Published June 1st, 2007
Albemarle County, Virginia - front lines on the backpack mail war. Public schools have a system called “backpack mail” where community groups can advertise events via flyers sent home with the childrens. Not a bad idea. And of course, Albemarle County had a sensible policy on what sort of things could be advertised - it barred “distribution of literature that is for partisan, sectarian, religious or political purposes.” And you’d think that would be the end of it.
But no. Oh no, not at all. Seems some religious groups in the area were up in arms about this. They just had to have their religious community events sent out via backpack mail. And so they fought, and won. Thanks to Jerry Falwell’s Liberty Counsel, the policy was revised to allow religious content. And now they’re reaping the benefits of what was sown.
In case you didn’t see what was coming here, I’ll continue the story. See, now that religious content could be distributed, the local Unitarian Congregation decided to send home a flyer advertising a pagan celebration. Oh, and the local Camp Quest troop sent home some flyers too. Camp Quest is “an overnight summer camp for young atheists, agnostics and freethinkers.” Hell, I’d like to help out that camp - seems like some kids that could probably use some positive reinforcement in their lives about their beliefs.
How have Albemarle County folk reacted to the new fairness in the backpack mail system? How happy are they now that they’ve reversed the horrid trend of God being “kicked out of schools?” By suing Albemarle County schools. Yep. They’re livid. Some teachers have refused to send home material they find offensive.
The group assailing Albemarle School District, Rick Scarborough’s Vision America, says “it’s outrageous to force teachers to distribute these flyers.†He’s urging members to contact the district to protest its “establishment of disbelief.â€
Parents are angry.
One mother was livid that the school would send home in her child’s backpack anything it did not endorse. A “pagan ritual†is “an educational experience my children don’t need,†she fumed.
And in the ultimate irony, one angry person brings up the exact reason why there was a policy against distributing “literature that is for partisan, sectarian, religious or political purposes” in the first place!
An anonymous spokesman for the rebelling teachers told World Net Daily some teachers refused to hand out the Camp Quest flyer because they were “disgusted†and were concerned parents would think the school was endorsing the camp. Even though there is a disclaimer distancing the school from all extra-curricular information sent home, “it’s still coming from me and my classroom,†he said.
Anonymous huh? That’s not what I’d call it, but OK. Stand behind what you believe in people. But that’s a different issue.
Look folks, you opened this can of worms. You can’t partially close it. You complain when you are discriminated against (even though it’s not discrimination when every viewpoint is barred), and now you want to discrminate against others. That’s just ridiculous. It isn’t for the teachers to decide what is OK to send home or not. If you’re offended by what comes home simply because you disagree with it, grow up. And you don’t get to pick and choose which religions or non-religions get a voice. That’s how it works. Either everyone gets a say (which really is fine by me) or no one does.
Category: Personal, politics | Tags: equal rights, albemarle county| Be the First to Comment »
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Published May 22nd, 2007
I stumbled across an article today written by a “strong Christian mother” who finds out, to her horror, that her son is gay. The article apparently appeared in Today’s Christian Woman in 1997. I don’t know what the readership’s reaction was then, but all the comments on the article are from today - and the comments are what shocked me. Some comments are a little trollish, but there are a good number of honest comments from decent Christian people pointing out the hypocrisy and asinine attitude of the author. She thinks she is just so magnanimous that she has been able to overcome her complete revulsion of homosexuals to be able to tolerate her son and his homosexual friends. Someone get her a medal. She is one deluded woman, she truly believes her son has chosen to be gay. She truly believes that one day he will turn to Jesus and go straight. She truly believes that he is not a practicing homosexual. Yet reading between the lines, the son is as comfortable with his spirituality and his homosexuality as he can get. He even tells his mother that Jesus knows, and has always known, that he was gay. The mother thinks the son is nervous when bringing gay friends home because he fears motherly rejection. I think he’s nervous that his mother will say something offensive and embarrassing.
This article was written in 1997. I wonder if the author, Shirley A. Rorvik, has learned anything since then. I certainly hope so. And I’m glad to see some sensible, sensitive people in the comments.
Addendum:
She seems to have gone on to help others (and make some money) to learn how to tolerate homosexuals as well as she has. Must have been tough for her, being such a victim and all. She’s so brave. I wonder how her son is doing?
