Muslims' fury forces schools to shelve anti-homophobia storybooks

[shadowrider]

From the article dated 4/2/08:

Bristol City Council said the two schools had been using the books to ensure they complied with gay rights laws which came into force last April.

They were intended to help prevent homophobic bullying, it said.

But the council has since removed the books from Easton Primary School and Bannerman Road Community School, both in Bristol.

A book and DVD titled That's a Family!, which teaches children about different family set-ups including gay or lesbian parents, has also been withdrawn.

The decision was made to enable the schools to "operate safely" after parents voiced their concerns at meetings.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=553008&in_page_id=1770

[tuvor]

1. Not just Muslims.

From your link: "two schools were 60 to 70 per cent Muslim but pointed out that non-Muslim parents were among those who complained."

[dbackjon]

2. Fuck'em all

Anyone, Christian or Muslim, can take their anti-gay hatred and go kill themselves. I am tired of this bullshit being tolerated in this country.

Enough is enough.

Equality for all. If you don't like it, move to a place where they don't even pretend to be for equality, like Zimbabwe or Saudi Arabia.

[Squatch]

3. ...

:thumbsup:

[BigDaddy44]

4. By "this country", I assume you mean England

Because thats where it happened

[TommyO]

5. The same crap happens here in the good ol' USA

I don't care which religious sect it comes from, giving in to fanatics needs to stop.

[tuvor]

7. By the same token...

...would have been nice of the Daily Mail not to single out one religious group in the headline.

[cliffordu]

18. Amen. Equality for everyone.

If their religion has no room for everyone, fuck them.

[TheWraith]

17. Nobody has a monopoly on the religious nutcake niche. nt

[Brigid]

6. Just how did it happen that . . .

religious fanatics, of one stripe or another, seem to think they can dictate what goes in in countries all over the world? And why do governments feel they have to appease them? If these people don't want to read certain books, they don't have to. If they don't want to have abortions, they don't have to. If they dn't want to be partners in gay relationships, they don't have to. They complain about being "bullied" or whatever, when they're the bullies. Whyis is it they can't just live their lives the way they want to and leave the rest of us alone?

[Toasterlad]

9. Because Religion Is, At Its Core, About Judgment.

With almost no exceptions, religious doctrine teaches believers that they are right and everyone else is wrong. That leads to self-righteousness, and judgment of everything and everyone "other".

[Brigid]

14. That's odd.

I've been a christian all my life, and I've never bought into that. I know plenty of others who feel the same way.

[Toasterlad]

15. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3107202

[Brigid]

16. Not all Christians are like this.

Not by a long shot. Don't let the right-wing fundies trick you into thinking that they're the only ones around. They're not.

[Toasterlad]

19. When the "Good" Christians Start Drowning Out the "Bad" Christians, I'll Change My Mind.

To be honest, I've read two articles just this week about clergy who were stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing. However, there are far more of them out there preaching intolerance and hate, and this is hardly a new thing. Religious doctrine has been the spark of more atrocities than any other single factor in history.

You and the people you know may be the "good" ones, but the cause you serve does much, much more to divide people than it does to unify them.

[Brigid]

20. Your hostility toward religion is duly noted.

But it's not going to change my mind about remaining a Christian. It's true that fanatacism has been responsible for much damage in the world. But it has also been a force for much good. The fanatics grab the headlines; those who work soup kitchens and food banks; run medical clinics, homeless shelters, and hundreds of other types of services I could name do not. All in all, I think I'll stay where I am, thank you very much.

[Toasterlad]

21. I Should Certainly HOPE Your Faith Is Strong Enough To Withstand a Poster on a Discussion Board.

I am anti-religion, but that doesn't mean I think you are a bad person just because you're a christian. If my generalization offends you, I'm sorry, but that's my perspective. I'm offended by many religious people and practices, but I don't find you, individually, offensive.

While it's true - VERY true - that the kooks and krazies make the news far more than the decent folk, I've met my share of those "decent folk" who'd be marching with Sally Kern by day, and maybe donning white sheets and carrying torches by night. Conversely, I've participated in dozens of charities, given my time and money to the poor and the less fortunate, to the victims of Katrina, and AIDS, and breast cancer. One doesn't need to believe in a higher being to do good, and doing good does not always mean that one is pure of heart.

Not trying to convert you, though. If religion works for you, great. Don't try to force it on me personally or legislatively and there'll be no trouble.

Edited for clarity.

[and-justice-for-all]

8. Ok, then they need to also include..

Childrens books on Atheism and Evolution.

[JackBeck]

10. That attitude is shared by the theosexuals in America.

Phyllis Schlafly and Fred Phelps would be proud.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

11. I guarantee you that if this story was about America...

None of you idiots would bring up the homophobia in England.




GAYS TRULY ARE A TURD CLASS.



I'm not counting on the left to truly take up for gay rights in my lifetime.



In the meantime, I'll always vote for the Dem nominee no matter what .

[LeftyMom]

12. The DVD mentioned is the one Dobson flipped out about years ago,

that led to his fatwa against Spongebob Squarepants.

Good to know we're still ahead of the rest of the world in something. Though I do wish it was something other than ignorant homophobic bullshit.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

13. This is a fact: people want to DEFLECT.

They want to make this about nationality or religion, rather than about FUCKING RIGHTS.



IT IS WRONG IN ANY COUNTRY OR ANY RELIGION.


QUIT DEFLECTING THE REAL ISSUE.