Eat me, people--no matter what side you're on, too far is too far.

[silverthorne]

Link

People, people, people. The painting has been there for 30 years and not every kid coming out of that school during that time became a Zombie for Jesus. Chill the fuck out, okay?

And just because Verizon tends to erase their news within a day, here's the text:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Two civil liberties groups sued in federal court Wednesday to remove a picture of Jesus that has hung in a high school for more than 30 years.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the West Virginia American Civil Liberties Union say the painting, "Head of Christ," sends the message that Bridgeport High School endorses Christianity as its official religion.

"I frankly cannot understand why this school insists that it is doing nothing wrong," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "This is pretty clear constitutional law. Public schools cannot promote specific religious ideas."

A vote by the Harrison County school board on removing the painting ended in a tie this month.

"At this point, it's a matter that's pretty much going to be up to the board," Superintendent Carl Friebel Jr. said. "It's just going to be very interesting for me to see what the board wants us to do with it."

The suit was filed on behalf of Harold Sklar and Jacqueline McKenzie, whose children attended or will attend the school.

Comments

[molotovcoqtiz.livejournal.com]

I'll be honest, unless they were willing to give equal space to other organized, recognized religions - Judaism, Hindu, Muslim, so on and so forth, then I would have an issue with my child going there and it being up.

She has been raised in a belief that while their is nothing wrong with her religion, she can be hurt and attacked because of it and encourage an environment where it can be pointed out that she's wrong because of that picture is not something I would want for her.

People tend to forget one thing about children. They are one of the cruelest predators in the world and they seem trained to attack a weakness. If you don't believe this, watch them for extended periods. They are often like vicious, half starved pack animals with a two legged deer when they find a weakness in another child. So I take issue with giving such a clear statement that this one thing - in this case Christianity - is okay. It wouldn't have to be Christianity though. I feel this way with many things schools do that seem more geared towards creating animosity rather than solving it.

[molotovcoqtiz.livejournal.com]

The thing is? Children look for weakness. I don't give a damn how long it's been hanging because what matters the most to me in the world? Not seeing my little girl, or the next child, hurt because children lack nuances.

I don't mean that as an insult but by putting up a picture of Jesus and not talking about religion they are creating a subtle hint that this is okay but since nothing else is presented as an opposing view, they get the hint that that is ALL that's okay.

One pointing DOES equal religion when that might be all they see and therefor, it's the ONLY religion they accept. It's up to parents to teach religion, not the schools to create hostility through subtle enforcement of one practice. And that is what it is. If it wasn't? They wouldn't be fighting so hard to keep it up in that location.

Put it in a church, hang it in a museum if it has significant historical value. But don't use it to subtlely manipulate things. If my child can't read a wiccan book in school - and most states do not allow bibles are such books even recreationally - then she shouldn't have to have any religious influence in that environment.

I don't teach my child ANY religion is bad. Nor would I teach her any race is bad. In fact she learns about all religions and has the freedom of choice, and if she choose right this moment to be christian? I would still have this stance. Because it is creating a message, whether intentional or not.

If you don't take to your child about sex but let them watch, say, Desperate Housewives, they are going to get a very definite picture of what sex is. It may not be a positive one. It may very well not be the one you want them to have but you have enforced that this is acceptable by offering no other options than this one answer. Same goes for religion. If the school is allowing for a religious icon on school grounds and yet no other religion can be taught/spoken about, then they are giving the illusion that this one thing is okay but nothing else. Children pick up on his. The absorb it and it becomes part of who they are.

Most, not all but most, parents don't raise their children to be racist either, even if they themselves are. But kids pick this up by the cues and signals we giev them.

This is one massive signal that children aren't likely to ignore and it's hard enough being a child who knows they are different, who accepts and embraces a rather outre way of life. But to see this enforcement that something else is okay, obvious and out in the open, and they have to hide who/what they are? Is devastating on a child. Just like a skin colour, and accent, or a hair colour or a dozen other things that children live with, love and enjoy and yet know that because it sets them apart, it has to be downplayed. Not because parents tell them so but because the signals are there from society, from the schools, from other students, that to not be harassed, not be assualted physically and verbally, to not be ostracized, they have to hide it.

Parents can't preach all they want about pride, and freedom and teach them well and proper. But they learn from everything. Takes a whole village to raise a child but you have the right to choose and shape that village as best you can.

[ebonbird.livejournal.com]

Public schools cannot promote specific religious ideas

...I get mad at people who try to pretend that putting up a picture promotes religious ideas. How does one do the thing called 'educating' without referring to religious ideas? Religions is culture and history, and learning about/discussing/dissecting/honoring/critisizing religions, culture and history can't happen if one isn't taught to know what religious iconography or religions are. It's ridiculous. I am not one to claim that America is a 'Christian' nation (all the time).

Oh, GAG. I hate this business. I think any country that doesn't make it a point to have religion in its public schools is fooling itself. Also, promoting isn't the same as teaching. And I'd argue that secular humanism is a type of religion too. Blargh.