School suspends kid for voicing opinion in opposition to homosexuality

[Atreus21]

You realize that the whole "homosexual" part of the discussion is irrelevant right? The kid is a bigot. The year is 2011 and it's time people get over themselves and that "homosexuality is wrong". A kid that thinks blacks, homosexuals, handicapped people, Jews, etc are wrong should be pulled to the side, told that being a bigot is unacceptable, and disciplined.

Is any opposition to anything whatsoever inevitably rooted in bigotry?

 

[soulcougher73]

Can a student refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or omit the "under God" part of it? I doubt it.

Yes

 

[randomrogue]

Is any opposition to anything whatsoever inevitably rooted in bigotry?

Being opposed to pistachio ice cream doesn't make anyone a bigot but being against a group of people does.

 

[GoPackGo]

In the Bible, Jesus makes no mention of homosexuality. 2000 years ago it was just as present as it is today. If it was such a big deal it would have surely been mentioned as 10 to 20 percent of the population are born gay. Freedom of speech and opinion are too valuable a right to try to put zero tolerance polices in as qualifiers.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Most of you preach about tolerance and that bigotry is wrong. Please keep in mind that you must tolerate the bigots. It is their choice to be that way, just as it is a Muslim's choice to practice Islam or a Christian's choice to go to church.

Hypocrites.

This kid did nothing wrong. He expressed a belief and didn't cause any trouble and expressed no malice. You can be accepting of things without approving of them, as this kid did.

This kid believes homosexuality is wrong, just as many of you believe there is no god, or that cheating on your wife is immoral. Who the fuck are you to say what he believes is wrong?

 

[ShawnD1]

Is any opposition to anything whatsoever inevitably rooted in bigotry?

For things like homosexuality, yeah it usually is. Their being gay does not affect you, so why would you care about it? Homosexuals are disliked because they are different. That's what bigotry is all about - thinking something is wrong just because it is different.

 

[ShawnD1]

Being opposed to pistachio ice cream doesn't make anyone a bigot but being against a group of people does.

Depending on what you mean, the person is still an asshole. People who want stores to stop selling pistachio ice cream so other people can't have it should go kill themselves. Banning homosexuality so other people can't deep dick each other is just as silly.

 

[Genx87]

Whatever your bigoted attitudes on homosexuality may be, gay kids have the right to go to school in a non-hostile environment. As an analogy, saying that you believe that black people are stupid, or Asians are violent, or hispanics are lazy, or any other such thing creates a hostile environment for those students. Saying that you believe someone is "wrong" by the very nature of who they are is disruptive.

I happen to think that it's "wrong" to believe in Iron Age myths and pray to imaginary deities, but if a kid said in class that he thought "Christianity is wrong" I would say he should be disciplined.

I don't know if I agree with the severity of the punishment, that, IMO, is contextual, and as for the teacher's reported interest in the subject, I might have different opinions on that as well, but this story doesn't seem to give a clear picture of what was going on there.

I thnk your idea of disruptive is really wide. Under your definition nearly every opinion would be subject to discipline and thus most of the school under constant suspension.

 

[dmcowen674]

School suspends kid for voicing opinion in opposition to homosexuality

Good, it's none of his fucking business and it's his parents fault for not teaching him that.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

For things like homosexuality, yeah it usually is. Their being gay does not affect you, so why would you care about it? Homosexuals are disliked because they are different. That's what bigotry is all about - thinking something is wrong just because it is different.

Bigotry; noun. intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.

There is an extreme amount of intolerance toward this kid because his opinion is different from the teacher's. Please, explain how this is not bigotry.

Also, this kid didn't show any intolerance. He said it was wrong. I have a difference of opinion on a lot of things and it is possible to express it without showing intolerance. I think smoking is stupid and unhealthy, but I tolerate smokers.

Then there are things I disagree with that I will not tolerate. I am bigoted towards pedophiles and men who beat their wife, for example.

