involving an entitled teenager and her mother. While I don't agree that this unfortunate vignette is necessarily representative of the whole of the US, it's worth pondering how one bad apple can influence someone's perception of us as a nation. Although I don't share in all her conclusions, I do share in her concern for the youth of not just the US but of the world.
I, too, recently had occasion to see our youth's entitlement on full display in a video where they showed British high schoolers and American high schoolers trying Korean snacks for the first time. The British kids were so polite and positive. Even when they didn't care for the snack, they just giggled shyly and said it wasn't for them, thanking the host for the chance to taste it. Most of the American kids took one bite, twisted their faces, made gagging sounds, and showed their tongues, among other off-putting behavior, never mind saying please or thank you. They just seemed so snotty in comparison, with no regard for the host (who was Korean) or for Koreans who may watch the video. It was actually upsetting to me. I love this country and don't want anyone to have a bad perception of it.
On the bright side, I was in Starbucks the other day, and the lady at the table next to mine had a little boy about eleven with her. She brought their drinks to the table and the boy noticed that they didn't give him a straw, so he marched up to the counter and told the barista "I need a straw." The mother — from across the café and without missing a beat — demanded, "Hank, is that any way to ask for something?!" Hank turned around and said, "Excuse me. May I please have a straw?" I was so proud of her. She wasn't having it! Good for her... and for Hank. We need to remember that this generation we're raising is going to be responsible for taking care of us and our world in the future. We need to do everything within our power to make them compassionate, respectful and selfless for their sake and ours.
Про американского тинэйджера | An American Teenager |
Когда я сталкиваюсь с подобным, у меня волосы встают дыбом от мысли: "куда же мы катимся в этой стране?!" Вот, послушайте. Сегодня волей случая оказалась в Нью-Йоркском автобусном терминале Port Authority. И надо было заскочить по малой нужде. Стояли в очереди в кабинки и заходит такая типичная стопятидесятикилограммовая американка-мама и за ней едет дочка лет четырнадцaти-пятнадцати на инвалидном кресле. Их, естественно, пропускают без очереди. И пока девочка ждёт впереди в инвалидном кресле, одна из женщин спрашивает у неё, мол, всё ли с тобой в порядке? Не нужна ли помощь? на что та ей отвечает: "Нет, не нужна, я в порядке, я просто устала ходить, у меня сегодня был выпускной". Она, подросток, устала ходить, видите ли, и поэтому решила воспользоваться инвалидным креслом!!! Не мама весом в 150кг, которой ещё может быть это было бы простительно, а девочка-подросток! Если она в 14 лет уже предпочитает проводить активную часть своего дня сидя, и даже не чурается инвалидного кресла, то что же будет потом??? Нет, я не знаю, сколько она прошла, да это и неважно, не марафон же бежала! Короче, можете кинуть в меня чем угодно, но такое я не понимаю и не принимаю. Такая Америка мне совсем не нравится... | Whenever I come across something like this, my hair stands on end and I think Where the hell are we headed as a country?! Check it out. So today, while I was out and about, I found myself at the New York City Port Authority bus terminal and needed to run to the restroom for a quick pee. So I'm standing in line waiting my turn when this typical 300-pound American mama walks in, and her 14 or 15-year-old daughter comes rolling in behind her in a wheelchair. Naturally, we let them cut the line. And while the girl's waiting ahead of us, in the wheelchair, one of the women asks her, "Is everything alright, honey? Do you need any help?" to which she replies, "Oh, I'm good. I'm just tired of walking. I had my graduation party today." In other words, her majesty —a teenager— was tired of walking, you see, so she decided to avail herself of a wheelchair!!! Not her 300-pound mother, mind you, which I could've let slide, but a teenage-ass girl! If at the tender age of 14, she already prefers to spend an active part of her day on her butt, and has no problem parking it in a wheelchair, of all things, what's the rest of her life going to be like? And yes, I have no idea how much she had actually walked that day, but that's not the point — she sure as hell didn't run a marathon! Anyway, if you don't agree with me, do your worst, but I don't understand this and I don't accept it. If this is America, I don't like it one iota... |
I don't think that the use of the wheelchair is a big deal if the girl is really tired. I worked at schools here in Russia. A lot of kids are not well and have health issues. They can faint abruptly and so on. And I'm not completely sure if this particular girl is really ok. Sick kids don't like to acknowledge it. They prefer to look healthy even if it is not the case.
Perhaps. Who knows. You're very nice to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I've seen a few posts regarding wheelchair users. There are people who can walk about five steps before falling down. So, when people see them standing up from their wheelchairs and walking towards the nearest bench, they jump to the conclusion that those people are faking their illness.
I'm with NataBold on that one. You shouldn't assume that they are paralyzed to the waist down just because they're using a wheelchair. And you shouldn't assume that they're faking just because they've managed to make a few steps. And, to play the devil's advocate, the girl in the post could be ashamed of her medical condition, so she could've been trying to play it down. Personally, it's hard for me to imagine a person who would willingly use a wheelchair because it's easier to go around on. I don't think it is.
I wouldn’t put anything past these entitled kids. But who knows. I think you’d actually have to spend some time in this country to understand how entitled these kids can be. Anyway, this was more of a linguistic exercise than anything else.
Also, I'd like to emphasize this part of the post:
While I don't agree that this unfortunate vignette is necessarily representative of the whole of the US, it's worth pondering how one bad apple can influence someone's perception of us as a nation. Although I don't share in all her conclusions, I do share in her concern for the youth of not just the US but of the world.
I don't know why, but this story reminded me of an episode of The Simpsons in which Homer tried to gain as much weight as possible so that he could work from home😂.
Anyway, there's a remote possibility that that girl might've made a joke in typical British fashion😅.
...except that she was American 😉
You forgot the an American girl that loves British humour bit. You're welcome.
Of course, I'm being sarcastic😅.
😂