2008 Woodie Awards
Hookah story blown out of proportion
Guest column
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Opinion
According to the Tuscola Web site, "our (Tuscola's) centralized location in the heart of the Midwest makes Tuscola the hub of a diverse array of offerings..." That obviously does not include a hookah bar.
After reading the recent article "Freshman pageant queen dethroned after hookah pictures surface," I laughed. OK, I should be serious - I didn't laugh, it was more of a mixture of a laugh and a scoff.
First, has anyone on that Board of Commerce done any research on smoking a hookah? Probably not. In fact, I bet that they were all going off of their own misconceptions of the hookah (which I am sure were based on our drug-using friend, the Caterpillar from "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll). If these men, and very few women, had done any research they would know that smoking a hookah means smoking an all-natural tobacco - generally flavored - as a social and cultural interaction.
Let's place the obvious aside. It comes as no surprise that this issue was such a controversy. I mean, come on, how many times have you heard the phrase, "Small towns, small minds?" Exactly.
Really, I feel sorry for Ann Knight. This whole situation means that someone was ridiculous enough to find her on Facebook, print out her picture, send it in to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce and watch as a group of small-minded adults decide to "dethrone" a young woman for enjoying a harmless night out with her friends.
And for those who want to argue, "Oh, well, she broke a rule." It's obvious the rule was ridiculous to begin with. And, if you're going to use that trite argument, I will tritely reply, "Rules were made to be broken."
Furthermore, did anyone see the picture of Knight in the Alestle? Come on Ann, everyone knows it takes a special talent to take an exhalation picture without looking like a total dork. If you're going to be "Miss Tuscola," you might want to consider a couple more shots next time. (Ann, you know that was a joke, right?)
Why is it that this keeps happening? You would think that the adults of today would understand that the younger generation is just trying to "find" itself, like the generations had done before them. Smoking a hookah should be no reason to dethrone someone. Past mistakes are no reason to punish our generation by preventing access to a student building.
It's not Pleasantville, people, it's America. It's time we start acting like it.
David Whitacre
Junior
Theater Performance
After reading the recent article "Freshman pageant queen dethroned after hookah pictures surface," I laughed. OK, I should be serious - I didn't laugh, it was more of a mixture of a laugh and a scoff.
First, has anyone on that Board of Commerce done any research on smoking a hookah? Probably not. In fact, I bet that they were all going off of their own misconceptions of the hookah (which I am sure were based on our drug-using friend, the Caterpillar from "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll). If these men, and very few women, had done any research they would know that smoking a hookah means smoking an all-natural tobacco - generally flavored - as a social and cultural interaction.
Let's place the obvious aside. It comes as no surprise that this issue was such a controversy. I mean, come on, how many times have you heard the phrase, "Small towns, small minds?" Exactly.
Really, I feel sorry for Ann Knight. This whole situation means that someone was ridiculous enough to find her on Facebook, print out her picture, send it in to the Tuscola Chamber of Commerce and watch as a group of small-minded adults decide to "dethrone" a young woman for enjoying a harmless night out with her friends.
And for those who want to argue, "Oh, well, she broke a rule." It's obvious the rule was ridiculous to begin with. And, if you're going to use that trite argument, I will tritely reply, "Rules were made to be broken."
Furthermore, did anyone see the picture of Knight in the Alestle? Come on Ann, everyone knows it takes a special talent to take an exhalation picture without looking like a total dork. If you're going to be "Miss Tuscola," you might want to consider a couple more shots next time. (Ann, you know that was a joke, right?)
Why is it that this keeps happening? You would think that the adults of today would understand that the younger generation is just trying to "find" itself, like the generations had done before them. Smoking a hookah should be no reason to dethrone someone. Past mistakes are no reason to punish our generation by preventing access to a student building.
It's not Pleasantville, people, it's America. It's time we start acting like it.
David Whitacre
Junior
Theater Performance
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Josh B
posted 9/27/07 @ 10:04 PM CST
maybe she wasnt fullfilling the image the people wanted. don't like it, then dont go there
Post a Comment