 

[Genx87]

Actually, I read it, and unlike you, understood why he was punished. It was not for speaking about his beliefs. It was for creating a hostile environment for gay people.

If he had said "I believe that I eat the flesh and drink the blood of a 2000 year old dead man every week" he would have been speaking about his beliefs but would not have been punished. Starting to understand?

What world do you live with in? The teacher brought up the subject to the class. The child told his friend his opinion. The teacher didnt like the childs opinion and sent him to the office. Exactly who is creating the hostile enviornment?

 

[Moonbeam]

Is any opposition to anything whatsoever inevitably rooted in bigotry?

Bigotry is an irrational prejudice inculcated into a person's being before one has attained majority and a capacity to examine opinions with reason. Bigotry has its roots in violent inculcation, punishment for deviant behavior, going against the bigotry of ones culture and parents. It is a form of brainwashing founded on reward and pain. Because the pain is so great most bigots will never be able to open the door as adults to real knowledge as to how they acquired their bigotry. This will cause them to be blind all their lives.

The more powerful the ego, the greater the suppression of truth. We were taught to love our bigotry as you love yours. Bigotry is the pleasure of feeling you are right. But given the culture of bigotry some bigots are faced with as children, if they didn't become bigots themselves, they would have literally died as children and not just died in spirit. This is why you must love the bigot and pity his bigotry. All bigots because bigots to survive.

 

[brencat]

You realize that the whole "homosexual" part of the discussion is irrelevant right? The kid is a bigot. The year is 2011 and it's time people get over themselves and that "homosexuality is wrong". A kid that thinks blacks, homosexuals, handicapped people, Jews, etc are wrong should be pulled to the side, told that being a bigot is unacceptable, and disciplined.

Wow the guy who espouses economic freedom on these forums is here trying to impose his view on those who disagree on the issue of accepting homosexuality.

Sorry, you fail.

 

[Moonbeam]

What world do you live with in? The teacher brought up the subject to the class. The child told his friend his opinion. The teacher didnt like the childs opinion and sent him to the office. Exactly who is creating the hostile enviornment?

The parents of the bigot, his religion, thousands of years of cruelty and fear. The worldwide culture of self hate.

 

[Genx87]

You realize that the whole "homosexual" part of the discussion is irrelevant right? The kid is a bigot. The year is 2011 and it's time people get over themselves and that "homosexuality is wrong". A kid that thinks blacks, homosexuals, handicapped people, Jews, etc are wrong should be pulled to the side, told that being a bigot is unacceptable, and disciplined.

Do you people have any idea what you are proposing? Allowing the state to dictate what can and cant be said without punishment?

 

[soulcougher73]

The fail in strong in this thread. The reason what he said is considered hostile is because it attacks a person that cannot help what they are. Its the same as if he said "Blacks are wrong". It attacks someone for something they cannot change. Now if he has said "The DH in baseball is wrong" that is not a person, its a rule of a game. It doesnt hurt anybody by saying that. You may disagree but noone could be hurt by it as its not hateful towards anyone.

We should attempt to curb hate speech in this country especially when its something that said people cannot change about themselves. And what does it say about the person defending someones right to say hateful things towards other people for no real purpose other than to feel superior.

Im all for free speach but think we need to curb the hatred part of it. Its getting old now.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Do you people have any idea what you are proposing? Allowing the state to dictate what can and cant be said without punishment?

I see the trend emerging that people cannot separate difference of opinion from tolerance. These seem like the type of people who argue vehemently over what console is superior or who the best quaterback of 1996 was. The type of guys who will come to blows over an argument as to whether ribs should use a dry rub vs. a wet rub.

What most people need is to realize that just because you eschew something, for whatever reason, doesn't mean that you cannot tolerate it. I don't like going to the dentist, but I tolerate it.

What we need to be concerned about are those who have no tolerance for anything; especially those who have no tolerance for people that simply express an opinion that differs from their opinion.

Was this kid's opinion of gays wrong or right? Either way, it doesn't matter if it was wrong or right.

