The Inquiring Eye would like to congratulate all of you for your peaceful crusade for student rights. We recognize that a single battle rarely wins a war, but every positive conflict makes inroads in the struggle for respect and dignity which all human beings deserve.
Because of you, the news is full of stories about kids trying to make changes in this world, about communities struggling to free themselves of thugs who tyrannize them. You have inspired them all.
You have empowered yourselves. The forces which oppress you, which seek to turn you against one another fear that this empowerment will turn you into a monster. “If we let the kids think they won, they’ll think they can control everything”.
Well, I have news for you. They are going to control everything. (And it can’t happen soon enough for The Inquiring Eye). Furthermore, some problems are so big that it takes a monster to solve them.
I have had the honor of meeting some of you this weekend: Amanda, Andii, I love you, Tom Scerbo and Townes Gibson, two of the finest young men ever to walk through my door…And many of you I’ve known for years: Cassie, thanks for getting the word out, Rach…you’re my kids. All of you are good people.
As the days pass, life in the community will go back to ‘normal’. The struggle for respect, for dignity must continue. No administrator should ever have the power to turn you against one another, or label you as unsuitable, unacceptable, ‘troubled’ or otherwise different from one another. Those of you who have parents that support you, keep those parents informed. They want to help you; they will help you. Those of you who must stand alone, must stand strong.
For all of you, and to all of you: The Inquiring Eye, (Jackie Rodzinski) is on your side, and is proud to fight by your side.
Never give up the struggle for dignity and respect which all children deserve. Do not accept tyranny, intolerance, cruelty, oppression, irreverence, abuse; fight against anyone who attacks your self esteem, your pride, your individuality. When you are older and have children of your own, teach them to do the same.
I am very proud of you and very comforted that yours is the generation in which the hope for the future lies.
Jackie Rodzinski
(Parent, student, taxpayer, friend)
http://www.theinquiringeye.com