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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: E who wrote (69511)	12/30/1999 11:56:00 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Hi, E. I don't know if it makes the national news, but a Virginia woman recently got approval, as a non-lawyer would put it, what really happened was that the Fairfax government decided not to appeal an adverse ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, that she could put up a creche (manger scene) outside the Fairfax county headquarters. What's interesting is that if the Fairfax government had appealed, the appeal would have been to the United States Supreme Court, which has allowed her to put a creche on the Supreme Court's steps for years. It seems fairly plain to me that if a private individual wants to use a public forum to express ideas, under the First Amendment, that is their right. The distinction to be drawn is between an individual expressing their own ideas, which is OK, and the government endorsing any religion, which isn't OK. I think, no matter how well-intentioned the state may be, it's wrong for the state to put up religious items in public forums. If it's ok for individuals to do so, then there is probably no shortage of individuals to do so. We may be facing a situation in which every religion and philosophy known to man wants to put up a display, but we can probably figure out how to handle it. There is a serious distinction to be drawn between that, and such displays in public schools. The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly held that public schools are not public forums, and that the unbridled expression of ideas that is appropriate in a public forum is not appropriate in public schools. Restrictions may be appropriate for public school newspapers that would never be appropriate for private newspapers, for example. I thinkk the rationale is primarily the pedagogical nature of the school function, that of inculcating knowledge in the young. Children are simply not adults. They aren't necessarily ready for adult ideas. I sincerely believe that religious indoctrination of the young is a family function. Comparative religion classes are typically taught at the college level, and are not required. I simply don't believe that religion is a subject that can be taught dispassionately, as mathematics or grammar can be. It never has been, throughout history. I think it's chauvinistic of us to think that we can fairly and adequately teach religions that we know little about. The thought of a B.Ed. explaining the Diamond Sutra boggles the mind. Sorry, I think it's better left to specialists, and to students who are mature.

To: E who wrote (69511)	12/31/1999 1:05:00 AM
From: Edwarda	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Oh, thanks, E! I too miss the atmosphere of respectful contention. It's very difficult to learn much when there's a lot of yelling going on and not enough talking. Some of the newer people really do have something to say and I find it frustrating when what they have to say either isn't said or gets lost in the noise. People who dislike one another are quite capable of skipping around one another, even without the ignore feature. Unfortunately, not all of the change in atmosphere can be laid at the door of "newbies" to the thread either. Some of the early denizens have also been far sharper than they were in the past. (BTW, with a chuckle, I am a relative newbie, so I think you just paid me an enormous compliment. Thank you.) Today, there seemed to be some rethinking and maybe the beginning of a move toward the kind of thread that so attracted me when I joined it. I don't expect everyone whom I like to share my likings for everyone else--you have gotten through, dear!--but I do expect them to be careful of one another as human beings. I meant what I posted earlier today, that perhaps we should all pause to reread the thread header before we post; I wasn't joking. It's nice to see you stop by. I wish you would do so more often. You are missed!