Edited 6-13-12 to correct and include more information on meetings
I've struggled trying to figure out how to write this opinion post. A week or so ago I became aware that several people in the PENNCREST school district community were in the midst of dealing with philosophical differences.
That's the nice way of putting it.
Hate is another way of putting it.
Narrow-minded, short-sighted, hypocritical, it's really none of your business, get a life and shut the fuck up is another way of putting it.
And I am holding back here.
Apparently a dude named Glenn Wright took a photo of a display at Maplewood High School's library where a handful of books about being gay or LGBTQ are presented on top of the book shelves. "I realize this makes me a hater, but I am totally ok with that label..." his post read.
Ok this is a dude has either a problem with gay people or a school's acceptance of information and willingness to actually provide those materials..... I'm not really sure. But at least he is ok with it.
There are narrow-minded people everywhere. Sadly I've grown accustomed to this being a norm.
But..... enter a couple school board members getting involved with this post.
David Valesky shared this post adding his own commentary. (Glenn is not on the school board, but David is, I want complete clarity in this).
David wrote that "Besides the point of being totally evil, this is not what we need to be teaching kids. They aren't at school to be brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is okay...."
WTF! Deep breath here Rich, Deep breath.
This is where I struggle to keep my cool. Who the hell is this David Valesky and what authority does he have to decide anything about what is or is not evil and how does that even come closets how one associates their gender? Really, who the hell does he think he is? Claiming it's not something we should be teaching our kids.... well for one, its a display in a library, and two, why the hell not? People are individuals with unique experiences and perspectives. Valesky has his own unique perspective and that is fine. But now he throws down a gauntlet as a member of a school board saying information is inappropriate. Mind boggling that he thinks he should be in a position to decide appropriate information when he appears to be spewing antiquated hate speech that is, in fact, in the bible he professes as THE word.
Mind boggling as well that he goes on to use the term brainwashed.
In The Titusville Herald a few days later he stood behind his remarks. I give him credit for standing behind his opinions..... but again I ask, who the hell does he think he is?
Another School board member Luigi DeFrancesco also shared Wright's post but did not offer further commentary. A third school board member, Bob Johnston, chimed in saying the matter of the display will be investigated.
These are grown men. I want to emphasize this point. And they are in a position to decide the actions of the school district. Before getting too deep into the hypocrisy of citing evil while speaking in a vile tongue, are they advocating for knowledge to be squelched here? Are these books teaching "pure evil?" Or are they giving acceptance to a marginalized group being oppressed by neanderthal thugs?
As I said before, I'm struggling to find words to address this feeling I have that we have a few members of a school board who think they are speaking for God. They are, in fact, speaking for a group of oppressors who have no justifiable reason to get involved in the lives of people they not only don't understand, but really don't have any claim to decide anything about the way they choose to live. The funny thing is at least one of these folks adamantly opposes interference of the government into his life.
Ah- ha moment?
No not likely.
I'm frustrated beyond belief here. This one school board member calling anyone other than his own post evil is beyond me. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!" And this assumes one could truly know sin, or what constitutes sin.
I read several comments on these posts and was appalled at how much piety laden hypocrisy there truly was and beyond that, how much self-proclaimed scholars of the bible there are.
The truth is, knowledge is power. We need to read books that challenge us and we need to discuss viewpoints unfamiliar to ourselves. And we need authors sharing what it is like to be marginalized so someday, perhaps, we'll be better humans.
I guess until then, campaign against oppressors and vote.
That's the nice way of putting it.
Hate is another way of putting it.
Narrow-minded, short-sighted, hypocritical, it's really none of your business, get a life and shut the fuck up is another way of putting it.
And I am holding back here.
Apparently a dude named Glenn Wright took a photo of a display at Maplewood High School's library where a handful of books about being gay or LGBTQ are presented on top of the book shelves. "I realize this makes me a hater, but I am totally ok with that label..." his post read.
Ok this is a dude has either a problem with gay people or a school's acceptance of information and willingness to actually provide those materials..... I'm not really sure. But at least he is ok with it.
There are narrow-minded people everywhere. Sadly I've grown accustomed to this being a norm.
But..... enter a couple school board members getting involved with this post.
