In my high school government class, I learned that it’s my civic duty to participate in our country’s political system, whether that’s through voting, protesting, or contacting my representatives. It was a fairly simple concept and yet, when the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting spoke up at CNN’s town hall and addressed people like Sen. Marco Rubio and NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch critically about the issue of gun control, it was somehow seen as disrespectful.
At least, Fox News Radio commentator Todd Starnes saw it as such — and he reached out to Twitter to see how his followers would feel if their “child lectured and ridiculed a U.S. Senator on national television.”Â
Parents, what would you do if your child lectured and ridiculed a U.S. Senator on national television?
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 22, 2018
As always, Twitter came through with some pretty devastating clap-backs at Starnes’ unwarranted pearl-clutching…
I would grill that child the finest steak she had ever apprehended you turgid dumbass https://t.co/8RpuYXkuze
— Nick Offerman (@Nick_Offerman) February 22, 2018
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This is literally the first thing that’s ever made me consider becoming a parent https://t.co/l7rKoxs9PU
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) February 22, 2018
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“Son, ridiculing Marco Rubio is how you become president.” https://t.co/SnXuEXWk9B
— Steven Hyden (@Steven_Hyden) February 22, 2018
HERE TO DRAG YOUR RATIO, TODD.
But if my daughter lit into a spineless coward like Rubio on national TV, I’d ask afterward if she wanted to celebrate with ice cream.
— Mike Branom (@mbranom) February 22, 2018
Disneyland and Legoland would be a lot to tackle in a single trip but we would make it happen https://t.co/uizvDJIg2e
— Richie Nakano (@linecook) February 22, 2018
Begin planning their future senatorial campaign. https://t.co/KXZqbtwwGC
— Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) February 22, 2018
Of course, not all of the responses were meant to be clever and funny. Some of them were really insightful and spoke to the political freedoms that we’re granted in this country.
I would remind them that they are living up to the words written into the Declaration of Independence. pic.twitter.com/MQ0Z2Bw6aU
— Erik (@SeattleSeahack) February 22, 2018
On my 10th birthday, I criticized the school lunch program in America directly to a US Congressional panel.
My parents brought me there with friends to cheer me on, and took me to a celebration dinner afterwards.
— Max (@Maximus_Prime) February 22, 2018
I would applaud my kid for understanding their right to speak up against an issue that directly affects them. I would put it on an endless loop entitled “How democracy should work.” I would well up with tears since my child had the chance since their friend is dead and can’t.
— The Sara-Grace Ultimate Predator (@IAmUltimatePred) February 22, 2018
As a parent I would first ask, did the Senator deserve to be lectured and ridiculed? If the answer is yes, I would buy my child an ice cream sundae. https://t.co/oOszDRWaAg
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 22, 2018
Even if certain commentators think it’s disrespectful to speak out against your senators or to challenge representatives with passion and knowledge, it’s good to know that Twitter is full of people ready to raise a seriously bad-ass, politically engaged next generation.