Appalled, I say!
I read the article in Friday's newspaper about the uproar over the diversity assembly at Eastern York High School and I was appalled — appalled, I say! -- by the fact that Eastern would have the audacity to teach its students about tolerance. I can think of nothing worse than forcing innocent teenagers to be “addressed by a 'gay man, an African-American woman and a Jew.'” What's next; teaching our children that it is acceptable to speak to a Muslim or a Latino? Not only that, but apparently the homosexual man said he did not choose to be homosexual. Who is he fooling? We all know how easy life is for homosexuals in an open-minded area like York.
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I do not have children, but I would be absolutely livid if I spent 15 years trying to teach my child to hate others based on their race, religion, or sexual preference, only to have those ideas obliterated from his mind by a 45-minute assembly. Not only that, but the assistant superintendent had the gall to say that all humans are worthy of value. When I teach my child about morals and values, I will most certainly warn him about that sort of propaganda; otherwise he will be running the streets thinking everyone is equal. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it. I hope the administration of Eastern York School District is duly punished for providing its students a forum to discuss tolerance and diversity; that is something for which the good citizens of York County should not stand.
Jennifer Prall
Springettsbury Township
You know, they may even be teaching (gasp) science in the science classroom!
Jen, you are so funny. I hope you are being sarcastic. If this is the way you really feel , there's some nice real estate in PERRY COUNTY you can afford -:)
This woman is sarcastically showing her contempt for those with different viewpoints than hers. Acting like people who don't want their children taught sodomy are hateful! I suppose this is what our closed-minded government schools have been churning out.
Gee Katie, so you don't want your children taught about sodomy, but it is perfectly fine to teach them of the massive killings in the name of the Christian religion? Give me a break, please. Being homosexual doesn't make you a "bad" person. Just as being a different color or religion doesn't make you a "bad person. As a parent, let me tell you, if the school district my children attend would try to tell them that being homosexual, or a different color, or a different religion, or anything else that makes us different, were a bad thing, you better believe I would be flipping out. Schools should be teaching diversity and tolerance, on a more regular basis.
Jen, schools have been teaching perversity and tolerance for at least the last ten years, based on my first-hand knowledge. Short of demonstrative assemblies, I do not know what you could want! They are forming young people to hate that which is godly and hold to that which is wicked according to the Bible.
I ask that instead of making assumptions, for example the mass killings in the name of Christianity- I think you mean the unholy Roman Catholic "church," you should stop being so bigoted.
We are already all "bad" people. None of us are perfect, and there are people of all degrees of "badness" in the eyes of the world. The Bible makes it simple and says "except ye repent, ye shall ALL likewise perish." Little white lies, sodomy, and murder are all the same thing in God's eyes- sin. If you want to teach children how to reject God you may want to read Mark 9:42, the words of Jesus.
@Katie
Granted its been a few years since I've graced the halls of a High School but I can honestly say I dont recall ever being taught to hate the Bible. Now I was taught that the earth is 4.6 billion years old which goes against the Bible. Just because I disagree with someone doesnt mean I hate them though. Reality isnt as black and white. If you want your children to learn Christian values you would be best served sending them to a school that catered to that idea. Public schools will not teach the Bible because our founding fathers (as well as Jesus) knew the dangers of mixing religion and government. You shouldnt be upset because people are learning values different from your own. The world is very large and filled with many different types of people. It is not your place to tell them they are wrong.
@Jen
You are no better then the people you are upset with. You implied that Christians are hateful and violent. Just because your hate is justified to you doesn't mean it is to other people.
I find your posts to be antagonizing and a bit ironic.
Trying to teach someone "understanding" is a futile effort and one the schools probably shouldn't take on. You cant change someone's opinion by telling them to. You need to spend time with other people to understand that although we go about it different ways we all basically want the same things out of life.
Debate is usually the best way to go about it but blind ignorance and hate isn't going to accomplish much. I hope Jen and Kati understand that in this case they both are wrong.
I don't agree with the premise underlying the push for diversity, which is that diversity is _per_se_ necessary for the most effective performance of occupational duties. In many public sector jobs, it is important that those doing the work are and are seen to be a representative cross-section of the community. But mandating percentages and inclusion of certain people is not a just policy or equal protection of the law when there is no demonstrable relation between the diversity and the quality of services provided. In many if not most jobs, the best work is neither black nor white nor gay nor straight-- it is simply good work.
Chris and Katie,
First of all I have never said I HATED anyone. Therfore, where would my hate be justified to myself? I simply stated that there have been MANY bloody fights in the name of christianity, but no one has an issue there. And I most certainly did NOT imply that ALL christians are hateful and violent. I would contend Chris, that you find my posts antagonizing because they don't agree with your beliefs, of cours you always have the right not to read them.
Again Chris, I never stated I wanted to change anyones opinion, they are freely yours to have. I will maintain that being homosexual does not make you bad, and truely I have a hard time understaning the whole fear thing. Believe it or not I was raised Presbyterian, I don't ever remember being taught to fear so much. God is all loving and caring, remember? The school should absolutely take on teaching diversity, there is no good reason for them not too.
A debate would be good, but doesn't usually happen. The problem is, usually I obviously put a pretty liberal opinion out there, then the next thing you know, I am doing much more than just stating an opinion. My point was, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
P.S. It is funny that because Katie is baptist, which of course I am assuming by the name, the catholics are unholy. And how was I bigoted? "blindly and obstinately attached to some creed or opinion and intolerant toward others", believe me, that is far from a description of me.