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“We Did Whatever We Could To Win…”
December 30, 2007
This news yesterday, caused my blood to boil. To think that a parent would condone and perhaps even suggest that their child do what this child did, says a whole lot to me about our society and the fact that to some people, integrity and honesty don’t mean a damn thing, but instead, it’s all about winning by whatever means necessary.
I was outraged when I read about the 6 year old girl who won 4 tickets to a Hannah Montana concert by writing an essay, in which she claimed that her father died in Iraq. The contest was sponsored by a retail chain called Club Libby Lu. Friday officials at a mall in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas suprised the little girl, providing her with a makeover, that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig and airfare and four tickets to see Hannah Montana perform in Albany, N.Y. on January 9th; a concert which had been sold out.
“With this decision, we hope to revive the intended spirit of the contest, which was designed to make a little girl’s holidays extra special,” Club Libby Lu chief executive Mary Drolet said on Saturday.
Thankfully the store checked and found out that what the little girl claimed in the essay was a complete hoax, according to a company spokeswoman Robin Caulfield. On Saturday, the prize was withdrawn and it was awarded to another contestant, whom store officials did not name. They found out that not only did the store find out that the little girl’s father was not killed in Iraq, but that NO US Soldiers deaths were reported that day in Iraq. Apparently, the mother of the child, Pricilla Ceballos admitted later that day that the essay and the military information that was provided about the child’s father were untrue.
“We did the essay and that’s what we did to win. We did whatever we could do to win,” Ceballos said in an interview with KDFW-TV in Dallas. “But when Caulfield asked me if this essay is true, I said ‘No, this essay is not true.”
After this story broke yesterday, Marty and I discussed this at length. For ourselves, we try to stress the importance of honesty and integrity to our children. Had Marty’s daughter, or any of our children, made up a similar lie to win a contest, we’d have made them sit down and write a letter of apology to each and every family of fallen US Soldiers. I think what angers me the most about this, is that the childs mother condoned what her child did and most likely helped to write the essay. It’s sad…. no downright disgusting that this parents value system is so skewed that they’d resort to having their child lie, just to win.
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12 Responses to ““We Did Whatever We Could To Win…””
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I agree with everything you and Marty said. It enraged me, even more that the child was a 6 year old child. Give me a break ! I don’t believe she thought up and wrote that on her own. To think that her caretakers would use her, and disgrace all the children of fallen warriors just enrages me. Who was wanting the spot light. Disgraceful, just disgraceful. I truly believe the adults involved should be charged with theft by fraud. Think about the value of those tickets, now. I truly believe they should be charged and pay the full price of their illegal actions. Freedom has responsilibity, and especially when our people are giving their lives for that freedom, someone who misuses that freedom and the warriors sacrifices, should have to pay and pay by our laws.
But, that’s just my opinion.
It’s pretty obvious that the mother was behind the essay. It definitely makes you wonder what she’s teaching her child. It’s obvious it’s not truth, integrity and fairness. Unfortunately we see that in all facets of society, from school sports to professional sports, to the work force and to our politicians.
I agree, this mother should be criminally charged for her deception as well as her encouraging her child to be deceptive.
Gosh! Reading this story makes me think of a long line of current and former politicians in Washington. No wonder kids today lie and misrepresent to achieve their ends!
Another example of our nation sliding further in to the bowels of hell.
I, too, agree that the mother AND child should have to write letters of apology and that the mother should be punished in some criminal way for deception.
And all for bloody concert tickets. Yep, sliding further in to the bowels of hell.
Terri thanks for posting this. I had not heard of this. This is very shameful for the whole family involved.
I do wish I could think this to be a rare incident but I know it’s not and that is heart breaking. I remember a time when parents took pride in raising honest, honorable upright children, now it seems a large number of parents take pride in teaching their children how to succeed in deception. I even see this in some of my family members.
We have gone so far astray in our great country that I wonder if we will ever be able as a whole united country return to the great honest foundation upon which this country was built.
I’m finding it harder and harder to recognize this country I love so much. I have to believe that the majority of American’s still treasure truth and honesty.
I suppose to stop those who treasure deception - there needs to be a punishment that would hold them accountable and discourage those from even thinking about committing these kind of actions.
I’m usually not game for making new laws for every undesirable action. I’ve always thought much responsibility lies with the parents and family, but since so many people from so many different cultures are invading our country and bringing their undesirable characteristics we have to do something. Maybe if we would just enforce the laws we already have and put honorable men and women in our government.
What can be done? What needs to be done?
I saw this on Fox news this morning and I could not believe how the mother could try to justify what they did. Trading your integrity for a few measly concert tickets sends the wrong message to our children. How on earth could she sleep at night? She is unfit to be a parent and I hope that someone in her state’s DCYS/DCF investigates her.Absolutely disgusting and I am thrilled that they took the prize away.
I am pretty infuriated to read of this family—and I fully agree with you, Terri. I echo Karen’s comment above about DCYS: I would say that the child’s mother is an unfit parent. There is no room for any child to be taught that deception and dishonour are acceptable.
I will seethe over this for sometime.
The worst part is how calmly everyone is taking it and ‘listening’ to the mother’s explanations. It is beyond disgraceful. Isn’t this a form a child abuse?
Thank you for posting this….My father died on 12/25/63 in South Vietnam. Reading things like this is just another reminder, how exceptional these men and women in our armed forces are! They are fighting for people that will use such a vile lie to win a prize. The honor and uncommon courage of our soldiers is breathtaking…..I love them and will never forget their sacrifice!
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