Another press release from crazyland. