Nope, no-one is laughing at us, we are not in any way the subject of ridicule.

[TheArtist]

  There is a little saying that I think is somewhat applicable in this situation as well.  "One can either choose to put on a pair of slippers or try and carpet the whole world."  In other words, you can't do everything, one must pick ones battles.  I was a little surprised the girl, or likely the parent, thought keeping her hairstyle was more important than keeping her friends though.   

[guido911]

Saying this was national news is a bit of a stretch.

(ie, a blog)

I didn't even hear about this in Tulsa until now...

[guido911]

Well, at least it's not as bad as July's big news item from Tulsa:

http://gawker.com/smile-covered-man-caught-spying-from-inside-toilet-sente-1198975874.

Because we got up staged in Colorado.

http://gawker.com/porta-potty-peeping-tom-busted-at-yoga-festival-gets-3-1237481174

[JCnOwasso]

  There is a little saying that I think is somewhat applicable in this situation as well.  "One can either choose to put on a pair of slippers or try and carpet the whole world."  In other words, you can't do everything, one must pick ones battles.  I was a little surprised the girl, or likely the parent, thought keeping her hairstyle was more important than keeping her friends though.   

Or her education.

[heironymouspasparagus]

The article said the girl went to the same school last year with the same hair.  What's the difference between now and then?

[Oil Capital]

The article said the girl went to the same school last year with the same hair.  What's the difference between now and then?

Actually, the article does not say that.  It only says she "went to the school last year and didn't have any problems."  ... doesn't say anything about how she wore her hair last year.

[swake]

I think Oklahoma values conformity too much. There's too little creativity and critical thinking skills here and too much herd mentality.

[AquaMan]

The story I read on Yahoo, did in fact quote the parents as saying the child wore the style last year with no complaints. The school responded that they have photographic proof that was not true.

There is a strong movement among many in the black community to distance themselves from the lowbrow culture of sagging pants, sex, entitlement, mysogeny and poor integrity so prominently displayed on TV and in music for their race. I think that is admirable. It is a battle that makes them seem strange to those immersed in that culture. Sort of like oreo cookies. They fight that battle while dealing with real discrimination and racism in the non black world. Don't believe it? Read the comments sections of local tv stations. It is scary.

Bottom line is that this conflict of cultures makes them do strange things. As one who witnessed students being expelled at Central High School in the late 60's for girls with shorts or short skirts, guys wearing hair below their collar, over their ears or sporting whiskers, I can empathize with the parents. It was the administration's reaction to a culture they didn't approve of either...hippies. It was a losing battle.

Now I am a grandparent and I am more inclined to think these parents are fighting the wrong battle. They put their kid in a bad place and ended up reinforcing the very negative stereotypes they put her in the school to fight. The school was doing what they were commissioned to do.

Ain't no job with more recriminations, more judgements and more responsibility than being a parent.

[guido911]

I think Oklahoma values conformity Christianity too much.

Fixed that.  You looking for conformity or herd-think? Go to Chicago, or San Francisco, or any union meeting.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Fixed that.  You looking for conformity or herd-think? Go to Chicago, or San Francisco, or any union meeting.

How about lawyer conferences??

[dbacksfan 2.0]

How about lawyer conferences??

I thought Discovery Channel covered that with "Shark Week"?

[Hoss]

I thought Discovery Channel covered that with "Shark Week"?

[Hoss]

How about lawyer conferences??

How about a CPAC conference?

[patric]

How about a CPAC conference?

They have those?

[heironymouspasparagus]

I thought Discovery Channel covered that with "Shark Week"?

Covers the herd think thing....