Comments on: SOS–Crusaders Invade Georgia Public Schools

By: The Devout Atheist

The Devout Atheist — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:23:08 +0000

This morning’s Washington Journal on C-Span featured an interesting discussion on teaching the bible in public schools. Here’s a link to the program: rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/wj040507.rm . Skip to the last 45 minutes.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:35:35 +0000

Speed, I think that pretty illustrates my point. When do we stop making speech illegal “just in case” and start teaching our kids that they shouldn’t let another person’s words define them? Are we going to start allowing one kid to beat another kid up because they said something that “offended” them? Just brush it off and say they shouldn’t have said what it was they said?

Words have no power. None. It is the “victim” that gives them power. If you refuse to give it power, it is harmless. Society gives them power by over reacting.

By: Speedjunkie

Speedjunkie — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:14:44 +0000

@Deus ; Michael

Hey guys,,, there are a lot of good points being made here. Regarding PC/Conformity, and being a free thinker.

I thought carefully before making that statement. Although i was borderline at making a rant about what words we can, and cannot use. I felt like it was more important to show respect/ tolerance/ understanding/ or whatever you want to call it.

This was a young girl who was just talking to her peers in normal teen conversation. I would equate the usage of this word to “square” or “goofy”.

She was not screaming obsenities targeted at people who live “alternative” lifestyles. I would think they could have taken this into consederation.

By: I Are

I Are — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 21:43:26 +0000

Isn’t “that is gay” should mean “that is happy”?

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:24:09 +0000

Oh and one other thing. Why are you assuming when I say “thats gay” that I mean something derogatory? In fact, I would more say that I mean that it is strange. You may find THAT derogatory, but whatever. Gayness is different from the norm. Many find it hard to comprehend. Thus, strange. I understand, I am an atheist and THAT is strange to most people. Hell, I might even say it makes me more of a minority than someone that is gay, there are probably a lot more gays than atheists. I personally don’t find gay strange. I also say “oh my god” or “jesus” when startled. Does that mean I believe in god? It is just a term.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:50:15 +0000

Tommy, because it means nothing to me one way or another. I gather from your response that you are one of those easily offended people. I just don’t happen to belong to your super sensitive club. Sorry.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:23:14 +0000

“I have NOTHING against gay folks, yet I also use the term â€œthats gayâ€.”

If you have nothing against them, then why do you use that term in a derogatory way? Lack of imagination?

By: DeusExMichael

DeusExMichael — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:56:44 +0000

@Michael: I think we are coming from the same place. Being of a bit of a libertarian bent, I am not a fan of anything that imposes on an idiot’s ability to hang themselves but in this case the prevailing opinion still looks favorably on mistreating gays so someone must take a stand against this.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:06:27 +0000

Man I wish we could edit our posts :)

Thinking a little more on it, I have to keep reminding myself that we are talking about public schools here, a place that no kid should ever be sent. Unfortunately most kids’ parents can’t afford to send them to private school.

I GUESS letting kids go around saying anything they want is not the answer there, so I grudgingly admit I may not be 100% correct here, but I refuse to say I am wrong either. What it boils down to is a lack of parenting. Do we want public schools parenting our kids? With some (most?) parents being as horribly ill equipped to be parents is public school actually better suited to parent than them? Talk about your social conundrums.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:00:05 +0000

Deus, I understand that, but if you try to create a list all the offensive terms that you want to designate “hate speech” and make them illegal, you have a biiig job ahead of you. It probably would be hard to communicate at all as well, since you would have banned half of every language in the world.

To me, it is just like passing laws designed to protect stupid people from themselves.