U.S. drops even lower in educational measurement rankings

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by: m1ldslide1
I think I'd disagree about the genesis of gangs. I think if you look at any poor community on the planet you'll see gangs - even bigger and more violent ones than we see in the US. When you have large areas of generational poverty, engaging in illegal activity is highly profitable and easily accessible relative to other options. Hell I was just listening to NPR this morning and hearing about a gang in Juarez that had killed like 30 police officers so far this year. So yeah. It doesn't have anything to do with rap music or the waning civil rights movement in the 70's. Your friend that was there probably had some interesting experiences, but doesn't seem to understand the real forces at work.

Well first off I'll agree that blacks in america didn't invent gangs. I didn't mean to imply that and if I did I'm sorry. Second I'll also concede that I couldn't possibly have explained everything as I don't know the whole story.

But I do believe that todays black-gangs in inner-city america trace their roots mostly back to the failures of the civil rights movement and the lack of strong, positive black leaders. Being poor, of course, contributed in the way that being poor in other places does. There was another HBO documentary on the origins of street gangs in los angeles and a large part of why they were able to grow so large was the lack of unskilled work available with the loss of the manufacturing sector in the late 70's early 80's.

What I'm trying to say is that there were a lot of undereducated, poor black males that were frustrated and disenfranchised with nothing to positive to unite with except gangs. These sorts of people are easily manipulated and could have been steered towards bettering their own communities if not for the collapse of the civil rights movement... instead, they became gang bangers.


edit:I just realized I dunno wtf any of this has to do with educational measurement rankings.. sorry for derailing..

 

[ericlp]

Maybe before it's all over with ... We will all be dumb like bush. It's gonna take 10-20 years to get back to where we once were. You better start learning chinese now while you can.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
This should be our #1 fear in this nation. Unfortunately, no one has the balls to really fix the problem. Instead, the politicians keep fighting on how to make public schools more of a social experiment.

My suggestions would be quite extreme:

1) Segregate schools by gender from 6th through 10th grades. (Kids would be in mixed gender classes from K-5th and 11-12th grades.)
2) Mandatory national uniform requirement (proven to calm kids down).
3) Really drug-free schools (no more Ritalin, etc).
4) Segregate high schools by ability (like in Germany). The smart kids would be grouped in a college preparatory track while the less intelligent kids would go to vocational schools, leading to apprenticeships, and finally certification.
5) Some sort of national HOPE Scholarship program. Kids that have a 3.0 GPA or higher go to public college/university without tuition. They would have to maintain a 3.0 or better to maintain scholarship.
6) School funding: no longer funded by local property taxes. All school funding would have to made more equal somehow.
7) Upon graduation, students would have to spend their "19th" year abroad doing humanitarian/Peace Corps work abroad (outside the USA).
8) Pay teachers a lot more...like $80K or more, but... 1) Teacher's Union goes bye bye, 2) Never be a convicted Sex Offender, 3) Receive a bonus if you worked in the "business" world for at least five years before becoming a teacher, 4) Receive pay increases based on student performance of The Exit Exam.
9) The Exit Exam = A series of 4 exams, each 3-4 hours in length, both oral and written, testing student skills on the 4 subjects of their choice. Each exam would contain elements pertaining to both state and federal education standards. This test would be both a high school exit and college entrance exam, thus replacing the SAT/ACT.
10) Kill ETS (Electronic Testing Services).
11) Depending on the number of students who pass The Exit Exam, teachers receive a promotion (or demotion).
12) Eliminate day care services at school. Sex/Drug education would be provided at the 6th and 9th grades. Condoms and birth control pills provided for free from 9th grade onwards.
13) All students would have to memorize The Constitution/Bill of Rights AND know how to 1) Balance a Checkbook, 2) Understand credit/credit cards and how they work, and 3) Know how to complete a 1040 form without help. (The latter of course exposing them to the evils of taxation.)

Some of that would be very productive but other parts really are not considering the big picture and/or are too idealistic. Also, remember that school does not only exist to prepare you for your job. There are tons of other things which kids are supposed to learn in school as well as in college.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
This should be our #1 fear in this nation. Unfortunately, no one has the balls to really fix the problem. Instead, the politicians keep fighting on how to make public schools more of a social experiment.

