Message for Parker: Stop Bullying (anti- David Parker hate mail)

Lexington Minuteman ^ | June 22, 2006 | Bill McKenney

[lexfreedom]

Letter: Message for Parker: ‘Stop bullying’
Thursday, June 22, 2006 - Updated: 05:28 PM EST

When bullies stay in the spotlight too long, they show their true colors. Such it is with David Parker.

First, he poses as a champion protecting his son from a liberal school system that tolerates all families. When his belligerent ways with teacher and principal and superintendent get nowhere, he turns himself into a media spectacle to carry his anti-gay message further. So be it. In this age of divisive hate politics, it can happen anywhere. Lexington is a community that was annealed defending the rights of citizens, this battle is but another of our tasks.
What of his latest self-aggrandizement? By exploiting a typical first-grade lunchroom/playground spat involving his son and another first-grader, he has grabbed the headlines again. He states in his press release "We also know that activist lesbian mothers and vehement anti-David Parker parents are spewing hateful, inflaming rhetoric, and probably also to their young children. What kind of atmosphere are they creating?"
Who would guess that the incident was over a seat in the lunch room?
It’s a very clever manipulation of the event to intimidate other people while providing red-meat fodder for his political base. Sen. Joseph McCarthy would be proud.
But at what cost is he achieving his notoriety now? What about the cost to the other child — the child who was disciplined for the incident over a month ago, made up with David Parker’s son and had a play date with him that day — is it okay for this child to be a pawn in Mr. David Parker war against tolerance?
How about the children and the parents of children in first grade? How will they behave around Mr. Parker or Mr. Parker’s children, knowing that they may be accused in a press release a month or two later for their kids’ behavior? Will they be thinking "Say the wrong thing and David Parker’s going to accuse us in the newspaper"?
And what about David Parker’s child? What does it do to a first-grader when he is used by his father as a truncheon for a political cause? What are the lessons a child learns when his classmates are considered pawns to be exploited in the media for political gain?
Shame on you, David Parker. You are a bully. Though you will not win in this town, you have already caused a lot of hurt among those who you claim you are trying to protect: your son and his first-grade classmates.
Bill McKenney
Winthrop Road

Letter: Why print ‘blatant’ lies in the paper?
Thursday, June 22, 2006 - Updated: 05:24 PM EST

This is a lie: "Jacob Parker was approached during recess, taken to a corner of the play area and assaulted by eight to 10 students."

We have for too long allowed our newspapers to print blatant lies and give them credibility, from the largest issues such as lies about weapons of mass destruction to the smallest issues, such as lies about children ganging up on another child in a school yard.
First, the fact that someone resorts to lies to the press to make a point is indicative of a total corruption of moral values. Public discussion first depends on honesty.
Secondly, the fact the Minuteman would publish this BS makes them complicit.
The paper should never have published such an allegation about a school incident without making an effort to talk directly to the teachers involved. By not doing so, they gave credence and participated in fostering a lie on our community.
Shame on all involved.
Toby Sackton
White Pine Lane

Letter: Paper ‘duped’ by Camenker group
Thursday, June 22, 2006 - Updated: 05:27 PM EST

I was angry and dismayed to see this newspaper so easily duped by a notorious hate group like Article 8 Alliance (aka Mass Resistance). The inflammatory lead story about an alleged schoolyard assault was an insult to the schools and the population of Lexington.

Given the level of tension between the supporters and opponents of David Parker’s actions in Lexington, the publication of this article was gravely irresponsible. The reporter clearly rushed this story to press, failing in her responsibility to investigate these serious allegations before relaying the breathless conspiracy theories of Brian Camenker nearly verbatim. Is that how newspapers work today?
Now that the school superintendent has had a chance to review the incident (over a month past), it is revealed in a very different light. What we see from the press release issued by Dr. Ash is that the school handled an unfortunate conflict between young children with professionalism and compassion. The Estabrook staff deserves praise for their prompt action and the resolution they achieved.
We also see that Brian Camenker’s press release was pure demagoguery, but we hardly needed Dr. Ash’s patient analysis to be suspicious of Camenker’s veracity. Anyone browsing the Article 8 Alliance Web site would quickly perceive the anti-gay bias and the hysterical tilt to much of Camenker’s writing. Is this what passes for a reliable news source today?
The proper response for this paper would be an official retraction of this story, along with an apology to the school system.
Glenn Parker
Spring Street

Letter: Wrong for paper to cite Camenker
Thursday, June 22, 2006 - Updated: 05:26 PM EST

It is totally irresponsible for a newspaper to treat Brian Camenker as a credible news source. His diatribe about a playground incident at Estabrook was totally fabricated for publicity. Margery Egan of the Boston Herald has it correct by calling him a “nut” on her talk radio program on June 7. She was commenting on Camenker’s “creepiness” because he writes on his Web site about Macy’s having gay mannequins.
Here is another reason news people should ignore him. This man prints these outlandish news releases periodically in order to raise money for his anti-gay crusade. By validating his Web site diatribes with electronic newsprint, traffic increases on his Web site and homophobes throughout the country can find him and contribute. It is very sad that the Parkers have chosen this man as an advisor and even sadder that they, guided by Camenker, used their own child in yet another publicity stunt.
Reporters at the Minuteman and Globe: Next time Camenker calls, hang up!
Craig Cyr
Revere Street

[DBeers]

I don't know Parker's heart, but I have been on the receiving end of some very radical homosexual activists and can understand from where he's coming.

