Dad goes all Liam Neeson over daughter's pot fine
-- Angry and Befuddled Dad
Dear Angry: Your daughter "took the fall" for smoking marijuana in her car.
She was smoking. In her car. She got caught.
Your daughter's own actions have jeopardized her financial and educational future, and she has accepted the consequences.
The way for her not to further jeopardize her future is to not get busted again. She should check to see if her record will be expunged after her probationary period is over.
Yes, if you want to end this relationship between your daughter and Richie Rich, then definitely send him a threatening text. Understand, however, that this will undermine your daughter's own (so far) adult-like acceptance of her legal and financial penalty. She would also be rightfully very upset with you for interfering like a character from a Liam Neeson movie.
No, this is not your business, unless you are paying your daughter's bills -- and it doesn't sound as if you are.
You should always encourage her to stand up for herself, including when someone owes her money.
Dear Amy: I read your column addressing the call for civility, politeness and respect in the midst of a climate of vitriol and hatred ["Desperate About Discourse"].
The writer and your response call for a movement of respect, and I am pleased to share that our organization, Operation Respect (operationrespect.org), could be the movement you are looking for. From our curricula in schools (Don't Laugh at Me Initiative) to onsite dialogue summits where those of strongly held opposing views learn to respectfully share, exchange and express their differences maturely and purposefully (Better Angels program), we're amplifying civility in all the proper channels.
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