Jack Petocz, who will be a senior at Flagler Palm Coast High School next fall, won First Place in the ACLU of Florida Volusia/Flagler Chapter’s first Annual “Cary Ragsdale Future Voter’s Essay Contest.” The award carries a $500 prize underwritten by FlaglerLive, and publication of the essay here.
FlaglerLive was not involved in the judging of the essays or in devising the question posed: “Is our democracy at risk? If so, what is the greatest threat? What should we do about it?”
Gabriela Gongora Rosales of Seminole High School won second place (and $250), and Jessica Roman of Matanzas High School won third place (and $100).
Petocz, who has been a FlaglerLive contributor, was suspended for a few days this year after leading a march at FPC to protest the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, going into effect July 1, that forbids teachers in lower grades from broaching or engaging in discussions about gender identity. Petocz’s suspension was followed by his getting banned from leadership roles in school clubs. It was not directly the result of his role in the march, which had been arranged with school administration, but his defiance of an order not to distribute pride flags during the march. Earlier this year, following his opposition to school book bans, he was subsequently featured in a Page One article in The New York Times and on numerous other print and television media. In 2020 he was censored in an open School Board meeting by then-Board Chair Janet McDonald.
His winning essay, lightly edited for style, follows.
By Jack Petocz
On January 6th, 2021, the United States would experience what many had conceived as the unthinkable. Fueled by reams of misinformation and instigation from a tyrannicalesque head of state, rioters stormed Congress in what would become a violent attempted insurrection. I remember sitting in my pre-calculus class when I received the first Twitter notification that the police barriers had been breached. Clicking on the bulletin from CNN, I became increasingly horrified by images disseminated by representatives I followed.
Since our nation’s founding, the United States has primarily remained a beacon of democracy and personal freedoms to the world. Integral liberties such as speech, religion and peaceable assembly are endowed upon citizens through our Constitution. How did our country stray so far from this initial vision?
As the cold night swept over Washington, peace and security were slowly restored in the District of Columbia. However, amidst the broken glass, a dangerous precedent was set. The fragility of our experiment in government was revealed to the world. Two weeks later, the inaugural process resumed and a new administration was sworn in. But the attacks on our nation had just begun.
Prior to delving into the intricacies of the threats that imperil our nation, I feel it is important to note the limitations and previous failures of our nation. The United States is not a direct democracy. Representatives are chosen to make decisions and pursue legislation on behalf of constituents. In addition, our nation has ignored the principles of our founding documents on numerous occasions since the 18th century. For example, perpetuating discrimination and refusing to grant liberties and representation on the basis of sex and race, or the limiting of such rights during wartimes.
Today, a clear and present danger to the United States is the rapid dissemination and embrace of disinformation. This is evident in the events of January, as 147 Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate failed to accept the results of an election. Armed with powerful talking points of widespread fraud, Donald Trump mobilized and skewed the beliefs of millions via this deception. The administration sought to remain in power by peddling disproven conspiracy theories and heckling anyone challenging such fallacies as simply complicit in them. The attempted insurrection is representative of the effect such rhetoric can have, misguiding supporters to violence and undermining our election processes.
With the development and usage of social media, deceitful claims have only been amplified. In an instant, blurbs containing such propaganda can be sent out and provided to the 4.62 billion utilizing social media platforms today (223 million of them in the United States).
Disinformation undermining the security of the nation isn’t limited to elections. Over the past two years, the Covid pandemic has been fertile ground for such motives. To combat the progression and significant spread of the disease, federal and state governments issued mandates and necessary restrictions. Rapidly, false claims downplaying or denying the severity of the virus and efficacy of masks became increasingly prevalent, undermining government messages and leading figureheads to adopt biased or false narratives for political gain.
An incalculable number of lives were lost due to this amplification of misinformation. Social media companies have attempted to control such claims through fact-checking or by disabling accounts peddling false claims. It is difficult, of course, to manage and ensure reliability of all information posted in an open society.
The current reemergence of state-led censorship has become relevant, particularly locally, undermining our state and directly challenging our founding principles. In Florida and several other states, Republican-led legislatures and governors have recently adopted a principle of minimizing experiences and information of minority populations, specifically targeting LGBTQ+ and race issues via legislation and damaging online rhetoric.
