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General discussion

A victory for diversity!

Dec 8, 2003 4:38AM PST

Well ... the "diversity proponents" might not think so.

Judge: 'Gay'-diversity week violated rights of Christian
Rules in favor of student whose religious views against homosexuality excluded from program


The case involved a federal lawsuit filed by the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm, on behalf of student Betsy Hansen, whose religious views against homosexuality were censored and excluded from the program held at Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School.

During the program, Pioneer High School officials prevented Hansen from expressing her Roman Catholic view on homosexuality at the "Homosexuality and Religion" panel, and they censored a speech she was asked to give on the topic, ''What Diversity Means to Me.''

School officials claimed Betsy's religious view toward homosexuality was a ''negative'' message and would ''water-down'' the ''positive'' religious message that they wanted to convey ? that homosexual behavior is not immoral or sinful.


I guess negative opinions only promote diversity when they are expressed by liberals. Where's the ACLU demanding Hansen's free speech rights here? {rhetorical question}

Anyway, I applaud the judge's ruling:
"This case presents the ironic, and unfortunate, paradox of a public high school celebrating 'diversity' by refusing to permit the presentation to students of an 'unwelcomed' viewpoint on the topic of homosexuality and religion, while actively promoting the competing view. This practice of 'one-way diversity,' unsettling in itself, was rendered still more troubling ? both constitutionally and ethically ? by the fact that the approved viewpoint was, in one manifestation, presented to students as religious doctrine by six clerics (some in full garb) quoting from religious scripture. In its other manifestation, it resulted in the censorship by school administrators of a student's speech about "what diversity means to me," removing that portion of the speech in which the student described the unapproved viewpoint.''


Evie Happy

Discussion is locked

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School officials start a religion.
Dec 8, 2003 6:33AM PST

'School officials ... religious message that they wanted to convey ? that homosexual behavior is not immoral or sinful.'

Well at least they are beginning to find a moral authority; themselves. Like many liberals, they've got both feet firmly planted in mid air.

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Too bad the judge will probably be overruled. (NT)
Dec 8, 2003 6:34AM PST

..

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Re: the judge will probably be overruled -- as well he should be
Dec 8, 2003 11:51AM PST

Hi, KP.

The logical extension of the judge's remarks would be to invite members of the Aryan Nation or American Nazi Party. BTw, my stance would be different if this weren't an official government-sanctioned forum -- hate speech is protected if it doesn't incite to action and isn't directed at individuals who don't want to hear it. But since there will presumably be members of the various hated minorities in attendance at the program, protecting the haters' rights infringes on those of the hated.
-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Hate? You must be kidding!
Dec 8, 2003 12:38PM PST

More demonizing Dave? Where could you possibly find hate in a student who wanted to express her religious opinion? ...or, is it only gays and liberals that can do that? Aryan Nation? American Nazi Party? Wow! The big guns. What is it about calling this activity sinful that drives you over the edge?

BTW, how did several clergymen get into a government-sanctioned forum? Is that a one way street also?

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Hate speech?
Dec 8, 2003 7:17PM PST

Gee, and here I thought you and I agreed that the way to counter hate speech is to allow it in some contexts and counter it with more speech. It would seem that a discussion forum/panel on Homosexuality and Religion would be the perfect place to present the official position and teachings of various faiths vis a vis homosexuality. Silly me. You know, the charge of homophobia -- meaning literally an irrational fear of homosexuals -- is thrown around rather liberally and applied to anyone who presents any argument against the practice. Seems the homophiles are truly heterophobic, because they fear any expression of beliefs counter to theirs because that might expose the lie that such people must necessarily be hate filled and intolerant. If the message is really like that, I would expect the audience response to be total rebuke -- just as if some true racist espoused his beliefs. So what would the harm in that be? If anything it would advance the cause. The thing is that there are compassionate, loving and rational people who have legitimate views on homosexuality, and whose religious beliefs contribute to those views, that do not embrace the gay agenda.

If you're going to recruit out-of-the-mainstream religious leaders to present their version of homosexuality and religion, I submit that not only should a single Catholic view be allowed, but true *diversity* is best served by presenting the mainstream beliefs of various religions proportionately to how they are held.

Evie Happy

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I must disagree
Dec 9, 2003 12:48AM PST

Assuming that the speech did not cross the line into incitement or hate speach this type of discussion must be allowed. It will be left to the school officials as to when the line is crossed, but the airing of differing views should not only be respected, but also rejoiced.

Dan