A group called Parents Advocacy Committee for Educational Rights (PACER) has hosted a National Bullying Prevention week for the past four years. This year they are observing this week as usual but have also expanded the event through the month of October.
At the link above, many activities and ideas are provided for classroom teachers and youth leaders. I signed the pledge and encourage you to do so and pass the link along.
CNN is focusing on bullying this week, starting with a segment on bullying featuring and appearance with Kevin Jennings and Kirk Smalley this morning. The page for all of their coverage is here.
The New York Times had an article yesterday on the topic of GLB suicides related to bullying.
I plan to post frequently this week on the topic and hope we can continue to work through issues which divide to get a societal consensus on how to address the problems.
Warren – a personal message.
I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. In your journey, you’ve had to confront some hard truths, and unpleasant realisations. It must be dreadfully discouraging.
But despite my words… keep hoping. Keep the faith. While there are such as you, people of goodwill.. hope can never be extinguished. Remember 1 Corinthians 13, and know that such as myself appreciate what you’re trying to do.
I like the PACER site.
Warren – consensus is only possible if you believe that being gay is not worse than being a murderer.
This is disputed amongst Conservative Christian groups. Until they can come up with a consensus within themselves, it’s not going to happen.
“For the murderer dissevers the soul from the body, but this man ruins the soul with the body.” — St John Chrysostom
The problem seems to be Gender Nonconformity:
For I should not only say that thou hast become a woman, but that thou hast lost thy manhood, and hast neither changed into that nature nor kept that which thou haddest, but thou hast been a traitor to both of them at once, and deserving both of men and women to be driven out and stoned, as having wronged either sex.
They’re not real big on tolerating Intersexed people either, you see.
You assume that they don’t see the death of gay kids to be a “consummation devoutly to be wished”. While many do not, others are conflicted, to say the least. Few admit that, there is unctuousness and crocodile tears… but strip away the venir, and some will say “You know, he goes a bit far, but Fred Phelps has a point…”
And some admit it, and are proud to do so. Hence the situation in Uganda.
Good luck. I wouldn’t hold my breath. The question is, how will this split go? It’s one that is within all denominations. Will those who see the death toll as a regrettable necessity side with those who see the deaths as desirable – or with those like you, who see them as an abomination?
It is a conflict within your religion. Those of us outside of it can only stand and watch.
Warren – a personal message.
I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. In your journey, you’ve had to confront some hard truths, and unpleasant realisations. It must be dreadfully discouraging.
But despite my words… keep hoping. Keep the faith. While there are such as you, people of goodwill.. hope can never be extinguished. Remember 1 Corinthians 13, and know that such as myself appreciate what you’re trying to do.
Warren – consensus is only possible if you believe that being gay is not worse than being a murderer.
This is disputed amongst Conservative Christian groups. Until they can come up with a consensus within themselves, it’s not going to happen.
“For the murderer dissevers the soul from the body, but this man ruins the soul with the body.” — St John Chrysostom
The problem seems to be Gender Nonconformity:
For I should not only say that thou hast become a woman, but that thou hast lost thy manhood, and hast neither changed into that nature nor kept that which thou haddest, but thou hast been a traitor to both of them at once, and deserving both of men and women to be driven out and stoned, as having wronged either sex.
They’re not real big on tolerating Intersexed people either, you see.
You assume that they don’t see the death of gay kids to be a “consummation devoutly to be wished”. While many do not, others are conflicted, to say the least. Few admit that, there is unctuousness and crocodile tears… but strip away the venir, and some will say “You know, he goes a bit far, but Fred Phelps has a point…”
And some admit it, and are proud to do so. Hence the situation in Uganda.
Good luck. I wouldn’t hold my breath. The question is, how will this split go? It’s one that is within all denominations. Will those who see the death toll as a regrettable necessity side with those who see the deaths as desirable – or with those like you, who see them as an abomination?
It is a conflict within your religion. Those of us outside of it can only stand and watch.
I signed their pledge also. And yet in Minnesota:
Evidently Prichard believes that in identifying as homosexual a teenager is doomed anyway whether sexual activity ever happens or not.
I signed their pledge also. And yet in Minnesota:
Evidently Prichard believes that in identifying as homosexual a teenager is doomed anyway whether sexual activity ever happens or not.
I like the PACER site.