What is wrong with thie picture?? (RANT included)

[audiyoda]

I just got this in e-mail. I'm sure it's been around the block many times in many, many inboxes, but it's the first time it's hit mine in my 8 years on line. I thought it was appropriate and certainly thought provoking considering the recent happenings at schools around the USA this week.

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This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school Principal Jody McLoud, on September 1, 2000. I thought it was worth sharing with the world, and hope you will forward it to all your friends. It clearly shows just how far this country has gone in the wrong direction.

"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games to say a prayer and play the National Anthem to honor God and Country. Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.

As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it an alternate lifestyle, and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it safe sex. If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a viable means of birth control. If someone is offended, no problem.

I can designate a school day as earth day and involve students in activities to religiously worship and praise the Goddess, Mother Earth, and call it ecology.

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional, Christian convictions as simple minded and ignorant, and call it enlightenment.

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, Federal Case Law is violated. This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except God and His Commandments. Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall, 'Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's,' and refrain from praying at this time. However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God, and ask Him in the name of Jesus to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

AND...one by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another, and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand. And they prayed in the announcer's box. The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America - the seat of "Justice" in the One Nation Under God....

Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee, remembered what so many have forgotten........we are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. There is a difference!
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I'm usually not one to preach although I consider myself a devote Christian. I am not perfect nor have I ever lead anyone that has affected my life think that I am. But these past few days with children killing children, children brandishing weapons openly at school over simple arguments, and children making death lists and flaunting them in public makes me wonder what has happened. Have we gotten so policically correct that we have forgotten that children need to be children?

I work with a woman that hold down two other jobs. Her husband has two jobs as well. They have nice cars and a good size house in a good school district. She works at LensCrafters because she 'wants extra income'. (I work there because you can't make enough in the audio/video business in Mid-Michigan to save your life.) Yesturday she complained that her son won't listen to her. I lost it. I had to excuse myself from the room for fear of saying something I would regret. All I could think was 'of course you have no authority with your son, Pokemon and your TV do'.

Today she quit her job at LensCrafters because her son, while arguing with another boy at school, knocked the other boy over into the curb. He hit his head and may not live according to the 6pm news. This kid is 10 years old. He may not have that chance to be a child.

RANT OVER.

-Craig

[Edited by audiyoda on 03-07-2001 at 10:55 PM]

[Jenni]

It's a sad world that we live in. When I was raised, it was not any type of religion that I feared, but rather that my Mom would kill me if I got in trouble. Nowdays, both parents work, kids have no fear of their parents because they are never around. Religion is a foreign subject in most households. With no parental guidance and no religious morality, it's no wonder that kids are killing each other over who raps the best or who's the better basketball player.
I'm sorry to hear of your coworker's situation, but had she been at home instead of working, this might not have happened. There are more important things in life than "getting ahead" What good is a little money in the bank if you have to visit your son in jail over a schoolyard fight?

[Xayd]

I don't consider myself religious at all, but also don't demean the beliefs of others. With that said...

Freedom from restrictions, religions, laws, and "publicly accepted" practices would be a great thing in my opinion...

...except for the fact that PEOPLE are ignorant sheep. They can't sustain themselves when that "guiding hand" is no longer there.

These problem children aren't raised properly? No, they aren't, but then again if their parents can't raise them then the parents are idiots, so consider the gene pool .

With all modern considerations and limitations aside, I'm of the opinion now that despite the inherent belief stated by the "founding fathers" of the United States, all men are NOT created equal, and some NEED to be ruled by others. Disagree and think that anyone can be whatever they want to be? Well then you're a perfect example of my point .

Honestly I don't know what will happen to us in this country. Immediately I think we should revolt against many if not all forms of taxation and regulation of "moral" practices, as well as restrict voting to those of demonstratable education. I.E. refuse to pay income taxes, refuse to accept unconstitutional laws such as liquor regulations in local jurisdictions, and implement literacy and national history exams for registered voters.

Will any of this happen? Not likely. It's much easier to let reason slip away than to get unreasonable people to embrace it.

Xayd

[troysvihl]

>>I.E. refuse to pay income taxes<<

But Xayd, without income tax we will have less government, and then we won't be able to help as many orphans and little lost puppy dogs.

And if we suddenly start having less government, people will become aware that they don't need government. And then there will be no government. And when there is no government we will all instantly begin to rape, murder, and pillage each other. You see, government is the only reason that people don't do that. Just look around at the great things that we wouldn't have, but for the works of governments like the USSR, Nazi Germany, Cuba, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Iraq, South Africa, and Kosovo. The world is littered with all the great acomplishments of forced collectavism.

[bob]

I believe that those that want to starve the US government of funds are traitors.

There are real threats to many countries including the US.
A strong economy is just as great as a superior defensive armed force.

If you want to debate Bush's denial of funds to the military I await you at forumclick

[troysvihl]

the real traitors are the ones that let the government grow to the size it has.

[cobra]

I am with troysvihl
Let's take this up at forumclick

[archie]

Could someone put a link to that discussion if it does.
I just took a glance at http://www.forumclick.com/ and can't believe the changes since last checking there.

[bob]

Topics like these are well covered at forumclick.

[Xayd]

lol

One would think you're trying to pick a fight Bob...



Xayd

[Floppyman]

I guess some people have still not gotten over election 2000 Quite frankly, I'm more worried about the economy right now. Just saw that Intel plans to cut 5000 jobs do to slowing demand.