These censorship attempts have largely been focused on the educational sector. Parental fringe groups–such as Moms for Liberty in Florida–have begun a campaign to ban “objectionable” curriculum materials, including unassigned library books, that often highlight marginalized groups. Locally, in Flagler County, the organization contributed to the challenging and eventual banning of the book, All Boys Aren’t Blue. This critically-acclaimed memoir details personal anecdotes from George M. Johnson, an award-winning queer author who grew up in New Jersey. This book provides critical representation for struggling queer students within our school system. In conjunction with the censorship of books, lawmakers have pursued legislation imposing educational gag-orders, such as the damaging “Don’t Say Gay” bill signed into Florida law, and that goes into effect July 1.
Thus attacking education institutions throughout the United States undermines the security of the country’s future. Education is the single most important economic asset for upward mobility. It ensures future generations are ready to fight and lead on issues that will certainly challenge America. By placing restrictions on curricula and policing lesson plans, legislators are promoting indoctrination and a relatively limited world view. In addition, rhetoric by certain politicians has led to a lack of support for public education and calls for defunding such institutions. If this monetary aid is further reduced or diverted, as it continues to be by school vouchers to private schools and by charter schools, millions of students in struggling communities will be impacted by a lack of adequate schooling.
Lastly, the influence of corporate interests and the wealthy elite are contributing to threats against our democracy. Rather than representing constituents, elected officials have become increasingly beholden to policy decisions based upon lobbying firms and businesses. Entities, including so-called dark-money concerns that cannot be traced, opening the door to foreign cash, donate masses to campaign funds to influence recipients’ behavior in congress and prevent certain regulatory restrictions (whether on guns, pollution, worker safety, job security, health care or numerous other consumer-protection initiatives). Those in positions of authority are often working for their own self-interest or that of their richest campaign donors. The majority of the members of the 116th Congress are millionaires despite a yearly salary of $174,000.
Due to the influence of dark money in government, necessary reforms in a variety of sectors are ignored. We fail to make adequate measures in regards to pressing issues such as climate change, health care and gun safety due to the influence of conglomerates in the fossil fuel or pharmaceutical industry, and the NRA. How is our country going to progress amidst this rampant dishonesty? We need to make immediate reforms to slow the brazenness of very few economic interests influencing Washington by re-strengthening campaign finance laws. Congressional disloyalty–the selling of lawmakers to the highest bidders–will lead to the downfall of our state if not addressed.
Younger generations in unprecedented numbers are standing in solidarity with one another to fight these ideologies and dangerous disinformation campaigns now compromising the soundness of the United States. Together, we will confront the wrongdoings and challenge corruption and discrimination. John F. Kennedy once said, “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” We will not strengthen and ensure the prosperous growth of our democratic state by conforming. Together, we will not conform.
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Peaches McGee says
Jack, your words are well-written and thoughtful. Keep speaking your mind. Screw the naysayers!!
E, ROBOT says
The United States of America in NOT a democracy. We are a Constitutional Republic which means we live by the rule of law, not mob rule.
FlaglerLive says
From Jack Petocz’s essay: “The United States is not a direct democracy. Representatives are chosen to make decisions and pursue legislation on behalf of constituents.” It helps to read the pieces one intends to comment about.
E, ROBOT says
Agree that one should be familiar with material one comments upon. Elected officials must work within the constitutional limits. Amending the constitution is a long difficult process made so deliberately to avoid elected officials from fiddling with our freedoms.
Sherry says
@er . . The most violent and horrific “mob” trying to “rule” our country with an insurrection and attempted coup happened on Jan. 6th 2021 when despicable criminal maga supporters tried to stop the LEGAL transition of presidential power by battering the police, breaking into our nation’s capitol and threatening the lives our elected political leaders.
Somehow, I think that was all OK with you, right?
Ben Hogarth says
I’ve heard this exact rhetorical statement repeated again and again in err. The very premise of a Constitutional Republican form of government is democratic in nature. The people elect representatives to a body of congress – which is a DEMOCRATIC process. The United States is a liberal democracy by political science definition – or at least has been. I tend to concur with a recent Princeton review that the U.S. has slipped into a full Oligarchy with democratic principles only being a thin veil that masks the true power distribution. But that’s back to the original authors discussion.