My suggestions would be quite extreme:

1) Segregate schools by gender from 6th through 10th grades. (Kids would be in mixed gender classes from K-5th and 11-12th grades.)
2) Mandatory national uniform requirement (proven to calm kids down).
3) Really drug-free schools (no more Ritalin, etc).
4) Segregate high schools by ability (like in Germany). The smart kids would be grouped in a college preparatory track while the less intelligent kids would go to vocational schools, leading to apprenticeships, and finally certification.
5) Some sort of national HOPE Scholarship program. Kids that have a 3.0 GPA or higher go to public college/university without tuition. They would have to maintain a 3.0 or better to maintain scholarship.
6) School funding: no longer funded by local property taxes. All school funding would have to made more equal somehow.
7) Upon graduation, students would have to spend their "19th" year abroad doing humanitarian/Peace Corps work abroad (outside the USA).
8) Pay teachers a lot more...like $80K or more, but... 1) Teacher's Union goes bye bye, 2) Never be a convicted Sex Offender, 3) Receive a bonus if you worked in the "business" world for at least five years before becoming a teacher, 4) Receive pay increases based on student performance of The Exit Exam.
9) The Exit Exam = A series of 4 exams, each 3-4 hours in length, both oral and written, testing student skills on the 4 subjects of their choice. Each exam would contain elements pertaining to both state and federal education standards. This test would be both a high school exit and college entrance exam, thus replacing the SAT/ACT.
10) Kill ETS (Electronic Testing Services).
11) Depending on the number of students who pass The Exit Exam, teachers receive a promotion (or demotion).
12) Eliminate day care services at school. Sex/Drug education would be provided at the 6th and 9th grades. Condoms and birth control pills provided for free from 9th grade onwards.
13) All students would have to memorize The Constitution/Bill of Rights AND know how to 1) Balance a Checkbook, 2) Understand credit/credit cards and how they work, and 3) Know how to complete a 1040 form without help. (The latter of course exposing them to the evils of taxation.)

Some of that would be very productive but other parts really are not considering the big picture and/or are too idealistic.

Specific arguments?

People often question my desire to segregate based on gender...but I just think during puberty it would be wise. Kids would concentrate on studying more than sex!

 

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by: ericlp
Maybe before it's all over with ... We will all be dumb like bush. It's gonna take 10-20 years to get back to where we once were. You better start learning chinese now while you can.

I just want to hurry up and finish my degree so I can go over there and start teaching english/learning chinese.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
This should be our #1 fear in this nation. Unfortunately, no one has the balls to really fix the problem. Instead, the politicians keep fighting on how to make public schools more of a social experiment.

My suggestions would be quite extreme:

1) Segregate schools by gender from 6th through 10th grades. (Kids would be in mixed gender classes from K-5th and 11-12th grades.)
2) Mandatory national uniform requirement (proven to calm kids down).
3) Really drug-free schools (no more Ritalin, etc).
4) Segregate high schools by ability (like in Germany). The smart kids would be grouped in a college preparatory track while the less intelligent kids would go to vocational schools, leading to apprenticeships, and finally certification.
5) Some sort of national HOPE Scholarship program. Kids that have a 3.0 GPA or higher go to public college/university without tuition. They would have to maintain a 3.0 or better to maintain scholarship.
6) School funding: no longer funded by local property taxes. All school funding would have to made more equal somehow.
7) Upon graduation, students would have to spend their "19th" year abroad doing humanitarian/Peace Corps work abroad (outside the USA).
8) Pay teachers a lot more...like $80K or more, but... 1) Teacher's Union goes bye bye, 2) Never be a convicted Sex Offender, 3) Receive a bonus if you worked in the "business" world for at least five years before becoming a teacher, 4) Receive pay increases based on student performance of The Exit Exam.
9) The Exit Exam = A series of 4 exams, each 3-4 hours in length, both oral and written, testing student skills on the 4 subjects of their choice. Each exam would contain elements pertaining to both state and federal education standards. This test would be both a high school exit and college entrance exam, thus replacing the SAT/ACT.
10) Kill ETS (Electronic Testing Services).
11) Depending on the number of students who pass The Exit Exam, teachers receive a promotion (or demotion).
12) Eliminate day care services at school. Sex/Drug education would be provided at the 6th and 9th grades. Condoms and birth control pills provided for free from 9th grade onwards.
13) All students would have to memorize The Constitution/Bill of Rights AND know how to 1) Balance a Checkbook, 2) Understand credit/credit cards and how they work, and 3) Know how to complete a 1040 form without help. (The latter of course exposing them to the evils of taxation.)

