Posted by Andy [65.123.82.82 - ] on 19 July 2002 at 20.45.29 ZuluTime:

In Reply to: With liberty and justice for none.... posted by Hunter on 19 July 2002 at 19.58.09 ZuluTime:

What other problems are in schools? I heard some statistic quoted about how many schools are failing. Students are now encouraged to put more emphasis on their extra-curricular sports and other activities than their studies. Yes, there has always been violence in schools. No, there shouldn't be violence in schools. These two statements are true and should be working together, not used against each other. I recall a statement on this website about how Columbine was brought up only because it is a middle-class white school and if it were a school from the ghetto, it would be ignored as are the rest of the incidents. Why are the ghetto schools ignored? Because the students, teachers, and community are jaded.

In regards to the reference to God in the pledge, it may have been intended as the Christian God, but it is not necessarily so. God could refer to a great number of deities or non-deities. The biggest problem I have with the pledge is, if we are going to have our pledge to our country state that we are under God, shouldn't we be acting like we are under God? Since we are not behaving in this manner, one of two things should happen.
     1. Remove God from the pledge
     2. Start acting like there is a God. (this is my preferred action)

I am not sure how wrong it is for a country to have an official religion. I do know that it is wrong to force that religion on everyone.

I wonder, what were the violence rates before 1962? If someone could show me that there hasn't been a great increase since then, i will re-evaluate my stance.

I think the government has taken the seperation of church and state a little too far. Everyone is a little too touchy on the subject. Why is someone offended when they are required to sit through a prayer? I wouldn't be offended if I were having to sit through a hindu ceremony, or a native american ceremony. I might feel it a waste of time, but in the classroom time belongs to the teacher. If the teacher wants to pray before starting, and can still get in the required amount of material fine. Just because someone says, I believe in God, and I'm going to talk to him now, doesn't mean that you, not believing in a god shouldn't let that person talk to their God.

This reminds me of the movie Harvey. When Elwood was always so drunk, but also the most pleasant man anybody ever met. Everyone ran when they heard he had a 6' 3 1/2" bunny as a companion. The truth of the matter was that his sister was the crazy one. Even though Harvey left notes, showed himself to some people, nobody would believe in his existence and were so offended by Elwood's insistence in him believing, they tried to medicate him, which would have greatly altered his personality.

My final point is that everyone in America, perhaps the world for that matter, believes that they are the most important person. Sure, they might admit that President Bush is more important, but they feel that he shouldn't be.