Irrespective of the semantic respecting where the proverbial line is drawn between a “democracy” and something else, repeating the diatribe against the term “Democracy” and substituting it with the convenient “Republic” term because that more aligns with one’s political party affiliation is a rather inherent corruption that I would advise others from repeating. Most republics are democratic in nature and in process. Elections are a democratic process unless they are subverted – which once again goes back to the original author of this article and the attack on January 6th.
Sherry says
Exactly Ben. . . so sick of hearing the SAME mindless FOX talking points posted over and over again. Thank you for your attempt at actually educating those who really, really need it.
Laurel says
A most excellent essay by Jack, congratulations! It is well written, thought out and researched. Good job. Now, if I were his teacher, I would request that he write more on the subject and include Democratic short comings. The fact of the matter is, no matter who is in power, the threat remains. The middle class continues to shrink. Inflation continues to rise. Politicians continue to be lobbied. There is more to this story, and because Jack is so eloquent with his words, and knowledgeable on the subject of democracy, I would love to read more.
ULTRA MAGA says
Disinformation by Mainstream Media and Big Tech with the ‘Dark Money’ from Chinese Communist Party ASSETS is reason why Comrade Biden is POTUS! The Russia, Russia Big Lie from Hillary Clinton has American Taxpayers $48,000,000.00
Hunter Biden Laptop was Censored Before the 2020 Election! Wake Up Americans, we are in a Very Dangerous Cold War with Communist China(one of the nations that refuges to sign any Nuclear Weapons Agreement)! Review Hitler’s March to WWII and you realize that Xi Jinping is Marching toward WWIII. Study History or REPEAT the same past Mistakes of Appeasement!
marlee says
yawn……
Laurel says
Ultra Maga: No, Biden is President because we voted for him. The essay was not some crazy plot, it was written by a very gifted child.
Deborah Coffey says
I’ve never been conned. I wonder what it feels like to buy into every bit of propaganda and lie that is told to me. And, I wonder what it will feel like when one morning a conned person wakes up and lives in a country Republicans will have turned into the very China-like country he abhors…a true autocracy with no freedoms at all. So, Jack is correct; disinformation is a huge risk to our democracy. It can become deadly when one actually believes every bit of it.
Sherry says
@ um Either post links to “credible” FACTS for your ridiculous claims or we will continue laughing at you and your brainless “conspiracy theories”! LOL! LOL! LOL!
Steve says
Trump was Voted out by the the Majority. Get over it and cry me a river. Conspiracy DU jour I presume
Ben Hogarth says
It appears the young student struck a nerve. I’d advise you to go back to history class, because someone sounds like they missed a lot of it.
Steve says
Fantasy. Alternate Reality along with whataboutism, deny deflect accuse project. Keep playing the victim maybe another fool will buy it.
Cheri says
I am hopeful for our country. I am hopeful because of young adults like you who are speaking out and standing up for what is right. The elected officials care about protecting their funders. Not the people who elected them. Thank you. Don’t give up!
Robin says
Well said Jack. I recommend reading ‘Dark Money’ by Jane Meyers to deepen one’s understanding of the perniciousness of unidentified campaign funds.
I know we will be hearing more from you.
Kat says
Jack, you give me hope. The greatest generation, the one that saved the world as we know it from Fascism, is now almost entirely gone and unfortunately the baby boomers and my generation have dropped the ball in defending our government experiment. I see such power in your words and your deeds. You are going to go far in this world and I hope you drag the rest of us with you! It might not seem like it but there are plenty of rational adults in Flagler county that have your back.
Gail Walton says
This young man gives me hope for the future.
Timothy Patrick Welch says
Good essay, well deserved accolades…
RL70 says
Rush said it around 30 years ago…
Young skulls full of mush are being shaped & formed by the liberal teachers!
Laurel says
RL70: Rush was a careless addict who cared only for ratings.
The Voice Of Reason says
Rl70, Wasn’t that about the time he was eating hand fulls of vicodin daily and doctor shopping. Thankfully he cured his addiction over one weekend in the Dominican.
Steve says
Rush Who?
Ben Hogarth says
That comment aged about as well as Rush himself.