Some of that would be very productive but other parts really are not considering the big picture and/or are too idealistic.

Specific arguments?

People often question my desire to segregate based on gender...but I just think during puberty it would be wise. Kids would concentrate on studying more than sex!

Yeah i have one. My nephew get's A's when he takes his ADD meds. He fails when he does not. Are you going to stick him in the rubbish bin?

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
This should be our #1 fear in this nation. Unfortunately, no one has the balls to really fix the problem. Instead, the politicians keep fighting on how to make public schools more of a social experiment.

My suggestions would be quite extreme:

1) Segregate schools by gender from 6th through 10th grades. (Kids would be in mixed gender classes from K-5th and 11-12th grades.)
2) Mandatory national uniform requirement (proven to calm kids down).
3) Really drug-free schools (no more Ritalin, etc).
4) Segregate high schools by ability (like in Germany). The smart kids would be grouped in a college preparatory track while the less intelligent kids would go to vocational schools, leading to apprenticeships, and finally certification.
5) Some sort of national HOPE Scholarship program. Kids that have a 3.0 GPA or higher go to public college/university without tuition. They would have to maintain a 3.0 or better to maintain scholarship.
6) School funding: no longer funded by local property taxes. All school funding would have to made more equal somehow.
7) Upon graduation, students would have to spend their "19th" year abroad doing humanitarian/Peace Corps work abroad (outside the USA).
8) Pay teachers a lot more...like $80K or more, but... 1) Teacher's Union goes bye bye, 2) Never be a convicted Sex Offender, 3) Receive a bonus if you worked in the "business" world for at least five years before becoming a teacher, 4) Receive pay increases based on student performance of The Exit Exam.
9) The Exit Exam = A series of 4 exams, each 3-4 hours in length, both oral and written, testing student skills on the 4 subjects of their choice. Each exam would contain elements pertaining to both state and federal education standards. This test would be both a high school exit and college entrance exam, thus replacing the SAT/ACT.
10) Kill ETS (Electronic Testing Services).
11) Depending on the number of students who pass The Exit Exam, teachers receive a promotion (or demotion).
12) Eliminate day care services at school. Sex/Drug education would be provided at the 6th and 9th grades. Condoms and birth control pills provided for free from 9th grade onwards.
13) All students would have to memorize The Constitution/Bill of Rights AND know how to 1) Balance a Checkbook, 2) Understand credit/credit cards and how they work, and 3) Know how to complete a 1040 form without help. (The latter of course exposing them to the evils of taxation.)

Some of that would be very productive but other parts really are not considering the big picture and/or are too idealistic.

Specific arguments?

People often question my desire to segregate based on gender...but I just think during puberty it would be wise. Kids would concentrate on studying more than sex!

Boys and girls learn differently. As un-PC as that it is, boys and girls are different. I see a lot of talk about improving results for girls in schools versus times past. That would be great, if the same schools weren't largely failing boys at the same time.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Specific arguments?

People often question my desire to segregate based on gender...but I just think during puberty it would be wise. Kids would concentrate on studying more than sex!

Hehe you reply fast. I made a quick edit.

Ok, let me try my best to break it down.


1) Segregate schools by gender from 6th through 10th grades. (Kids would be in mixed gender classes from K-5th and 11-12th grades.)
There is much to learn about life in general which greatly involves situations as an adult where sexes are mixed. School is partially in place to prepare one to gradually become an adult. Therefore, this would do more harm than good. If school only existed for academic purposes then I would agree with this but it doesn't.