Category: Personal, opinion | Tags: equal rights| Be the First to Comment »
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Published May 10th, 2007
And by “party” - I mean your political party. And mine. And everyone else’s. Why is it that in America, Land of Individualism, we’re so obsessed with categorization and party lines? Doesn’t it bother anyone that you as an individual are represented by a “party”? I dunno. It bothers me. I hate my party. I didn’t even want to be a Democrat but as a non-partisan it was too much of a hassle voting in primary elections. I may have a (D) next to my name, but I don’t internally identify as one. So a friend linked me today to story that once again has pointed out the stupidity (to me anyway) of the party system. I have ranted on it before, but once again - parties have to go. They’re contrary to getting anything done, and they don’t represent anyone but the party leaders.
Today’s story of interest comes from the wild and wacky state of Florida. You see, there’s a “better than 50-50 chance” that if you’re a Democrat in Florida and you vote in the January primary, your vote WILL NOT COUNT FOR CRAP. Yep. Your vote will be a non-binding recommendation to the party leaders, who will go ahead and pledge delagates at the convention to whomever they want. Maybe they’ll pick who “won” Florida. Maybe they won’t. Who knows!
This once again goes back to how the voting system is broken and how the 2 party “monopoly” (some might say they’re close enough to pretty much be one party) screws voters over again and again. You see, they’ve all made deals on when the primaries are supposed to take place. New Hampshire and Iowa are already having hissy-fits over other states moving up their primaries. And in a sort of primary arms race, even MORE states started moving up their primaries. The primaries are now incredibly front-loaded, diminishing the importance of who wins Iowa and New Hampshire.
Which is good, why the HELL are 2 mostly white rural states choosing our de-facto presidential candidates before, oh 95%, of the country has a say? It’s ridiculous. So I’m saying - you know what? Forget moving primaries nearer to the NH and IA primaries - just have a national primary. Yeah small states will complain “but then candidates will never come to my state and campaign!” So what? There’s 300 million people in this country - the president should be speaking to all of them. We live in an age of telecommunication - how about we use it? Have town halls via videoconference. A candidate can speak to any state at any time along the trail. He could be in Montana speaking to people from South Carolina. No, he can’t shake your hand - but like any of them really want to kiss your baby. And they’re so covered in Secret Service (is it still too soon to call them SS?) agents, they barely actually touch anyone anymore anyway. He will govern from a small patch of land on the east coast for 4 years anyway. If you won’t vote for someone because he doesn’t travel to your little one-well town, you’re an idiot.
But I’m digressing, as usual. Point is, the party masters are levying penalties against Florida for moving their primary too far up, in violation of the rules. The rules. So voters’ votes won’t count. The primary was moved up by the majority Rs in the state legislature. The Elephant penalties are far weaker than the Donkey penalties, so they don’t care. So lets just make sure we understand this: The Democratic Leaders (who represent Democrats) are going to punish Democrat voters (in Florida) for something their Republican legislature did without consulting them (or any voter, as far as I can tell). Wow. That makes a LOT of sense. Who comes up with these rules? My head is about to explode. It makes no goddamn sense!
No more parties - they’re taking AWAY the voice of the voters. This is just the most blatant example I’ve ever seen. No more primary rounds - make it national. We choose the president with a nat’l election, we can choose candidates the same way. These people aren’t campaigning from the backs of trains or on buses anymore - well some are, but only because they’re 100 years old and have never heard of the internet or a video feed. It’s time to move into the next century. Recognize that the nation is too big and too populous for a fraction of a fraction to pre-choose our candidates, and that modern campaigning should speak to everyone equally. Because the President should represent everyone equally. Not just those in early primary states, not just those in populous states, not just those in his party. Everyone.
Category: Personal, opinion, election 2008, politics, news | Tags: equal rights| Be the First to Comment »
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Published April 17th, 2007
What I believe to be the most difficult question in American society and politics will probably not be addressed in the next election. The moral, social and economic issues will not even be discussed. Other issues will be deemed more important. That isn’t to say they aren’t important - equal rights, the Iraq situation, homeland security and abortion are all very important issues. But there is one issue that has faced us for decade upon decade and America has done little to address it.
