First SpongeBob, Now Bullying-Prevention: Focus on the Family Attacks!

Generally....

the "Christian" viewpoint is not well supported when the person espousing it is yelling "faggot" as he strikes you about the face and neck, so I would think that FOTF would support any efforts to discourage bullying in schools.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

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by: Arvadonian @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 19:49:44 PM UTC

FoF Viewpoint Though

Throughout our country when that argument is brought up they and their ilk respond that by not allowing them to fulfill their version of religion teh gays are infringing on their religious right to be offended and teh gays are forcing them to be gay.

In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority. Edmund Burke

10/26/11 Colorado Ex-Pat; S/V Sisu Catalina 30

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by: Pam Bennett @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 20:15:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It's just one of several

James Dobson recommended "cure" regimens for homosexuality.

So...is Focus on the Family saying that it's okay to bully homosexuals?

As Dr. James might say, "this may hurt a little, but it's for your own good."

And, in the spirit of "true Christian love," be sure to pray for the person after you've flogged them.

Don't believe everything you think.

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by: Diogenesdemar @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 03:59:44 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Listen to the sly gay rhetoric! Listen!!

From the same article listed in the diary:

The national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network says it wants all students to be treated with respect regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or race, ability or national origin.

DAMN THEM AND THEIR...um...their..wait that sounds good.

The best way to combat bullying in schools is to educate kids that their bullied victims are just kids too.


It's a sad day when our politicians are comical and I have to take our comedians seriously.

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by: ScottP @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 20:35:29 PM UTC

What's next?

Pigmented skinned people are people too?

Muslim's are people too?

Democrats are people too?

This is serious, something must be done to stop this brainwashing!

Don't believe everything you think.

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by: Diogenesdemar @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 04:02:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

a bridge too far.

.
Couldn't you have stopped at Muslims ?
.

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by: Barron X @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 04:20:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm telling you Barron,

once we start down that slippery slope . . .

Don't believe everything you think.

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by: Diogenesdemar @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 15:34:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

FOTF is making a point

Rather you agree or not, look at it from their perspective. If their viewpoint is "bully-prevention" and they feel this "is being hijacked by activists," in this case, assume that to be as the article quotes by "National Gay Advocacy groups," while themselves being attacked and marginalized also, then we have a huge disconnect on both sides.

So, should any advocacy group be allowed to comment on public school "bullying?" Of course they should, but lets be clear.

"Be careful what you wish for."

Any policy, (this is me talking ok) has to be clear that no one has a right to attack (notice the word) another student because of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual preferences, religious beliefs or (my thoughts) any other distinguishing characteristic......

I have found that labeling groups (or persons) is what constructs stereotyping which leads to discrimination.

I remember when President Clinton enacted, "Don't Ask Don't Tell." This was an example of when labeling goes bad, be careful what you wish for.

For me, I guess it was because I was a minority, hmmm, Japanese after WWII not a pleasant thing, oh I was short, oh I wore "coke bottles," or "oh I had a squeaky voice." See, these are the things that kids "Focus" on. Don't create more for them.

The differences, thats it, and for me, its better not to hijack the differences, as thats not what it should really be about.

At what point do we bring back the "common sense" on both sides of this argument?

Would you want an Sayyid Qutb radical Islamic advocate arguing that tolerance should be given to the radical Muslims in your schools?

For me, the greatest intrusion is not FOTF, its our government intruding and making those distinctions. It would be better to embrace all religions and ways of live, accept them rather than label everyone who is different (labeled as such).

As, you said, the "hate" is the same, no matter who its directed out, and in schools, that person, because of the importance of group acceptance, group think and pressures the results can be deadly and tragic.

So, for me, tolerance and examining what both are saying would be the better way then create more divisions.

Charley Miller

Unaffiliated

charleymiller2010

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by: charleymiller2010 @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 20:50:01 PM UTC

Charley...

... I'm not sure that bullies need any outside groups to tell them to pick on gay kids.

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP

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by: Aristotle @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 21:00:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agree

They will just as pick on the guy with the funny look or the girl for that matter, regardless.

But, my point is the outside intrusion, whether government or not. FOTF or Gay Advocacy groups, hey, but then who am I to say, I haven't been to a PTA meeting for awhile.

How are those going? All I know is Gov. Ritter solution, and most Counties is to let the best teachers go. But thats budgetary, hmpft.

Charley Miller

Unaffiliated

charleymiller2010

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by: charleymiller2010 @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 21:44:29 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

don't drink and post.

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by: MADCO @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 02:25:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Comparing gays to radical Islamic terrorists

Makes perfect sense to me!

In fact, while keeping our young Christian boys pure by denying them the opportunity to watch Spongebob, we should force-feed those Islamic terror babies hefty doses of Spongebob, so they'll become harmless effete liberals.

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

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by: Half Glass Full @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 05:12:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's so white of them

People shouldn't be such dicks about this subject.  I'll bet those Jerry's Kids in the schools don't want us to point out their disabilities either.  That political correctness is just so ... so ... straight.

