Posted by Paul Wayne on November 05, 2000 at 08:07:19:In Reply to: Council Resolution opposing OCA's Ballot Measure 9 posted by Wanda Ballentine on August 09, 2000 at 11:32:29:
I am a life long Oregonian who is becomming increasingly disgusted
with the political correctness mintality in this state. Have any of you read the measure? IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT DISCUSSING HOMOSEXUALITY OR AIDS OR ANY OF THAT. IT DOES PROHIBIT DISCUSSING THESE THINGS IN A "MANNOR" THAT PROMOTES OR SANCTIONS OR ENDORSES HOMOSEXUALITY. Now that is a far cry from banning the whole issue or related issues from the classroom. Since when must a subject be promoted and endorsed in order to be taught? I am againgt two things here. First, the excuse of any group to take away the safety and freedom of homosexuals. And this measure's law actually ensures their rights under the constitution if you read it. It does not ban the expression of students or teachers who are gay. It does ban the promotion of their lifestyle similiar to how schools ban religion on other students, not allowing the classroom be a place of indoctrination. I do believe in seperation of church and school and I think that homosexuality when it comes to personnal belief is not a topic for schools to endorse one way or the other. Secondly, I am against political campaigns that feel that it is okay to spread disinformation to accomplish their goal. And clearly the anti-9 hysteria has done that in spades. Someday I hope campaign's will have to stick to facts and truth to what the measures, or issue is; and not what an opinion wants to manipulate it into. And maybe someday there will be a two fold penalty under law and public opinion on campaign's that are rooted in manipulation and lies. There must be a factor of trust that folks in this state (and country) can hold in the information presented on issues. I came into this election year sceptical of measure 9 and came away in response to the anti-9 campaign that the measure was indeed needed.
Thanks for being yet another puppet of a small group who wants to manipulate the social enviornment in which our kids live. I dont want our classrooms turned into a sunday school, but while everyone has been so trained to over react to religious groups- this smaller group has set up shop with our kids. Have you read any of the reports from parents and students who have had teachers encourage them to experience homosexuality? They are there- why is that not an issue of concern? Wouldn't it be safer to let the promotion of this issue be at home with religion and not in the classroom? I am not a biased pro Lon Mabon voter- but now I wonder what is next for our kids (my kids).Are you prepared to make sure that homosexual activity is not sanctioned and encouraged on non-homosexual students? That is all this measure would have done under the letter of the law. And few folks seem to have read it when a movement was telling them what to think about it. But that just goes in step with Oregon politics. Not long ago we voted to keep a faulty nuclear plant open-which the federeal government promptly ordered closed forever. We didn't have the minds to see the facts being twisted and clouded over by the local power company then. I don't think anything has changed. SHAME ON YOU FOR KIDS SAKE!