by So, this weekend we received a call from a concerned parent about the video below from the Today show highlighting professional women who smoke pot. Now, unfortunately I wasn’t here to take the call, but if said parent wants to call me back-I will be happy to discuss the issue with you in full. I will say this though. The parent in question “has a 13 year old interested in buying a skateboard and doesn’t know whether he or she will be allowed to shop here.” Also, “she does not agree with my politics.” First of all let me say that I do not have children. I might someday, but I cannot begin to understand the stress and worry that comes with this job of nurturing and teaching a child to become a decent human. I know many kids and adults who did not have decent parents, so the fact that this parent is worried or reaching out at all is a good sign-because that means he or she is involved in their child’s well being. I will say this, if you have a 13-year-old child they have already been in the presence of pot, as well as cigarettes and alcohol-and possibly much worse stuff. So, if your child told you about this video-then you should be really proud, because your child has a level head in a crazy world. Again, I’m not a parent, but if I become one I hope I don’t forget that at 13 years old, I knew kids having sex, I knew racist kids, I knew drug dealers, I knew alcohol abusers, I knew kids tattooing themselves, and to be honest, I knew kids trying way heavier drugs than I did in high-school or college. I apologize if this video brought up an uncomfortable discussion at your home, but I think it is a great discussion to have with a curious child. They CAN get anything they want-it is up to the parents to explain why they should or shouldn’t.
Now, as for my politics, I wear them on my sleeve. Literally. That’s what Proletariat is all about. I try to graphically express all the ills and pains I believe exist in the world. Since this is a capitalist and free society, you don’t have to support or agree with my politics whatsoever. And the best way for you not to support me is to not purchase things from my store. However, I would like to say-your kid is better off coming to Proletariat than he or she will ever be in the Gap, Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, etc. Those places don’t care about your kid. They also wouldn’t be having this discussion with you if you did have a problem, and they sure as hell don’t care about the workers producing their products or the children of said workers. I know how hard it is to be a kid. I did a lot of things growing up that I probably shouldn’t have done. I am a moral person who tries to be good to everyone I meet and I would never tell your kid to do something that I wouldn’t tell my own kid to do-and if you talk to some Cambridge parents, I know they will back me up. Proletariat is a place where everyone is welcome and if your kid is going down the wrong path and I notice-I will speak up. But at the end of the day-this is a store. It’s up to you to give your kid the knowledge to navigate his or her way through this mess we have all created and come out safe and happy. If you have anymore questions hit me up at proletariatboston(at)gmail.com