2) Mandatory national uniform requirement (proven to calm kids down).
Sure. So many are already doing this anyways and it seems to work.

3) Really drug-free schools (no more Ritalin, etc).
There are too many students in the school system which really do need this stuff. They are separated from the regular students but that is about as good as you are going to get.

4) Segregate high schools by ability (like in Germany). The smart kids would be grouped in a college preparatory track while the less intelligent kids would go to vocational schools, leading to apprenticeships, and finally certification.
Promotes elitism too much. Kids need to learn that the world contains a large array of different people. Some people are better at academics than others. That doesn't mean they are better people in general though. Experience by being exposed to diversity to a degree is a very valuable part of the school system.

5) Some sort of national HOPE Scholarship program. Kids that have a 3.0 GPA or higher go to public college/university without tuition. They would have to maintain a 3.0 or better to maintain scholarship.
I'm all for this.

6) School funding: no longer funded by local property taxes. All school funding would have to made more equal somehow.
Somehow?

7) Upon graduation, students would have to spend their "19th" year abroad doing humanitarian/Peace Corps work abroad (outside the USA).
Could be pretty cool, but it would be very expensive. The juice might not be worth the squeeze. I'm not sure.

8) Pay teachers a lot more...like $80K or more, but... 1) Teacher's Union goes bye bye, 2) Never be a convicted Sex Offender, 3) Receive a bonus if you worked in the "business" world for at least five years before becoming a teacher, 4) Receive pay increases based on student performance of The Exit Exam.
1 and 2 yes. 3 and 4 no. Students who do not desire to learn cannot be taught. Teachers should not be punished for such things and nor should they be tempted to work around the system lowering true quality so that they are not punished. The business world thing doesn't make sense because schools are there too teach kids a lot more than what can be applied to the business world. They are not only there to prepare kids for a job in other words. That is just a one slice of the pie. Providing bonuses would make it seem like that is the biggest part of that pie and it really isn't.

9) The Exit Exam = A series of 4 exams, each 3-4 hours in length, both oral and written, testing student skills on the 4 subjects of their choice. Each exam would contain elements pertaining to both state and federal education standards. This test would be both a high school exit and college entrance exam, thus replacing the SAT/ACT.
Perhaps. I like the sound of it but I would have to see some example tests as well as some results by having students take the tests as an experiment. It's worth trying though.

10) Kill ETS (Electronic Testing Services).
Why?

11) Depending on the number of students who pass The Exit Exam, teachers receive a promotion (or demotion).
I already covered this one above. This is an awful idea to try and improve quality.

12) Eliminate day care services at school. Sex/Drug education would be provided at the 6th and 9th grades. Condoms and birth control pills provided for free from 9th grade onwards.
I don't like the eliminate daycare thing but the rest is fine. Girls do not see that the day cares are available and think to themselves that it is not so bad if they have a kid. Before this service existed, we still had plenty of pregnant teens so there no reason to believe that taking the service away will eliminate that issue or even reduce it. The difference is that we also had more of them drop out in the past than we do now. Let's keep them in school. If not for there sake, then for the child's sake.

13) All students would have to memorize The Constitution/Bill of Rights AND know how to 1) Balance a Checkbook, 2) Understand credit/credit cards and how they work, and 3) Know how to complete a 1040 form without help. (The latter of course exposing them to the evils of taxation.)
I guess there is nothing wrong with this. With a limited number of funds I might place this lower down the totem poll but that doesn't mean it is a bad idea.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: eskimospy
Butterbean I guarantee you that at the school you were at the school psychologist was not the weirdest person in the building.

LOLz



I think more money is the answer to our education problem. [/sarcasm]

Fern

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: eskimospy
Butterbean I guarantee you that at the school you were at the school psychologist was not the weirdest person in the building.

LOLz



I think more money is the answer to our education problem. [/sarcasm]

Fern

If I thought money would fix it, I'd say "Hell Yeah!" Considering that the entire future of our country is largely dependent on how well educated our citizens are, it's hard to begrudge spending the loot, if it's spent well.

Unfortunately we'd be throwing money at the wrong problem in many instances. There are fundamental problems which have been mentioned which would submarine otherwise sound programs. We haven't even acknowledged them at a national level. Butterball is still blaming the teachers.

