Freethought & Rationalism Archive

RufusAtticus · 02-18-2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

India Tracy came to expect being sent to the principal's office even though she was a well-behaved, straight-A student.

But the Union County youngster knew she'd probably be the only student with "no" written on the permission slip to attend a tent revival during school hours. When she declined to portray Mary in a Christmas play, she also was sent to the principal's office.

Quote:

"The principal had called me to the office because mine was the only slip that said no," said India, now 14. "He asked me why I didn't want to go. He asked my religion. I told him I didn't want to talk about it and for him to call my parents."

Quote:

derogatory names were written on her locker in permanent ink and the school refused to paint over the graffiti or move her locker.

Quote:

a bus driver regularly asked India in front of other students if she had gone to church yet and if she'd like to come to church.

Quote:

The suit seeks $300,000 in damages to pay India's tuition to a private school, legal fees and the cost of psychological counseling. The suit also seeks a court prohibition against "the school system's continued religious indoctrination of children."

02-18-2003, 02:29 PM

Quote:

India was repeatedly attacked as she knelt in front of her bottom-row locker. Her head was bashed at least 10 times, cutting her lip, above her eyes and bloodying her nose.

...derogatory names were written on her locker in permanent ink and the school refused to paint over the graffiti or move her locker.

...a teacher told India to "keep quiet because you'll get in trouble" after she wrote a paper about religious freedom.

...a bus driver regularly asked India in front of other students if she had gone to church yet and if she'd like to come to church.

Christianity must die.

Melkor · 02-18-2003, 02:41 PM

Quote:

... That India was repeatedly attacked as she knelt in front of her bottom-row locker. Her head was bashed at least 10 times, cutting her lip, above her eyes and bloodying her nose.

...That a teacher told India to "keep quiet because you'll get in trouble" after she wrote a paper about religious freedom.

I can't believe that knowing full well that things like this continue to go on, some people still advocate a "tearing down of the wall" and that those of less popular religions (or of no religions at all) have nothing to fear from such.

What a crock of shit such people are selling.

Enforce or support a religion via government entities (even public schools) and this is the kind of thing that happens, and will continue to happen, until people understand that you can't force others to believe in the same imaginary deity as you do, and that you can't mix government and religion and still have a "safe" environment for those of different faiths (or none at all).

You can bet that if that school was predominantly Islamic or something, and the abused girl was Baptist the whole damned GOP would be raising an issue of this, claiming "religious persecution" and demanding justice.

02-18-2003, 02:47 PM

Quote:

You can bet that if that school was predominantly Islamic or something, and the abused girl was Baptist the whole damned GOP would be raising an issue of this, claiming "religious persecution" and demanding justice.

They sure would! Bush would have probably sent in federal troops to defend her right to worship the "almighty god."

Viti · 02-18-2003, 02:52 PM

God is Love right?....fucking assholes

Melkor · 02-18-2003, 02:53 PM

And this is precisely why in arguments I've had with theists about getting "In GOD we trust" off of US money, and removing GOD from the Pledge I've come back on the position of "oppressing" those of different beliefs.

Every time I see "In GOD we trust" I am reminded that I am not of the preferred class of citizenry, and that I have to fear for myself and my loved ones in our society because my lack of belief in that same deity.

And it reminds me of how full of shit they always are when I ask them "so it wouldn't bother you to see 'In Satan we trust' on money... it wouldn't make you feel the least bit fearful?" and they give me a smug, typical response, like:

"Well of course not. The first amendment protects freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion."

When in fact you can wager dollars to doughnuts that if that were the case, most Christians would be shittin' bricks right about now. And rightly so.

Most of those pricks seem to think the first amendment reads like this:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, unless it's Christian, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof as long as it's Christian...

admice · 02-18-2003, 04:09 PM

Note that the article says 'the lawsuit alledges...' so be careful when you read, critical reading as well as thinking.
More than likely the allegations are true, so...get mad . Then contribute time or money to the ACLU, Americans United etc. to stop this kind of thing.