I agree! There is nothing comparable to the extremes a rabid homosexual agenda activist will go to in attempting to protect the propagandized delusional comfort zone necessary for maintaining the facade of homosexual normalcy... David Parker embodies ALL that the homosexual agenda activists fear and they are gunning for him big time!

[sgtbono2002]

I dont hate homosexuals. In fact I feel kinda sorry for them. I dont even hate their perversions as long as they keep them amongst themselves. Do I hate perverts trying to convert kids into their sickness? Do I hate recruiters trying to teach elementary school kids that their sickness is normal? Youre damned right i do.

[lexfreedom]

But the case was dropped in Oct. 2005, and he is innocent of any wrong doing. The trespass charge was dropped. The recent incident in the playground has been resolved. Is there any accounting of the donations? Why does he still need a "fund"?

Because a civil lawsuit was filed on April 27, 2006 against the school and the administrators that asks the court to

Order equitable and injunctive relief ordering that:
A. The plaintiff parents be expressly and clearly notified prior to any adult-directed or initiated classroom discussions of sexuality, gender identity, and marriage constructs, until such time as the children are in seventh grade. Such notification must be explicit about the content, given in a timely manner, and involve the written consent of parents to opt children into these presentations/discussions.

B. The plaintiff parents be presented with an opportunity to excuse the children from classroom presentations or discussions the intent of which is to have children accept the validity of, embrace, affirm, or celebrate views of human sexuality, gender identity, and marriage constructs.

C. The plaintiff parents be presented with an opportunity to excuse the children from classroom presentations or discussions when the intent is to have children accept the validity of, embrace, affirm or celebrate belief systems or religious perspectives.

D. The plaintiff parents be presented with an opportunity to attend, as silent observers, and record any school presentations or discussions of the aforementioned ideological/socialization perspectives.

E. That no materials graphically depicting homosexual physical contact be submitted to the students until the seventh grade, with the provisions of Sections 3A and 3C.

4. Order payment of compensatory damages to the extent allowed by law;

5. Order payment of special, exemplary, or punitive damages, to the fullest extent allowed by law;

6. Order payment of attorney's fees, expert fees, prejudgment interest, interest, costs and;

7. Provide such additional relief as the court deems just.

Link to lawsuit text

[wintertime]

Why is it my children can't offend his fellow students with the word "Jesus" and yet the teachers can offend my children with the word "Homosexual?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Because Down on the Animal Farm school house the homosexual lobby pigs in the farmer's house and Christians live in the barn. ( Oink!)

[gidget7]

ahhhhhhh lexington at it's finest!! The first letter of rebuttal was right on!

[durasell]

The guy writes press releases?

[gidget7]

We are Brilliant, believe me. Not all of us for the same reasons, unfortunately.

[gidget7]

What is wrong with people, when a father is unwilling to cut and run, but instead stays to fight the fight for the benefit of the whole school full of children? Many have left MA, and taken their kids out of the public schools, but they find once they do, they have no further legal standing, and their actions leave the kids still there just as at risk. Why is this man not lauded for his courage and trying to eliminate this indoctrination in schools, not to mention bring nationwide attention to it, instead of being accused by some of trying to make money from the whole ugly mess. The money is a legal fund, NOT for income.

[durasell]

Schools are community-based institutions and function according to community standards. After all, they are supported by local taxes.

This guy not only seems to be alone in his quest, but comes off as very, very annoying.

[gondramB]

>>Why is this man not lauded for his courage and trying to eliminate this indoctrination in schools, not to mention bring nationwide attention to it,<<

Because of his behavior.

[gidget7]

Correct, the court would just rule that he had removed his child so what was his issue? The toher thing Parker is firmly standing behind, is the opt out LAW, which the school board and the superintendent weasel their way around and completely ignore. That law is being broken, and not only Mr. Parkers son is at risk because it is, all the children are.

Couple that with the fact that Mr. Parker is a working man, and it is not an easy cost of living in Lexington, so he probably cannot afford to live on only his own income, and have his wife homeschool. I could be mistaken, but I believe I read he was transferred, and that was what brought him to MA and Lexington.

[gidget7]

He isn't alone any longer, others have joined his suit. That happened after the reading of King and King was read to young children.

The man is just demanding that the school system follow the law. The law allows him to opt out, but the school continues to defy the law, and find ways around the wording of the law.

Anyone who doesn't understand, and say "it's about time someone stood up to the public schools", doesn't know how bad the schools have gotten. Mr. Parker may not have the ability to homeschool, or be able to afford private school. And he may just be unwilling to throw the rest of the children to the wolves. No matter how the Lexington news outlets spin the story, the bottom line is the law isn't being followed.

[durasell]

If others have followed him then the problem is solved. The school board will be voted out come the next election. He can even run for the board himself.