 

[babylon5]

If we suck at math, just do what we do best: outsource. Whatever math problem we cannot solve, we email or phone math specialist overseas at their call center for answer. Cheaper than throwing money (and wasting) at our crappy public school system. And parents can continue to have no interest in their kids' education. Problem solve, America still is #1!!!

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: babylon5
If we suck at math, just do what we do best: outsource. Whatever math problem we cannot solve, we email or phone math specialist overseas at their call center for answer. Cheaper than throwing money (and wasting) at our crappy public school system. And parents can continue to have no interest in their kids' education. Problem solve, America still is #1!!!

I know you are kidding but man...just reading that gave me chills. 🙁

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider
This is a huge problem, and there is no good way to fix it. I occasionally work in a poor inner city area. The drop out rate is incredible, and the teachers get blamed. The cold facts are that the parents have no interest in education, and they raise their children to be the same.

The latest rap music is important. The best shoes are. Being cool, however that's defined. School? You're kidding, right?

So throw more money at it? When people refuse to be educated, educating them into believing education is good doesn't work.

If it were up to me, I'd start fixing the education issue by reforming welfare. The sense of entitlement is incredible in the real world.

That statement (in bold) reminds me of something I saw a few years ago. I was doing computer support for a medical imaging company and I had to go to a radiologist's house to do some work. When I got to his 'study' I noticed there were a slew of trophies on the shelves. I naturally (or ignorantly?) assumed they were sports trophies. Upon closer examination I found they were for academic achievements (spelling bee, science, etc).

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: babylon5
If we suck at math, just do what we do best: outsource. Whatever math problem we cannot solve, we email or phone math specialist overseas at their call center for answer. Cheaper than throwing money (and wasting) at our crappy public school system. And parents can continue to have no interest in their kids' education. Problem solve, America still is #1!!!

Math doesn't have an Indian accent. So everyone will be happy!

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: dphantom
But we have nothing for kids who won't go to college and would prefer to work in a trade and don't need as much of the above but do need other skills that are not being taught anymore.

This the crux of the problem right here. The college prep classes get dumbed down for the non-college bound so they won't get "left behind" and all the students get screwed. Compound that with so much crap being taught where it's only relevance will be in college (maybe, depending on major) at the expense of other things that would be relevant regardless of college or career path and you have our beloved educational system. There is a reason so many parents don't give a crap about their kid's education, they went through the same system. And the ones that do "care" don't care about what their kids are learning just as long as they make good enough grades to get into college.

 

[Exterous]

I think parents lack of concern over education is a big obstacle. My wife is a teacher and we have seen some interesting trends in her classroom. This semester she had 6 kids who never showed up for class at the start of the term. She called all 6 kid's parents. Two of the were horrified. After that those kids only missed a handful of days and did well in the class. Three parents didn't seem to care and their kids missed class regularly and their grades were not very good. One set of parents she never got to talk to. That kid ended up dropping out of HS

You can pour as much money into schools as you want but if the kids are reinforced that school is important then it won't really matter

Also +2 votes for mandatory school uniforms

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: eskimospy
Butterbean I guarantee you that at the school you were at the school psychologist was not the weirdest person in the building.

LOLz



I think more money is the answer to our education problem. [/sarcasm]

Fern

You represent the right's position well on that issue.

What you miss is that you're essentially arguing against food for masses of starving people, on the basis that food alone won't also cure their diseases.

No, it won't, but don't give them food and you will have a problem. Don't fund education adequately and you will have a problem.

I get pretty sick of the fallacy from the right on this, that the need for more than money is a reason to underfund.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: Xavier434
I have been very disappointed by the gradual decrease in quality of our education system in the US over the past 20 years. I feel it is one of the larger "threats" that our nation faces in the long term. It is difficult to directly link a lot of problems that our country faces to that of a lack of quality education but it does play a big part in many of our problems. We really need to raise the bar.

