Manny Laureano

I'm not quite so sure what all the hub-bub is about regarding this thread but I'll give it one last shot irrespective of my earlier stating that I wouldn't.

First, Christ was never mentioned in the original thread. It could have been written by a Jew, Christian, or a Muslim.

Or maybe it was written by NOLA mayor, Ray Nagin:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181851,00.html

The editing would have been, of course, provided by Pat Robertson.

Do parents have to exert control over what their children say or do? Obviously, yes. It becomes very difficult when your child who would once hang on your every word becomes a teenager and exerts independence bit by bit, day by day. You want him or her to become their own person, so you let go a bit. When you let go, there's someone else ready to grab on to your kid. The "someone" is a metaphor for the influences society's good and evil.

You look for schools to be a partner. PARTNER, not surrogate. Am I advocating school prayer? NO! Having said that, my kids go to a private Episcopalian school where their Jewishness is respected as much as it can be in an institution like that. However, would a recognition of something larger than themselves once a day before school starts be the worse thing to ever happen in their fragile lives? No. Then again, the Senate starts every day with a prayer, so, perhaps you're all correct after all.

The post seemed to me to be about fighting the battle against negative influences and taking charge of our children, not blaming anyone else for our problems. Apparently, everyone else here thought differently. Fine, so I'm naive. It won't be the first time.

I guess I can't be any clearer than that about it. I have to get back to my practicing.

ML

dizforprez

Looks like Nagin is running out of people to blame for his ineptitude.

B15M

I don't see any propaganda here at all. I think it was meant as light hearted and I agree with it anyway

Alex Yates

I should make something a little clearer here. In the "bible belt" this is much more of an issue than in most other parts of the country. I have been a staunch supporter of keeping religion and GOD out of public schools. This particular post made by Chuck has been used ad nauseam by those who support CHRISTIAN prayer and religion in public schools. MY reading of it is obviously tainted by my real life experiences down here in the south. I am not capable of reading it at face value or taking it lightly because I have seen it and heard it used so much AS propaganda. That is my problem and I have no judgement directed toward anyone. I do think, however, that two of us in the South chimed in because we are OVER exposed to this issue and have been over exposed to the original post and it's "misuse". I am sorry if some of you took my tone as a personal attack. No one person was in my mind when I made my posts.

gzent

Please explain how this is different than forcing Atheism and Cultural Relativism down the throat of every child in public school?

Greg

__________________
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revalation
And the mind's true liberation

B15M

I always liked playing the Christmas concert.

Can we still play Sleigh Ride?

Alex Yates

It isn't different. That is my point. I don't agree with any of these "beliefs" being taught in PUBLIC SCHOOL. Pay for private school if you want to tailor what your kids learn. As parents, do what you can at home to instill values and beliefs - whatever they might be. Those children who do not believe in any God also have a right not to feel any lesser of a being because of that belief. If school is telling anyone they must believe in GOD, that is wrong in my book. God is something personal for most of us....at least it is for me. All of my "spiritual" lessons were learned in Catholic School which I attended after public school, at home and in church. I support that kind of separation. And if I didn't, I would send my children to a private school that agreed with my philosophies. That is why so many parents already do send their kids to private schools. Honestly guys, I don't have the energy nor the interest to defend all of my points. Chuck's post says something different to each of us and it hit a nerve with me due to being overexposed to it in negative cirumstances. (and Chuck, it is the POST and not YOU that I have a problem with) I am the one with the problem due to reasons I have stated already. These particular words have been MIS-used by many to support their agendas. Not to be rude, but I won't answer any more questions. This is getting too personal for me. The rest of you carry-on and don't pay any attention to the lady behind the curtain.

gzent

So, I am inferring that you don't think Atheism and Cultural Relativism should be taught in public schools either. We can agree on that.

Even if I could afford to send my kids to private school, I shouldn't have to. I am paying dearly through property taxes to support my public schools and I find the teaching of Atheism, Cultural Relativism and, for that matter, Liberalism, just as offensive as an Atheist would find Christianity.

The problem is that in today's society parents of public school children have very little recourse if they do not agree with the editorial spin that teachers are putting on history and current events. You only seem to have influence if a public school teaches Christian principles - then you have the ACLU to back you up.

Greg

__________________
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revalation
And the mind's true liberation

Alex Yates

Honestly, we agree. My mantra is this "School is School". The teachers must respect that as well as the government and the parents. No editorializing, no agendas - reading, writing, arithmetic, science, language, history - tools to take us through life, develop our brains, and give us the capability of making our OWN spiritual decisions.

OK. I am done. I have already come close to losing a good friend over this stupid thread. I don't want to lose any more.

dizforprez

I hope people will reread this and really think about this. If you can’t see the forward for what it is perhaps you guys could think on it for a little while, instead of rushing to judgment on those that can disseminate it quickly keeping in mind that we do see these types of things all the time here in the south so maybe it is easier for us to see it for what it truly is.

There are two issues being addressed here in one thread and sometimes they are being confused. The larger issue here is the human condition. Past the religion, morals or even how well someone plays is the ability to think and reason for one self. Those of us that see this for what it is have had to deal with it for a while, maybe those of you seeing it for the first time could really think about it before you make off the cuff remarks about how it is an innocence little forward.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

I too am done with this thread.


[edit for typos]