High school gays get a harsh lesson

Chicago Tribune ^ | March 13 | Dahleen Glanton

[metalmanx2j]

Kerry Pacer was used to the whispering behind her back, the name-calling and the snickering when she walked down the hall. But when almost the entire student body at White County High School booed as she accepted a rose from a female friend during a Valentine's Day (news - web sites) program last month, she knew it was time to do something.

[traumer]

"she knew it was time to do something".... call 1-800-ACLU NOW !

[spinestein]

[Yes, booing IS free speech. More power to them.]


Children under 18 are not entitled to the same Constitutional rights as adults.

That doesn't mean they don't have some legal protections that sometimes mirror those rights but the application is very different.

[HighlyOpinionated]

I didn't recognize my neighboring County until they mentioned Cabbage Patch Kids. I live near White County Georgia. It's a nice place to live if you accept that it's in the Bible Belt (listening to gospel music is a past time, as is playing it or singing it on Sunday evenings in Church), it's conservative (Dixie-Crat's are Southern Democrats who vote Republican), many locals are members of the NRA (National Rifle Assoc.), hunting and fishing are good reasons for being in the Forest, per capita there are more pick up trucks than SUVs (and most pick ups have gun racks), and sports are a vital part of the community.

It's not a good place to live if you can't accept those conditions and others I've not listed. I agree, the family needs to move back to Baltimore or they need to move closer to Atlanta. White County Georgia is not a good "fit" for them. If they came to Georgia to turn White County into Baltimore County, they'll meet with a lot of opposition. It isn't going to happen.

I think this young girl is angry and is using her choice of sexual orientation to take out her anger on the wrong people. Instead of being angry at the students in her school, she should focus her anger on her parents who never set boundaries to her behavior or brought her up in a moral environment.

I'm betting her mother is as confused and lost and frightened as this child is.

When you move to the South, you enter a climate of morality based behavior. Either conform or return from whence you came. Because you won't be happy here.

[mc6809e]

Why should anyone be "protected" from "bullying"? The law is intended to protect us from specific acts (e.g., battery) and threats (e.g., assault), but what you define as "bullying", others might define as expression of well-deserved disapproval. Of course, if you want to live in a nanny state, you have plenty of options in Eurabia or Canuckistan. Maybe you should explore them.

Hell, let's just get rid of those "nanny state" laws that protect us from assault and battery. If you can't protect yourself, too bad. It's off to Canada with you! Whatever. I want civility. Bullies are not civil. They're jerks. If rules and law can be used to punish them, I see nothing wrong with it. They have their way: intimidation, etc, and civilized people have the law. There is nothing wrong with using it.

[Bones75]

"Conservatives should remember it very clearly: unrepentant homosexuals are children of the devil. They need to be called to repentance and not assimilated into our institutions. To embrace homosexuality, as merely one more choice, is to embrace death"

I don't know if you meant that sarcastically or not, if so forgive me. But, it's exactly that kind of holy-roller shyte that feeds into the stereotype of conservatives as unreasonable, doom-preaching religious fanatics. "Children of the devil"? Come on now, that redlines the BS meter. I am no fan of the gay agenda either, nor do I support gay marriage. But this fire-and-brimstone "repent-ye-wretched-sinners" stuff is just a load of crap. I am a conservative, yes, but that school of thought is not what I care to be associated with. No thanks.

Bones

[rlmorel]

Well, she turned me into a newt...:)

[farmer18th]

Just admit that you don't believe in the Bible.

[spinestein]

[What century is it in your world?]

[[It's about 1794 here. The constitution is unfettered by effeminate, sodomite whores. Convicted murderers aren't put in jail; they are executed. Everyone observes the Lord's day. Wives obey their husbands; children obey their parents. Teenage girls don't kill their own children. Preachers teach sin, repentance, and mercy.]]

Perhaps a better question would be: What color is the sky on your world?

[farmer18th]

Read the quotes from Paul about "giving them up to the Devil for the destruction of their flesh." Gross sin warrants this category.

[spinestein]

I see you got better.

[Richard Kimball]

I was driving along with my date one night, and she asked me if I believed in witchcraft. I told her no. She bit me on the ear and I turned into a motel. Scary, huh?

[sam_whiskey]

I don't think anyone is agreeing with "bullying"--but being a victim of bullying doesn't make you a martyr--it usually just means you've had a typical childhood.

[middie]

Nicely said Bones....

[mc6809e]

I don't know if you meant that sarcastically or not, if so forgive me. But, it's exactly that kind of holy-roller shyte that feeds into the stereotype of conservatives as unreasonable, doom-preaching religious fanatics. "Children of the devil"? Come on now, that redlines the BS meter.

I think he really means it.

Scary, huh?

On the bright side, now that the Republicans have made so many gains, maybe they can cut the crazies loose.

[Paul C. Jesup]

but being a victim of bullying doesn't make you a martyr--it usually just means you've had a typical childhood.

So you think children suffering is typical/normal and shouldn't be changed...

[festus]

The current one. What he said is true.

[mc6809e]

I don't think anyone is agreeing with "bullying"--but being a victim of bullying doesn't make you a martyr--it usually just means you've had a typical childhood.

But who says such things have to be typical of childhood?

The problem I see is that the victims of bullies aren't given reasonable options for handling bullies.

Adults have restraining orders. When physical threats are made against them, they can call the police. If they share a space with some jackass, they can usually get someone in charge to have that person removed.

But somehow public school is supposed to be different. If you're just too small, well tough shit, you have to take it.

Unless, of course, you attend a public school in Columbine, CO.

[clee1]

Maybe so, but there is no law against being an ignorant lout.

What is undeniably "ignorant" is flaunting your aberrant "lifestyle" in the face of the vast majority of the population.