Embarrassing adults everywhere
A gang of nine-year-olds and 10-year-olds brought the divisive issue of state birds to the New Hampshire legislature about 10 days ago. The bill
HB 373 does not mince words. These kids ask that the red-tailed hawk be made the state raptor.
It's pretty inflammatory stuff.
The purpose was really to give them a better understanding of how a bill becomes law. They got some sponsors and pushed it through the House’s environment and agriculture committee. On Thursday, they took a field trip to the statehouse, some 50 miles from school, and watched from the gallery to see what would happen on the floor.
The bill was defeated 160-133. Maybe these kids got to learn about budget considerations, and saw a light-hearted debate about tabling this for another day?
What say you, Rochester Representative Warren Groen?
“(The red-tailed hawk) mostly likes field mice and small rodents. It grasps them with its talons and then uses its razor sharp beak to rip its victims to shreds and then basically tear it apart, limb from limb. And I guess the shame about making this the state bird is it would make a much better mascot for Planned Parenthood,” Groen said.
[Bold is the emphasis of what he actually said]
Well then. Wow.
What say you, Representative John Burt who represents party poopers everywhere:
“Now we do have a $10 billion budget and that’s why I’m up here against this bill,” said Burt. “We should be working on that instead of worrying about what our next bird’s going to be. Because bottom line – if we keep bringing more of these bills and bills and bills that really I feel we shouldn’t have in front of us, we’ll be picking a state hot dog next.”
I'm making light of this but it is a real sad statement about our country's representatives that they couldn't take time out of
their busy schedules to show just a glimpse of maturity to the young children trying to learn about civics.
Here are your results:
Principal Mark Deblois said Thursday that he has heard from parents whose kids asked what Planned Parenthood is and why it was invoked in a discussion about hawks.
"None of the kids got those (abortion) references," he said. "Fortunately they didn't, because it's such a disgusting reference. But certainly that led to questions about what did that mean."
NH1 spoke with Representative Warren Groen. He seems contrite—
or the opposite of contrite:
“Every time we’re in session the gallery is open, and there are children in the gallery,” he added. “So, I don’t know, should we limit free speech or should we limit who goes in the gallery?”
And just to drive it home.
“I think that perfectly describes how a baby is aborted. It’s torn limb from limb.”
This is what he looks like:
Keep your children and your votes away from him.