Posted on 02/08/2002 3:05:41 PM PST by anniegetyourgun
I think that's half the point. Children should learn to treat ALL PEOPLE with respect. No group should be singled out as needing 'special' respect.
They have equal rights already under the constitution. They have the right not to be murdered. Not to be raped. Not to be robbed, etc. Anything else would be infringing on my rights of freedom of speech. I have a right to say what I want, believe what I want, and like or dislike whom I choose. I have a right to hire and fire people I like and don't like. Intolerance is constitutional. Sorry you don't like it, but it is.
BTW, I don't hate gay people. I don't see one single person on this thread advocating violence towards a homosexual. I see parents who don't think this is appropriate educational material at a school.
You are exactly right. It does not justify violence. However, where are you going to draw the line on what's 'ill' treatment? If I looked crossed eyed at a gay student, would I be allowed to graduate, without passing a tolerance test? Would I be expelled if I said, "I think homosexuality is wrong."? People DO have a right to be safe, and those rights & laws are already on the books. If I beat up someone because they are gay, I'm wrong. Actually if I beat up anyone, I'm wrong.
If you tell me I can't say "I don't like them" you are wrong. I have a constitutional right to say it. That's what you want done isn't it? You don't want children and their parents to be able to say something or believe something.
No, I don't think so. I can't speak for everyone on this thread, but I would certainly never encourage or teach my children to be unkind to anyone. Stand up for what you believe in, but don't be hateful about it. See.....this is my point.....where is the line on what's hateful? Because my children are taught homosexuality is wrong, some would consider this to be "hate" speech. It's not! That's what I saw on this thread. I see people say they don't like them, and that's protected speech. You may not like the things they have to say, but it is protected.
This is why this is so dangerous. You can't force someone to treat someone with respect, at least with their mouth. You can force them to obey laws of civilized behavior, being we don't hit people or kill them because we don't like them. But you can't force someone to "like" gay people or treat them with respect. That would be unconstitutional.
The term "thought police" comes to mind here.
Do you stand in favor of parents teaching this tolerance or do you want the government to do it? The government can not come into my home and tell me what to teach my children.
Actually, I don't like the word tolerance. I don't have to tolerate anything frankly. I teach this to my children. Be kind to people BECAUSE THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS!!!!! Not because they are gay, straight, black, white, brown whatever! But I also tell them "evil companions corrupt good morals". It all balances out.
Well, for the record, I'm Chinese. I was racially harassed at school, day in, day out, for years. I was called Jap, Chink, Flip, among other epithets. I was threatened with violence. Did the school help? No! Racism was and is illegal, but that didn't stop harassment from happening.
While this socialization experiment was not pleasant, indeed hostile, I survived the experience and managed to get a decent education. It made me a better person because I treat people the way I want to be treated. I would never treat anyone in such a shameful way.
The NEA was no help then, and I think these policies will only make matters worse. It is the unpleasant experiences that toughen us up to deal with life. Let's face it, life is not utopia for anybody. This is called living in the School of Hard Knocks.
Schools would be better off just teaching the Golden Rule and leaving it at that.
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