Some student panelists called a local Jackson group that's targeting underage drinking a "joke" because of what they said was hypocrisy on the part of adults when it comes to alcohol.
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Shreiber said the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole is giving scholarships from money earned through Wine Fest.
"I went to a Rotary luncheon and I listened as they joked about a golf trip they were planning and at the end there would be a tailgate party," Shreiber said. "Most of the people there were involved with Communities Mobilizing. What kind of message is that?"
I can't agree with the teens more. A bunch of people with drinks in their hands talking about curbing underage drinking. Pretty hypocritical. The adults might be drinking "responsibly," if there is such a thing, but it still is not an appropriate message to be sending to kids.
I was over at a neighbors the other day branding and somebody there asked why I don't make my kids wear a helmet when they ride. I told him, "I know they should wear a helmet, it would definitely be safer, but there is not a chance in hell I would wear one so it would be hypocritical of me to make them wear one when I wouldn't. That's why I wear a seat belt now days. It would be hypocritical of me to expect my kids to use one if I didn't, so I did the right thing and wear one now, but there is no way I am wearing a helmet while riding."
The same thing could be said about drinking and smoking. When I got married and had kids I decided I needed to set the right example and quit doing both. If your parents don't do it you are less likely to do it. So far it's worked but there are a lot of teenage years ahead of me. We will see how it goes.
Back to the teens though, they're right, there is a lot of hypocrisy out there. That doesn't mean you can't look past it and do the right thing. It just makes it harder.
Rural towns aren't always idyllic. It's easy to feel trapped and be aware of social hypocrisy. Bill Pullman
