Most people imagine that our schools are to be institutes of higher learning. Apparently the ACLU has a little different conception of what “higher learning” means because it is demanding that public schools in Nashville, Tennessee allow gay advocacy sites to go unblocked at library Internet stations throughout the Metro Nashville District.
The porn peddlers of the ACLU have given the Metro schools a “deadline” of April 29 to reverse its Internet policies or they take the issue before the courts.
The ACLU, of course, pretends that it is “helping” kids “understand” gay issues, but that would presuppose that homosexual issues are to be taught in schools, naturally. The central issue is just that: what should we be teaching in our schools?
Further, how far do we go in allowing these aberrant lifestyle sites to go unblocked? What sort of “normal” is the next “normal”? Are we to go as far as to allow NAMBLA sites that advocate for the active molestation of children to go unblocked in schools? If we are continually revising downward the moral standards we apply to our schools upon what basis do we claim any standards at all?
In any case, the ACLU doesn’t care about culture, morality or standards. They only want what will tear down our culture the most.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Restricting
Matthew (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 6:52AM EST (link)If we restrict Web sites based on their content (pro-gay rights), then we can restrict Web sites based on their content (pro-life). A sticky wicket.
I’ll just mention, in passing, this is not an issue if the schools are privately run.
Maybe that would be a good solution for everyone, instead of getting into an escalating “First Amendments v Decency” argument?
The schools get better funding, students get better schooling — and parents get to send their kids to schools that are as restrictive or permissive on internet content as the parent so chooses?
Disagree
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 7:24AM EST (link)You just made an all or nothing claim. It is a foolish assumption to insist that it must be thus. THAT is what a society is FOR to decide what will be acceptable and what will not.
In fact, we could even say that NAMBLA is out but another gay lifestyle site is OK, though I would argue against any sexual websites in schools.
Society argues nuance ALL the time. Just like religion. We look kindly on the major religions but not on the wacko “religions” like paganism. In fact, its only been recently that Mormonism started to edge into the acceptable category.
So, you are wrong to assume that saying no to gay websites automatically means we have to say no to pro-life websites.
I argue that society should still place gay lifestyles in the not-for-kids category, but society could well argue otherwise and change the standard WITHOUT making the most extreme gay sites like NAMBLA acceptable.
Certainly there is the slippery slope argument which I do lean towards. But it ain’t necessarily so.
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Extreme?
Matthew (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 7:30AM EST (link)But there is a slippery slope argument here. It sounds like the ACLU wants gay porn in schools.
Here are the sorts of sites being blocked:
“Sullivan is a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, one of the groups whose Web site Metro blocks. Others include the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.”
I see no rational reason to block these sites. If we block them, we have opened the door to blocking pretty much any site that remotely espouses an opinion.
Porn should clearly not be allowed (we have laws about that) — but Gays and Lesbians Against Defamation? That is something that should be allowed.
The problem is that there is nuance, and it was missed. If the ACLU demands access to actual porn, sure. Get the torches and pitchforks — but if the ACLU wants public schools to have access to Web sites with controversial topics? Then I think we should look at the Web sites and see what they’re saying. And, GLAAD, for example, may be overtly political — the basis of their organization (stopping defamation) is worth at least considering and not lumping together with porn.
I would argue
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 7:49AM EST (link)As I said, I would argue that all sexually related sites that advocate a sexual proclivity should be blocked regardless. (Abortion is not a sexual activity.) I would stand against hetero sites that advocate sexual information, too. Let’s use Maxim magazine as a for instance. I would block their site in schools.
I would see no problem with general scientific texts, of course.
The sites you mention above push the gay lifestyle. Their sexual choice forms the basis of the info distributed. So I disagree that “gays and lesbians against defamation” is harmless. It is attempting to make “normal” the gay lifestyle and that is not something kids should be confronted with in school.
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Was just going to agree
DerKrieger (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 7:58AM EST (link)As a parent, and a Conservative, I don’t believe the gay lifestyle is an acceptable alternative to normal human relationships and think that if the schools don’t block it then they are advocates in support of it. So blocking it in my opinion is right an proper.
“In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson
“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” – James Madison
Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.” — John Locke, 1690
The sites aren't porn
SecularRepublican Friday, April 17th at 9:24AM EST (link)It says right in the article that was linked to that the sites that were blocked are non-sexual. A far, far cry from the “porn” the headline suggests.
Schools That Are Like Porn Shops
stopthepresses2 Friday, April 17th at 7:56AM EST (link)The mainstream media wouldn’t do it. So we are trying to get your important messages to the American people. This post is a suggested read at, http://aresay.blogspot.com/ 6
Anyone who is not considering home schooling
itrytobenice (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 9:39AM EST (link)or private schools isn’t paying attention.
Our public schools are a blight on our country.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Pathetic.....
marshmom (Diary) Friday, April 17th at 12:44PM EST (link)Public schools are an insult to everyone. I didn’t really learn ANYTHING until I graduated from high school and I had a 3.8 GPA throughout school.
They certainly didn’t teach anything about the US Constitution or about the government’s role in our country. Alas, that’s what our gov’t wants.
I’d do anything I had to in order to keep my children from attending public school.