David Valesky shared this post adding his own commentary. (Glenn is not on the school board, but David is, I want complete clarity in this).
David wrote that "Besides the point of being totally evil, this is not what we need to be teaching kids. They aren't at school to be brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is okay...."
WTF! Deep breath here Rich, Deep breath.
This is where I struggle to keep my cool. Who the hell is this David Valesky and what authority does he have to decide anything about what is or is not evil and how does that even come closets how one associates their gender? Really, who the hell does he think he is? Claiming it's not something we should be teaching our kids.... well for one, its a display in a library, and two, why the hell not? People are individuals with unique experiences and perspectives. Valesky has his own unique perspective and that is fine. But now he throws down a gauntlet as a member of a school board saying information is inappropriate. Mind boggling that he thinks he should be in a position to decide appropriate information when he appears to be spewing antiquated hate speech that is, in fact, in the bible he professes as THE word.
Mind boggling as well that he goes on to use the term brainwashed.
In The Titusville Herald a few days later he stood behind his remarks. I give him credit for standing behind his opinions..... but again I ask, who the hell does he think he is?
Another School board member Luigi DeFrancesco also shared Wright's post but did not offer further commentary. A third school board member, Bob Johnston, chimed in saying the matter of the display will be investigated.
These are grown men. I want to emphasize this point. And they are in a position to decide the actions of the school district. Before getting too deep into the hypocrisy of citing evil while speaking in a vile tongue, are they advocating for knowledge to be squelched here? Are these books teaching "pure evil?" Or are they giving acceptance to a marginalized group being oppressed by neanderthal thugs?
As I said before, I'm struggling to find words to address this feeling I have that we have a few members of a school board who think they are speaking for God. They are, in fact, speaking for a group of oppressors who have no justifiable reason to get involved in the lives of people they not only don't understand, but really don't have any claim to decide anything about the way they choose to live. The funny thing is at least one of these folks adamantly opposes interference of the government into his life.
Ah- ha moment?
No not likely.
I'm frustrated beyond belief here. This one school board member calling anyone other than his own post evil is beyond me. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!" And this assumes one could truly know sin, or what constitutes sin.
I read several comments on these posts and was appalled at how much piety laden hypocrisy there truly was and beyond that, how much self-proclaimed scholars of the bible there are.
The truth is, knowledge is power. We need to read books that challenge us and we need to discuss viewpoints unfamiliar to ourselves. And we need authors sharing what it is like to be marginalized so someday, perhaps, we'll be better humans.
I guess until then, campaign against oppressors and vote.
 |  |
Last weekend the photo on the left appeared on Facebook. A few hours I drove out to the school and this is what I saw on the right. I don't have any knowledge of the origin of each, but I found it interesting none-the-less.
The article in the Titusville Herald had a few interesting points. One Valesky stood his ground. We now know exactly where he stands. Defrancesca thought the story should be about how cell phone photos on the internet have a way to get out of control. Really? That's the story here?
Mind boggling.
The next PENNCREST School board meetings are a work session on June 14 at 7 p.m. and and board meeting on June 16 at the same time. People wishing to address the board must request a spot with the school board secretary by Monday. The meetings have been moved to the high school auditorium because of the larger than usual expected turn out.
Many members of the public supporting the LGBTQ community are organizing to have many voices present. I'm guessing there could also be supporters of Valesky's brand of Christianity present too.
I still cannot believe, in this day and age, we are forced to still deal with this level of bigotry veiled in christianity. It is mind boggling!
The article in the Titusville Herald had a few interesting points. One Valesky stood his ground. We now know exactly where he stands. Defrancesca thought the story should be about how cell phone photos on the internet have a way to get out of control. Really? That's the story here?
Mind boggling.
The next PENNCREST School board meetings are a work session on June 14 at 7 p.m. and and board meeting on June 16 at the same time. People wishing to address the board must request a spot with the school board secretary by Monday. The meetings have been moved to the high school auditorium because of the larger than usual expected turn out.
Many members of the public supporting the LGBTQ community are organizing to have many voices present. I'm guessing there could also be supporters of Valesky's brand of Christianity present too.
I still cannot believe, in this day and age, we are forced to still deal with this level of bigotry veiled in christianity. It is mind boggling!
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