Teachers / Professors are not “liberal” because of some system of indoctrination. They are “liberal” because liberalism is what the last 250 years of human society and progress has been about. (Classic) Liberalism was at the heart of the Declaration of Independence, the arbitration of the drafting of the Constitution, and the spark that led to the French Revolution. Liberalism is what won blue collar workers the right to safe work places and decent living wages. Liberalism is what led to the freeing of slaves around the world. Liberalism is what secured Europe from tyranny – twice. Liberalism is what procured mass transit and manufacturing in a way that advances science and development. Liberalism is what showed the world that we should “make love and not war” when the military-industrial regime promulgated conflict after conflict in the interest of “conservative values.” Liberalism is what made a nation believe it could put a human on the surface of the moon. Liberalism is what has given people from all walks of life, creed, skin color, and pedigree – a chance to dream and to do.
Those of us who attend university or college, or who at least had the good fortune of a solid early education “seem to promote liberal agenda” because we know true liberalism – progress – change is the only way human society will survive itself. Conservatism may appear to be a competitive political “perspective,” but in truth it is the antithesis of hope. It drives men into corners, drawing lines in the sand between tribes and belief structures. And now, today, Conservatism is the death of reason, and thereby of humanity itself. Intellectuals are not more liberal because we all got together one day and decided we were going to conspire to this cause of liberalism. Intellectuals are liberal because we know that the antithesis (conservatism) is not sustainable. Remove all the liberalism and all you have is human cannibalism. Leave a man like Rush Limbaugh in a room with himself long enough and he eats himself alive. THAT is what evil does.
So continue spouting the rhetorical nonsense about the “horrors of liberalism” while overtly virtue signaling. Actual patriots and defenders of liberty need not spend their day espousing “virtues” by repeating it in diatribe. We lead through example.
Because Republicans (particularly neo-cons) have yet to understand the meaning of “If you HAVE to say it…”
Laurel says
Ben: Wow! That was explained really well! Thank you, I learned something here.
I’ve often wondered how the word “liberal” became such a bad thing. When I think of liberal, I think of Gandhi, Buddha, Jesus and others, yet if I ask Christian conservatives if they think Jesus was a liberal I get a resounding “NO!” That’s a baffler there. I think it is a good example how words get twisted into new meanings to suit ideologies. The far left use liberal as a badge of honor, which ain’t exactly correct either.
When fascism or communism take over, the “intelligentsia” are the first to go.
Steve says
Best post in a long time WTG 💥👍
Johnson 1953 says
Gee, just give the “Snowflake” a pretty rainbow Barbie Doll and $25.00 certificate to ” Gays on Parade ” carnival in Orlando this summer.
Laurel says
Johnson 1953: Uncalled for.
Chris Conklin says
Johnson 1953
Your a dick and a bully. Grow up
Sherry says
@J (insecure, Russian Bot?) The hate that is rotting your soul is evident to us all! Hopefully, Jack will simply “consider the despicable source” and simply brush off such stupidity.
Ben Hogarth says
Mr. Johnson,
TICK TOCK.
The sun is setting on that way of thinking.
Tony Mack says
It would help to know the meaning of the terms you use —
Emily Brewster, lexicographer and associate editor at Merriam-Webster, said that “snowflake” has been used as an insult since the Civil War…
“A snowflake was a person who was opposed to the abolition of slavery,” Brewster said. “They were called snowflakes because it said they valued white people over black people.”
El Capo says
“Our Democracy is at risk”? This guy made an insurrection-like protest in FPC over a bill that doesn’t have anything to do with students that identify as part of the lgbt community. He supports the political party that is at fault of everything that is going on this country. How dare he say that our democracy is at risk when he supports the tyrannical politicians that don’t care about democracy? In some Democrat states school boards are allowing schools to suspend and even expel students who don’t address other students using their preferred pronoun. Let’s remember that Democrats were the ones who barred unvaccinated students from going to school, they fired cops, firefighters, nurses, doctors, etc. for refusing the vaccine. Jack Petocz is an enemy of democracy, he couldn’t care less about it. He supported false claims about the “Parental Rights and Education Bill” and decided to make a riot inside his school. Shame of FPC administrators for not issuing more severe punishments against this boy.
Pierre Tristam says
There are so many inaccuracies per word in this comment, I’ll leave it to someone else(maybe Jack) to correct. But the commenter (they) is correct about what’s really just a few (too few) school districts beginning to crack down on faculty and students who purposefully–which is to say maliciously–refuse to use a student’s chosen pronouns. Of course suspension is warranted. No different than leveling racial or ethnic slurs. The intent is exclusively to impose one’s sense of superiority over another. El Capo must like denying others their dignity.
sosickofenablers says
This is so disturbing. And one of our biggest problems in todays society. We are enabling a mental health issue. Comparing RACE to a “CHOSEN PRONOUN” is apples and oranges. This isn’t imposing superiority – its freaking SCIENCE!