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by: dmindgo @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 20:53:41 PM UTC

"As far as we can tell anti-bullying messaging has always been about stopping bullying in schools period "

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FOTF says that they have looked into it, and their research has revealed a tendency of national gay advocacy groups to use bullying-prevention initiatives to portray homosexuality as normal.  I take them at their word.  

R U saying that they are wrong on that point ?   Or that you feel that they would be found to be wrong on that point, if anybody bothered to check ?

I would not say that being homosexual is "a choice," but it is my impression that it is to a great extent a learned behavior.  My friend from Arvada might say that it is something a person is born with.  We disagree, and neither of us has solid science backing up our point of view.  

I think Focus is with me, thinking that it is mostly learned, and doesn't want it taught.  Focus does not object to bullying-prevention initiatives at public schools in general; they only object to them being used to promote homosexuality as normal.  If the initiatives were neutral on this issue, they would still benefit students who identified as not hetero/ normal, wouldn't they ?
.

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by: Barron X @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 20:58:30 PM UTC

Your impression is wrong.

There are mountains of evidence that children are born gay, and virtually none that they "learn" it anywhere. You're free to try to make a case otherwise, but if you can't, then I'm not sure you're making a contribution to the discussion.

"Thank you for putting your rank political motives on display." - ArapaGOP

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by: Aristotle @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 21:02:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What is school for?

Learning, eh?

The point of anti-bullying work in the schools is to make a safe environment.  There are studies showing that students do better in a safe environment over one that tolerates bullying.  I for one wish to see my tax dollars efficiently spent.  Overlooking bullying is a ticket to a reduction in learning.  It's counterproductive.

I've worked on bringing anti-bullying programs into our schools.  I have yet to see anyone or anything that pushes any agenda besides safe schools.

That FotF feels it's going on is not very scientific.  Going along with them on this is being played.  As GW Bush would say, "Fool me once, shame on me.  Fool me twice, uh, won't get fooled again."

Also, so-called conservative Christians (who are definitely not Christian in my Bible), openly talk about homosexuality as warped and sinful.  Not only that, some have been known to call out the children of gays as unknowing or unwilling sinners, too.  That goes way beyond any line.  

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by: dmindgo @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 21:23:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My two cents:

You are correct, I believe that sexual orientation (hetero/homo/bi) is something that is innate...you are born with it.  No one "taught" me to be gay (well there was this one guy he didn't so much teach me to be gay as to perfect my technique....but I digress), and I doubt that you were taught to be straight.  

As to "promoting homosexuality as normal", it doesn't need to be promoted as "normal", it is, in fact, "normal" for a portion of the population.  Just as being left handed is normal for a portion of the population.   Many people may not be left handed, but that doesn't mean that it is abnormal to be left handed.  Further, it make as much sense to bully someone for being left handed as it does to bully someone for being gay.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining."  Glenn Beck  

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by: Arvadonian @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 21:44:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I see what's going on here now.

The booklet that Focus on the Family is so upset about, Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth, spends a lot of time saying why sexual orientation conversion therapy is wrong. Sexual orientation conversion therapy is very much encouraged by FotF.

The booklet even calls out FotF as the reason for the booklet:

In November 1998, Focus on the Family sponsored a conference near
Columbus, OH, with the goal of encouraging the promotion of "reparative
therapy" programs in public schools. Staff from the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight
Education Network (GLSEN) attended this event and were concerned about the
false and misleading information that had been presented.

I believe FotF's strategy is the "You can't say I'm wrong because I say you're wrong"-stragegy.  

It's a sad day when our politicians are comical and I have to take our comedians seriously.

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by: ScottP @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 21:48:31 PM UTC

helpful link.

.
I've read a few pages, and the booklet to me does not appear to promote homosexuality.  It appears to only deal with the issue of "restoration" therapy.  
I believe that FOTF is wrong this time.  

But as far as SpongeBob and Teletubbies, I've not yet rendered a verdict.
.

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by: Barron X @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 04:18:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

FOF WANTS bullys to beat upon children that do not

conform to a strict moral/sexual ethos.

this makes this blatantly clear.

"Fake but accurate!" ~GOPwarrior "infrastructure,whatever that is." ~bjwilson83 "You leftist DICK!" ~ Laughing Boy
See you at the polls you dumb bastard.~Libertad  

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by: Froward69 @ Mon Aug 30, 2010 at 22:55:57 PM UTC

It'll help keep the bullies from learning how to become gay. Thank God. n/t

Don't believe everything you think.

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by: Diogenesdemar @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 04:07:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Come on, ColoradoPols

Don't you know that the Bible says that bullying is wrong? Unless, of course, that person is different from you.

True story.

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by: Leonard Smalls @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 01:20:50 AM UTC

Spongebob is out. Teletubbies is out.

For crying out loud: What children's shows CAN my two little boys watch without being secretly converted into gays?

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

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by: Half Glass Full @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 05:08:19 AM UTC

This might be OK

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by: Leonard Smalls @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 05:29:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

This would also work

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by: Leonard Smalls @ Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 05:33:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]