The Redundant Reputation
by Brenna EganBirds of a feather flock together. You tell me who you fly with, I'll tell you who you are. Fist impressions never fade.
Yada,yada,yada.
The attack of the killer living clichs is here, and nothing bothers me more than those irrefutable one-liners that inevitably result in me losing a fight with my mom. But with the infiltration of the trenchcoat mafia and Marilyn Manson, our society makes it harder each day not to be assaulted with these judgments. However, my own first impression of Marian was wrong-I thought I would be free of condescension concerning the way I looked or some silly rumor that was made up by Ethel in the locker room last week.
My impression wasn't too far from the truth, although I do despise first impressions. It seems to me that the Marian atmosphere harbors criticisms whose basis is purely superficial. It also seems that this judgmental environment hasn't changed much over the years either.
The scene: Marian, 1961, graduation time, and Ms. Kathy Bast, likely to become a future nun. She was an involved, well-liked, dedicated student gifted with a hard to miss insight and kindness. Her archetypal tragic flaw? She smoked. Duhn, duhn, duhn. She was actually told after graduation by the principal at the time that she could have crowned Mary at May Crowning if she hadn't tarred up her lungs. Her halo disappeared in an inhalation-exhalation combo.
I could be wrong, but the Virgin Mary was born without sin, thus without pious judgments as well. I doubt the color of Ms. Kathy Bast's lungs would affect Mary's solemnity in the first place. She settled, however, for Marian Girl of the Year Award.
Speaking of which, there have been numerous rumors in the mill about present judgment calls. All right, so I'm not heading for the convent, and yes, I am in an assigned study hall, but I am involved and do a lot for this school. Yet, I feel negative vibes daily.
The scene: Marian, 2000, Feb., two seniors with 10 points, and a supposed reputation. They were going to get their lunches and assorted items out of their cars, and signed out despite the fact that seniors had open campus this particular week (meaning no one would have ever known if they went illegally). Having parked in sophomore lot, they hopped in with the van man, J.B. While the two characters were still in the van, the office dialed J.B.'s cell phone and all the two girls heard was "theyU'e right here with me," and a "click." The girls later learned the office told J.B. to "watch out for them," because they were "up to no good," and could even possibly "be smoking." Duhn, duhn, duhn.
I find it very ironic that Marian constantly teaches us to respect each other and let God give the final and only judgment, yet they feel the need to judge themselves.
Two unfair judgments at Marian can be an example of what makes the world go round, but I don't think we are spinning on the right axis. These stories are perfect examples of why the above adages are now cliches: they hold an unmistakable amount of truth for life. I can't ignore the lack of justice in the world, but I know the more I uncover and report, the less others will stand for it.
The only consolation I can offer while students are judged by their elder species here is to put the world's slant back at 23 degrees by offering yet another killer clich (sorry, sometimes in these battles it's a necessity to fight fire with fire)...
Don't judge a book by its cover.
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