Bill C says
El Capo makes a good argument for why we need “Red Flag” laws.
Keeping says
If somebody else having a different opinion than yours is reason for you to yell “red flag laws are needed” that is in fact the reason that red flag laws should NOT be in place
Bill C says
Typical extremist who relies on distorted hate-fueled disinformation to support their “opinion”. “Yell”? Where did you get that from ? Go wave the Confederate flag with your comrades.
Laurel says
El Capo: I don’t know where you get your information, and I recommend you take a break from it. This young man made some very good points, that were well researched. I also recommend you view “Rick Steve’s Fascism in Europe.” Look it up, it’s important. It’s about the history of fascism in Europe well before our current situation. See if you can recognize certain personality traits.
I don’t think it’s a good state for our country when young people and seniors are attacked with the blessings of a political ideology.
The Voice Of Reason says
El Capo, Let me give you a tip. On Amazon you can buy a t-shirt that says, “I ain’t no dumb Southerner.” It might help boost your image. Also, people like you “made covid great again.”
PS, don’t forget to celebrate January 6th, National Republican Party Day!
Steve says
Kinda like attempting to overthrow a fair Election and refuse to transfer Power peacefully “Enemy of Democracy”
Vaxed Sez says
“This guy made an insurrection-like protest in FPC”, yea remember how they stormed the building with weapons and killed a few cops? It was all over the news I’m sure you saw it. Oh that was the Nations Capital, you mixed up FPC with a building in Washington, DC.
Ben Hogarth says
Well there it is. Conservatives unilaterally proclaiming anyone with opposing views an “enemy of the state.”
This is why historians and political scientists are overly concerned about the course of events from the last 4-5 years (in particular). The good news is that the seduction of “conservative virtue signaling” is beginning to wane. The efficacy of “war on culture and tradition” has lost a lot of its power and momentum – particularly with a young crowd who simply want a better standard of living and quality of life.
Kind of like how Mr. Morgan (from Morgan and Morgan) implied the first year they lost their gambit on reforming medicinal marijuana via Constitutional referendum that we will just have to wait for a few more old folks to “pass on” before trying again. And they did – and we did.
Now 44% of Republicans in another poll state that Americans need to “accept” mass shootings as part of our everyday way of life.
Please tell me again who the real enemy of good is.
Laurel says
Ben: Okay, now you lost me. I am getting really, damned tired of being thrown in a stupid category simply by my age. Most of people I know are around my age and we are not all far right nit wits, who should die off in order for your world to improve. In fact, most of the nay sayers on this sight are young or middle aged. Should the really young kids wait for y’all to pass too?
I am an old Independent. My old husband was a life long Republican until the party left him. Now he is an Independent too. We have our own minds, not to be categorized.
Baby Boomers have fought for your freedom too!
Tell me again who the real enemy of good is.
Prejudice.
Sherry says
@ Ben, I’m thinking that the extreme right wing “crazies” are claiming that anyone who still lives in the real world and actually understands they are dangerously crazy is an “Enemy of Their Alternate Reality”.
Unfortunately, FOX propaganda, conspiracy theories and downright lies have captured the minds of those without the intellect, courage and fortitude to seek the factual truth. Just look at the daily mindless postings of FOX talking points from trump cult members who are filled with nothing but the fear and hate ginned up by right winged media outlets.
If the Republicans continue to take over more and more of our government and judicial power, our fragile democracy will be destroyed, and we will be “ruled” by a fascist, white supremacist, autocracy
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! DEMOCRATIC!
Gary R says
What will Democrats run on? Inflation 40 year high? Energy independence? Border security? Food prices? Gas and home heating prices? Afghanistan? CRT? Censorship? Covid fix? Supply chain fix? Baby Formula shortage? None of these. Oh wait, they can run on Jan 6. Americans are really concerned with that ….
Steve says
Feeling threatened by a High Schooler and even blaming him for what’s wrong in your eyes. You are just the perpetual Victim aren’t you cupcake.Just Keep Winning
marlee says
I hope this is forwarded.