We also need to make entry into college after HS much more accessible and affordable. I'm not saying we should just let any jackass into a 4 year university mind you. That doesn't help quality. However, there are too many successful HS students that are not going to college because either the college's standards for entry are way too high due to the lack of available slots or the student cannot afford to go. Some of these students are not always amongst the highest GPA in their graduating class. Others have the GPA but they suck at standardized tests. Then there are those which just didn't have a huge list of extra curricular activities. However, many of these same students did good enough and given the right amount of dedication they can earn themselves a degree just like everyone else. Even if you do not agree with me with the "accessible" parts, we need to at least find more ways to lower the cost of college so that the quality students who didn't earn enough scholarship money can still get a good 4 year degree.

College IS already plenty accessible.

Those that choose not to go are just lazy and didn't explore their options.

And frankly we already have way to many people in college who shouldnt be there. A good deal of people would be better served by trade schools.

 

[Butterbean]

Originally posted by: eskimospy
Butterbean I guarantee you that at the school you were at the school psychologist was not the weirdest person in the building.

I should have guessed your Mom was in education

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

College IS already plenty accessible.

Those that choose not to go are just lazy and didn't explore their options.

And frankly we already have way to many people in college who shouldnt be there. A good deal of people would be better served by trade schools.

College takes time and money. Not everyone has both for various reasons. For those that do, it would be really nice if more of them could graduate without tens of thousands of dollars in student loans on their backs.

 

[Butterbean]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
4) Segregate high schools by ability (like in Germany). The smart kids would be grouped in a college preparatory track while the less intelligent kids would go to vocational schools, leading to apprenticeships, and finally certification.

I like some of your other points but not this one entirely. Too many of the kids who get good grades early in school are drones who are apple polishers and conformists terrified of mommy and daddy if they get a B. A lot of the bright kids are bored in high school. Kids also get caught up in their ego if they get too much attention for their grades. The nicest kids I ever taught were often in special ed. Many of the worst kid were in honors classes - and they also ended up with the drinking issues and identity disorders etc.

All kids should have some training in a trade so they know about problem solving and not just abstract stuff. Building stairs is a good way to see need for trig and such. Too many students are egg heads who cant change a light bulb but they think they are cosmic heros anyway (despite all the butt they kiss). Honors classes are fine and dumping trouble makers is fine. Labeling and segregating masses of kids into tight boxes is too much social engineering to me. The rulers of the Ottoman Empire all had to learn a trade ( Suleiman the Magnificent was a goldsmith) and people do well knowing skills working with their hands.

 

[naddicott]

I can't wait to see some data from the high teacher pay charter schools.

Indiscriminately paying the current batch of (mostly lousy) teachers more likely wouldn't solve anything, but if college students (and other talented workforce) get wind of a reliable shot at $100k+ salaries as a teacher if they're actually good at it, we might actually see some people capable of reversing this trend considering careers in education.

There's a credibility factor as well. Why should a student respect someone who barely earns minimum wage equivalents as a credible source on what they do and don't need to know to succeed in life?

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: naddicott
I can't wait to see some data from the high teacher pay charter schools.

Indiscriminately paying the current batch of (mostly lousy) teachers more likely wouldn't solve anything, but if college students (and other talented workforce) get wind of a reliable shot at $100k+ salaries as a teacher if they're actually good at it, we might actually see some people capable of reversing this trend considering careers in education.

There's a credibility factor as well. Why should a student respect someone who barely earns minimum wage equivalents as a credible source on what they do and don't need to know to succeed in life?

The better teachers in my county are in the charter schools. Higher pay is one reason. The other reason is better students go to them because those schools require the parents to spend X amount of time or money if their child is enrolled. This means the children come from homes where the parents care more. I will be putting my child into one of these schools for this reason. For credibility purposes, I will also note that I work for school district in my county so I kinda have the low down on how it all works here. Obviously this wouldn't work if all schools were Charter though because then the same kids from the parents that do not care would be attending and then it would be just like regular public school.

 

[KIRBYEE]

.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: Butterbean

Originally posted by: eskimospy
Butterbean I guarantee you that at the school you were at the school psychologist was not the weirdest person in the building.

I should have guessed your Mom was in education

Yeah she is actually, not that it has any bearing on your insane rant. Kudos on not mentioning homosexuality though.