I’ve always been a rule follower. Not that I’ve never bent or broken a rule, but for the most part, I follow the rules. Which is why it has always astounded me that not everybody does. That many people look at rules as suggestions, rather than a solid standard that demands to be followed.

With that said, surely we aren’t expected to take all rules seriously. Are we? Take for example some of the dumb laws right here in the state of Florida:

A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing.

If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.

It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.

Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.

Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal.

It is illegal to skateboard without a license.

When having sex, only the missionary position is legal.

You may not fart in a public place after 6 P.

It is considered an offense to shower naked.

You are not allowed to break more than three dishes per day, or chip the edges of more than four cups and/or saucers.

Oral sex is illegal.

You may not kiss your wife’s breasts.

Clearly, these are rules that should not even be, much less be enforced. But what about the rest of the rules. Many years ago when I was at Buchanan Junior High, our principal used to do the morning announcements. Every morning he’d finish with “And remember students, don’t run in the halls, don’t walk on the grass and don’t sit on the fences. Make “Bukey” proud of you.” We knew not to do these things and knew that if our principal or any of the staff witnessed one of these rules being broken, we’d at the very least hear about it. That school took the rules very seriously and were enforced though, from what I remember, for the most part, they were followed. It was just expected and so it was done. I find that my kids’ schools aren’t as diligent when it comes to enforcing the more seemingly trivial rules…like say….the dress code. Seriously, everytime I go to my kids schools, I’m taken aback by the number of dress code violations there are. Too short skirts, too short shirts, sleeveless tops, flip-flops, granted there’s no accounting for taste, but that couldn’t be considered a school violation, just offensive to the oculary sense. Which is why I was a little surprised by a news segment on the Today show regarding a middle school girl that was given detention for hugging her friends. The policy at the school states that “displays of affection should not occur on the campus at any time.” The 13 year old had been advised of the policy and warned on a previous occasion and so was given two days detention by the vice principal when she was seen hugging her friends after school on school grounds. Too strict? Too harsh? Surely, they didn’t mean hugging. I mean, c’mon, detention for hugging? I could see the detention, had she been say, making out in the hallway between classes, but not for hugging a female friend after school. Right?

Wrong. How many of you took something out of a store when you were kids, only to have mom or dad find out about it and make you go and return the item? Regardless of what it was, or its value. I did not personally have that experience. But I wholeheartedly agree with it. Is stealing more permissible based on an item’s value? Or is it wrong no matter what? But this isn’t about stealing, it’s about displays of affection so it’s not the same thing. Right? Wrong again. It’s about the rule, or policy and following it. Many of us may not agree with all of the rules in place. In which case there are avenues we can follow in an attempt to have that rule changed or eliminated. But while that rule is in effect, it should be followed and enforced. In an interview, the young girl commented that she ‘didn’t think it was fair that she be punished for being nice.’ The point that is being missed here by her and her family, is that she is not being punished for being nice, she is being punished for breaking a rule. And that’s all for now.

Ciao! Hasta la pasta baby!