Thank you, Jack, for you activism.
The dude says
Great job!
It’s time for you and yours to take the reins.
The older generations are too enamored of a country that existed in the 50’s and 60’s , and too susceptible to the power of disinformation.
They don’t want to release their death grip on our 21st century lives, and they keep trying to solve today’s problems with solutions from decades ago.
In 2024, we’ll most likely be given the option to vote for a POTUS who’s old, or older. Neither one of them seems to have a particularly strong grip on our 21st century reality. One of them will seek to relitigate the 2020 election, one will promise the same things he’s promised since the 80’s (1980’s).
Time for some younger perspectives.
Laurel says
There goes the Dude again with his obvious disdain for the seniors in our society.
Dude: When I read these hits on both the young and the old, I see that there are hardened ideological bubbles in this country today. No, we did not work at harming our children and grandchildren. Every generation wants their offspring to do better than them. No, we do not all think alike. Yes, I am very encouraged by Jack, and those like him who can articulate what they have observed. After all, we do need open minds, and not bubbles of like minded individuals. :)
The dude says
After 40 years of watching the boomers decimate everything they’ve touched, I just feel it’s time that maybe they release the stranglehold they have on the country’s politics and economy. They should just go enjoy the cushy retirements they carved out for themselves, making sure to leave behind nothing for all who come after them.
It’s time for new thinking. The thinking of the last 40 years are why we stand where we currently stand. The boomers who brought the wall down are desperately trying to build new ones.
Laurel says
Dude: Is it all possible your are responsible for your own life? Did everyone in your class get a trophy, no matter what? Are you are part of the generation who thought they should start at the top? Got your knee pads, wrist pads, helmets and helicopter moms and dads? Got safety messages on your trash bags? Do you think you should live at your parents’ house forever?
Please, give yourself, and the rest of us a break, and take responsibility for yourself. Us “bootstrapys” did.
A Concerned Observer says
Well, let’s think about this for a moment; an essay contest sponsored by the ALCU. Could there possibly be left- leaning socialist addenda therein? This young man does write well and obviously has an education but he just as obviously sorely lacking in wisdom and lessons that can only be aquired through life experiences; life experiences gained by living outside the narrow confines of academia. I have come to expect nothing less from the left leaning yellow journalism of FlaglerLive and its editors and I am rarely, if ever, disappointed. Go out into the real world M. Petocz and gain the wisdom of life experiences. Obtain a real understanding of things beyond your scope and limited time on this earth from those have lived and learned far, far more than your teen age life could possibly acquire.
The dude says
That pesky ACLU… the organization who fights for your right to stand at the corner of A1A and 100 proudly flying your “FUCK JOE BIDEN” and confederate flags as families walk by.
Vaxed Sez says
Ummm, the ACLU defends ALL rights including yours.
Ben Hogarth says
I would absolutely advise him to go forth and learn of the “other” perspective – if only to further solidify what he already knows to be true as a greater and deeper “WHY.”
However, I cannot think of a more inherent personal corruption than someone inferring that a young man who has not yet toiled and soiled in the drudgery of day to day struggle somehow cannot appreciate the goodness and righteousness of noble pursuits.
To the young man I say “press on.” Although I’m certain by his actual wisdom (for his age) – he doesn’t need to be warned about comments like (above). I’m sure he can knows dogma and baseless rhetoric when he reads it.
Sherry says
@ aco. . . You obviously have no idea about the mission of the “champion of our rights and liberties”, the ACLU. . . beyond what FOX has told you to think. . . take a good read:
“So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we’ll be called a democracy.” — ACLU founder Roger Baldwin
When a roomful of civil liberties activists — led by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, and Albert DeSilver — formed the ACLU in 1920, the Supreme Court had yet to uphold a single free speech claim. Activists languished in jail for distributing anti-war literature. State-sanctioned violence against African-Americans was routine. Women won the right to vote only in August of that year. And constitutional rights for LGBT people were unthinkable.
The ACLU was founded to ensure the promise of the Bill of Rights and to expand its reach to people historically denied its protections. In our first year, we fought the harassment and deportation of immigrants whose activism put them at odds with the authorities. In 1939, we won in the Supreme Court the right for unions to organize. We stood almost alone in 1942 in denouncing our government’s round-up and internment in concentration camps of more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans. And at times in our history when frightened civilians have been willing to give up some of their freedoms and rights in the name of national security, the ACLU has been the bulwark for liberty.