Prisons. Inmates. Convicts. Life sentences. Death sentences. America has 5% of the world population and 25% of the world’s prison population. There are more people imprisoned in America (Land of the Free), percentage-wise, than any other developed country on earth. The list of countries that still employs the death penalty is filled with those countries whose human rights records we deplore. And it is only accelerating. Three-strikes rules (Constitutional? Where’s the discussion?) and other harsh and harsher penalties for crimes are only increasing the permanent prison population. To what end?
We as a society need to rethink imprisonment. The modern prison system in this country began with the goal of rehabilitating those who committed crimes. This goal cannot be achieved when a person is sentenced to life without parole or death. Once convicted of a felony, the job opportunities for the person after they serve their time drop to near zero. They continue to pay their debt to society forever, in a modified life sentence. We should not be surprised that so many return to a life of crime, sometimes to get back into prison - at least there they are guaranteed a roof and food. The fact that this is an appealing option should ring alarm bells. Something has gone wrong.
You may believe the prison system is to punish. Fine - that is a reasonable belief. You commit a crime and you should be punished. This should deter others from committing crimes. Yet harsher penalties barely affect crime rates. And the death penalty is the most bizarre example of this - in states with high execution rates, capital crime rates are actually higher than in states with low or no execution rates. There is no evidence that the death penalty does much of anything to change criminal behavior.
Is life imprisonment a valid option though? The Constitution protects against cruel and unusual punishment. Is there anything more cruel than putting someone in a cell 23 hours a day forever? How does locking the person up forever serve society? How does it serve better than simply executing them?
These are difficult questions. I myself still cannot reach a conclusion on how I feel about the death penalty. It is an irrational subject. It defies logic.
The bottom line is that the prison system in America is an anchor upon our society. As the population swells, so does the money necessary to run the system - money that comes from taxes. Is this the most efficient use of our money? Does pouring money into a broken system make any sense? I believe the American prison system should be the #1 priority of top elected officials (state and federal). The problem is only getting worse. Death penalty not withstanding, the rest of the system needs a serious overhaul as well. I recognize that there are just people out there that are incapable of following the law and positively contributing to society while a free person. These individuals should be put in prison - and they should be contributing to society while imprisoned. In some way. I can recall watching 30 Days last year where Morgan Spurlock spends 30 days in a prison. The prisoners did NOTHING all day. Every day. Wouldn’t it be wiser to have them working in some productive way? A good number of prisoners Spurlock spoke to said “This is the last time, I’m going straight, I don’t want to come back here.” And yet, many of them ended up back in prison within months. Was it because they were compulsive criminals? Was it because they had no other option on the outside? I don’t know. But both possibilities need examination. Both possibilities need to be addressed differently - not identically.
I don’t know the answers to these questions. I just know they’re probably more important and affect more American lives than any other issue on the table. Crime and how to handle it is one of the most difficult but important issues of human society. If America is the best country on earth (and I believe you can make a good case for that) we need to find the best way to handle crime. Because what we have now is not the best, and it doesn’t even work well.
A summary then of my views: The prison system is broken, it neither rehabilitates nor effectively reduces crime. The death penalty is possibly cruel and inhumane and does nothing to lower the rate of capital offenses - but life imprisonment is absolutely cruel and serves no purpose when the individual is confined in solitary 23 hours a day. Convicted felons have few or no options after release other than returning to crime, and better help needs to be available to those who want and will productively take advantage of it. Individuals should be giving back to society in some useful way while serving their sentence - not doing nothing for the duration.
Will my thoughts change the system for the better? Maybe, maybe not - but it’s a start. And that’s more than you’ll hear about it than from candidates campaigning for office.
Category: Personal, opinion, politics | Tags: equal rights, prison system| Be the First to Comment »
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Published February 15th, 2007
I didn’t want to write about this. Really. It’s too easy. It’s obvious. It’s piling on. But I also realized that many of you in my “known” readership pool haven’t really ever followed sports. And I have. So I figured I might help out a little with context - not that many of you who are as offended and angry and sad about this as I am really need it.
Tim Hardaway ended his public career last night. But let’s back up a moment.
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