02-18-2003, 04:13 PM

If it were an isolated case I'd be skeptical, but the sad reality is that there have been literally dozens of these kinds of cases in recent years, usually in either Alabama, Mississippi, or Georgia. And they all involve fundies teasing/harassing/injuring non-xian children while the teachers and school administrators looked the other way or in some cases even participated in the abuse.

GaryP · 02-18-2003, 04:17 PM

While declining to comment on the lawsuit, school system Director James Pratt said the ministry rents school buses for transporting the students and some teachers act as chaperones but they must use a personal day to do so.

Wow! What a story. As much as I suspect that intolerance happens very, very often in schools, this one is hard to believe.

The teachers going along on the trip really bothers me too. They are supposed to act strictly as chaperones, but who can doubt that they wind up worshipping right along with the kids.

gilly54 · 02-18-2003, 06:30 PM

Rufus,

I just submitted an e-mail to Phil Donahue where I added the link to the newstory you provided. I entitled my e-mail: I thought the US was a SECULAR nation.

I said that I think Christian fundamentalists are feeling emboldened by Bush's constant religious utterances. I also said that the teenager and her parents may not want to be in the national spotlight, but their plight should be brought to the attention of Congress and school administrations across this country.

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02-18-2003, 02:52 PM	#5
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	God is Love right?....fucking assholes

02-18-2003, 02:53 PM	#6
Melkor Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Void Posts: 396	And this is precisely why in arguments I've had with theists about getting "In GOD we trust" off of US money, and removing GOD from the Pledge I've come back on the position of "oppressing" those of different beliefs. Every time I see "In GOD we trust" I am reminded that I am not of the preferred class of citizenry, and that I have to fear for myself and my loved ones in our society because my lack of belief in that same deity. And it reminds me of how full of shit they always are when I ask them "so it wouldn't bother you to see 'In Satan we trust' on money... it wouldn't make you feel the least bit fearful?" and they give me a smug, typical response, like: "Well of course not. The first amendment protects freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion." When in fact you can wager dollars to doughnuts that if that were the case, most Christians would be shittin' bricks right about now. And rightly so. Most of those pricks seem to think the first amendment reads like this: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, unless it's Christian, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof as long as it's Christian...

02-18-2003, 04:09 PM	#7
admice Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: S Cal Posts: 327	Note that the article says 'the lawsuit alledges...' so be careful when you read, critical reading as well as thinking. More than likely the allegations are true, so...get mad . Then contribute time or money to the ACLU, Americans United etc. to stop this kind of thing.

02-18-2003, 04:13 PM	#8
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	If it were an isolated case I'd be skeptical, but the sad reality is that there have been literally dozens of these kinds of cases in recent years, usually in either Alabama, Mississippi, or Georgia. And they all involve fundies teasing/harassing/injuring non-xian children while the teachers and school administrators looked the other way or in some cases even participated in the abuse.

02-18-2003, 04:17 PM	#9
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	While declining to comment on the lawsuit, school system Director James Pratt said the ministry rents school buses for transporting the students and some teachers act as chaperones but they must use a personal day to do so. Wow! What a story. As much as I suspect that intolerance happens very, very often in schools, this one is hard to believe. The teachers going along on the trip really bothers me too. They are supposed to act strictly as chaperones, but who can doubt that they wind up worshipping right along with the kids.

02-18-2003, 06:30 PM	#10
gilly54 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Almaden, California Posts: 917	Rufus, I just submitted an e-mail to Phil Donahue where I added the link to the newstory you provided. I entitled my e-mail: I thought the US was a SECULAR nation. I said that I think Christian fundamentalists are feeling emboldened by Bush's constant religious utterances. I also said that the teenager and her parents may not want to be in the national spotlight, but their plight should be brought to the attention of Congress and school administrations across this country.

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