Also, aco. . . You obviously are ignorant of the fact that this Essay Contest was for “the Future Voters”. . . which limits the entrants to younger people. Therefore your “bashing” him for not having enough life experience indicates that you are a “bully” who is completely out of line, in this situation.
Regarding your dislike of wonderful Flaglerlive. . . please, do us all a favor and avail yourself only of those right winged fascist media outlets that feed your obvious political perspective in your “alternate reality”. We won’t miss your negative, close minded, unthinking attitude one little bit!
Laurel says
Concerned: I have to disagree with you. Carson McCullers wrote an amazing book called “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.” To read it and know she was only 22 years old when she wrote it will blow your mind. Her insight was well beyond her young years. We are sometimes blessed with those who do have an insight and empathy beyond their physical years, and we should celebrate that rather than try to put it down. Who knows, could be old souls.
Skibum says
First of all, I want to congratulate you for your winning essay, Jack. As you have so aptly demonstrated previously to your peers as well as the so-called “adults” in the school district, you have the wisdom, courage and conviction that go beyond your years. I expect we will all be seeing and hearing great things from you in the future because you are well spoken and your desire to take a public stand for what is right, even at the risk of personal retribution, is such an admirable and honorable trait. I heartily agree with your essay’s points about the risk to our country’s democratic ideals, and democracy itself. You, and many other young activists like yourself, are what gives me hope for our nation!
Oldie but goodie says
I was a kid once and I too thought I was smart on the issues. Then I grew up and started learning the truth. I hope he does too before he screams his false opinions too far to take them back.
Ben Hogarth says
Sounds like someone is STILL “Too cool for school.”
We all grow old, but that doesn’t mean we all should “get old.” I’ll leave this comment here in hopes that “kid” reads the above comment, and then sees this. I did get a good laugh at the “false opinions” comment.
He must have really really really struck a nerve with the older generation who is desperate to conclude that his folly is that “he is young and being indoctrinated.” News flash – I’m 36 and still have yet to learn of the “wisdom” that conservatives are so desperate to prove exists beyond what I’ve learned in school and life.
In fact, all my days on this earth have only further evidenced to me the sad and tragic seduction of “conservative values” upon those who NEED leadership to inspire them to everyday struggle. If anything, readers should be saddened to see men and women who grow old still having failed to have learned such lessons. I’d venture a guess that you look at an individuals life and life choices who thinks like (above) and you’ll find a cycle of repeated err.
Sherry says
@obg. . . please post “credible” FACTS proving that Jack’s essay is “false”. Otherwise, we will all “consider the source” and understand that “YOU” are nothing more than an “oldie” brainwashed FOX cult member.
Laurel says
“False opinions.” *Sigh*
Jane says
Very well written. You deserved all the praise you received. Thank you.
Mark1 says
This is amazing! We need more gay children in our Flagler schools! They are smart and will help make this country better!. Parents please talk to your about being gay and that it might help them. Everything isn’t as bad as people make it out to be, and there seems to be many benefits for children to lean that way!
Anthony says
Way to Go Jack. So tired of Trump spreading his lies because he is a poor loser. If OZ lost PA election Trump would be screaming the other party cheated. He just can’t handle losing and at his age he should be ashamed. The people that took their loyalty to Trump over our country should all be in jail. And who knows that maybe coming.
I can’t wait to vote for some new school board people since there are a few that need to go. The Governor thinks he Jesus Christ Superstar and puts his nose where it doesn’t belong. He needs to be a Governor and not a guy only carrying about his likes and dislikes. He sure took many lessons from Trump who the world will see Thursday night how he betrayed his own country.
Sherry says
@Anthony. . . unfortunately, since the cowardly FOX fascist propaganda network refuses to broadcast the Jan. 6th Commission hearings, many of the brainwashed Republicans who really need to learn the “TRUTH” about the violent insurrection in our nation’s capitol will once again be completely tuned out.
Trans says
Can’t wait for the Flagler County Transgender High School to open next year. Now where did I put my Feather Scarf and Glitter spray ?
JimBob says
Petocz will likely excel in college and graduate or professional school and garner even more enmity from the Flagler Liberty-type goobers.
Steve says
Triggered much from a High Schooler lol 🤣