Was he tolerating it? Yes. He didn't make a disparaging remark, or threaten them, or anything else. He stated it was wrong and that was that.

Adults can disagree with something but still accept it. We have a forum full of children who cannot see the difference between belief and tolerance.

 

[randomrogue]

Wow the guy who espouses economic freedom on these forums is here trying to impose his view on those who disagree on the issue of accepting homosexuality.

Sorry, you fail.

Change the word "homosexuality" to "blacks", "jews", "handicapped people", or what you like.

It's 2011. Part of the population is homosexual. It always will be. Deal with it.

 

[Genx87]

I see the trend emerging that people cannot separate difference of opinion from tolerance. These seem like the type of people who argue vehemently over what console is superior or who the best quaterback of 1996 was. The type of guys who will come to blows over an argument as to whether ribs should use a dry rub vs. a wet rub.

What most people need is to realize that just because you eschew something, for whatever reason, doesn't mean that you cannot tolerate it. I don't like going to the dentist, but I tolerate it.

What we need to be concerned about are those who have no tolerance for anything; especially those who have no tolerance for people that simply express an opinion that differs from their opinion.

Was this kid's opinion of gays wrong or right? Either way, it doesn't matter if it was wrong or right.

Was he tolerating it? Yes. He didn't make a disparaging remark, or threaten them, or anything else. He stated it was wrong and that was that.

Adults can disagree with something but still accept it. We have a forum full of children who cannot see the difference between belief and tolerance.

That was really well said!

/thumbsup

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

The fail in strong in this thread. The reason what he said is considered hostile is because it attacks a person that cannot help what they are. Its the same as if he said "Blacks are wrong". It attacks someone for something they cannot change.

He believes that gays make the choice to be that way, for whatever reason. The important thing is you need to tolerate his belief, because it is part of his religion, a protected class, no matter how stupid it may be. I don't care if he is a racist loon, as long as he TOLERATES the people there is no problem.

There is a difference between having a prejudice towards a group of people (for whatever reason) and acting on that prejudice and harming them. You can tolerate and accept something without agreeing with it.

 

[Moonbeam]

Do you people have any idea what you are proposing? Allowing the state to dictate what can and cant be said without punishment?

Isn't that what the Constitution does? You are an asshole, OK, just my opinion, fire fire fire in a crowed theater, not OK.

 

[randomrogue]

What apple said above is very good. I suppose I question where the line is drawn with a kid who will just parrot what his parents say. I for one think gay sex is disgusting. However I don't have a problem with homosexuals. So if someone then comes out and says "homosexuals are wrong" are they expressing an opinion or are they being intolerant?

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Change the word "homosexuality" to "blacks", "jews", "handicapped people", or what you like.

It's 2011. Part of the population is homosexual. It always will be. Deal with it.

It's 2011. Part of the population is pedophile. It always will be. Deal with it.

Not that they are the same (pedophiles harm others, but it is widely believed it is not a choice someone makes.) Do you see how silly your argument is?

We have people that do not like others for whatever reason. It is not your place to judge them. As long as they are tolerant, regardless of their fucked up views, then there is no issue.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

FWIW, I think all anti-homosexual assholes should STFU & DIAF, but from the way it sounds this kid's behavior didn't warrant the discipline he received.

 

[Blackjack200]

The fail in strong in this thread. The reason what he said is considered hostile is because it attacks a person that cannot help what they are. Its the same as if he said "Blacks are wrong". It attacks someone for something they cannot change. Now if he has said "The DH in baseball is wrong" that is not a person, its a rule of a game. It doesnt hurt anybody by saying that. You may disagree but noone could be hurt by it as its not hateful towards anyone.

We should attempt to curb hate speech in this country especially when its something that said people cannot change about themselves. And what does it say about the person defending someones right to say hateful things towards other people for no real purpose other than to feel superior.

Im all for free speach but think we need to curb the hatred part of it. Its getting old now.

Post of the thread. :thumbsup: