Pop-Tarts and Bird Brains

A few years ago, the Christian Science Monitor ran an article about a species of bird.  During the winter months, when it was hard to find food, the bird’s brain would grow.  During the summer months, when food was plentiful, the bird’s brain would shrink in size.  This is nature’s way of proving the old saying, use it or lose it.

“Zero tolerance” is a catchy phrase, used by political elites, to stop rational discussion about a particular issue. Such as, “we have a zero tolerance policy” on drugs or guns.

As with all well-meaning social policies, there is also a down side. The problem with “zero tolerance” is that it relieves the rank and file implementers of using their brains.

No better example exists than the recent Pop-Tart/gun fiasco in Maryland.  In this expression of political correctness gone nuts, a collection of highly paid educators agreed to suspend a seven-year-old child from school for nibbling away on a Pop-Tart.  The remaining tart looked too much like a weapon.  And “zero tolerance” dictates a suspension.

It is hard to imagine how anyone could equate a nibbled Pop-Tart to a weapon.  Maybe it’s just the word “Pop” in Pop-Tart which caught them off guard. Or maybe, zero tolerance is making us all bird brains.

Photo courtesy of Things You Wouldn't Know If We Didn't Blog Intermittently