Now, I am not a religious person. I am, quite contentedly, rather agnostic. I have no desire to be saved again (yes I've been down that scary road before) so please, no prayers for me after this declaration. I am also a HUGE believer in separation of church and state. The idea of teaching "intelligent design" in the science room is as preposterous as churches being forced to teach evolution in Sunday school.
Should a child be allowed to stand in the cafeteria at lunchtime preaching the gospel and casting out demons from the kids? I really don't think so, anymore than I should be tolerated doing that at work. Should they be allowed to wear a crucifix around their necks? Of course. If they are given a writing assignment with the subject of who is my favorite person should they be allowed to write about Jesus? Sure. There are probably a lot of grey areas, and a lot that are likely to be agreed on as being black and white. But I just think telling this kid to go home because his costume was "distracting" is outrageous and makes me really angry. What next?
NO COOKIE MONSTERS! They are distracting because they make kids think of cookies when they should be thinking of math!
NO DRACULAS! This is one violent dude!
AND PIRATES? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Look what carnage they have created upon our beautiful seas! Dressing up as a pirate is celebrating theft! I personally find that very distracting.
This one is just plain cute. BUT IT COULD BE DISTRACTING BECAUSE IT WILL REMIND ALL THE OTHER KIDS HOW LESS CLEVER THEY WERE WITH THEIR COSTUMES!
Now when my kids were little there was a rule about excessively violent and bloody costumes at school. No bloody eyeballs hanging out, no one carrying decapitated heads etc... I could kind of accept that, although it did have the effect of cutinizing the day to the extreme. I mean how many princesses and kittens can one really take?
This thing with Jesus is just wrong. I wonder if they sent home all the little boys dressed up like devils? What if someone dressed up as the Flying Spagetti Monster? Where does it end? I don't need Jesus in my heart to feel this is really wrong.
7 comments:
Was it Christians that were offended...or non-believers afraid that it might rub off on them. There is so much fear in our world...and misguided administrators. I listened in to Rush Limbaugh the other day. Just like you, I want to hear what the other side is thinking. Scary. He said that Obama was using a hypnotising cadence in his speech!
So- it's okay to dress as a devil or demon, but not as a man of peace...........
Glad I voted yesterday, but wait, was it because I had listen to Obama and not really because I was thinking for myself!???
These are strange times we are living in..
M
this is by far your funniest post yet - maybe it's because we don't really do halloween but the excuse for a party has taken off.. some of those costumes are great, love the tetris and your candor..
This is why my child is in a Charter School. The public school system has lost it's frigging mind!!! This pisses me off in so many ways I don't even know where to start. I swear some days I just want to move to a little island somewhere and drink tequila all day!
I believe in separation of church and state too, but... wearing a halloween costume is kind of like free speech, everyone should be able to say and wear what they want especially on halloween and costumes for school age children? Oh my goodness, unbelievable - I feel for the poor child sent home.
Hi,
Just wanted to pop my head in and say hello, been checking you out for a couple of weeks. I like your stuff.
On the subject of your post. Don't know if was Christians offended that Jesus was not being revered enough, or just jittery teachers not wanting to have the religious wars hoisted on them by some unknowing kid. It's hard to tell...Maybe the kid was a brat and they sent him home and them he claimed it was over his costume... You said a school somewhere, do you know where the school was? I think it might be an urban legend. It's happened in the past that dubious Christians sometimes start these persecution rumors to stir up the base.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
NE. Thanks for stopping by. It is not an urban legend, I saw it on the news the other day. It was actually a 13 year old kid, and I don't think he was even trying to be religious about it. They said he told them he decided to go as Jesus because of his long hair. I think it is likely an overzealous school official, trying to keep religion out of school for fear of complaints, who, in my opinion, went way too far. I can't remember what town. I would bet you could find it on youtube or just the net if you are curious.
I'm glad you think my posts are funny Ang. That is the highest of compliments.
This whole thing is just so ridiculous. I think we have to be vigilent as a society to not let religion become part of our government, which it obviously is becoming. But we also have to be careful not to be paranoid at the same time. Our founding fathers made it very clear there that this was not a country based on one religion, regardless of what people try to tell you today about this being a christian nation. It is NOT supposed to be.
From the treaty with Tripoli signed by John Adams in 1797:
"As the government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion ..."
From the lips of George Bush Senior:
"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."
"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man." Thomas Jefferson
"This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it." John Adams
I think our government has gone a little astray.
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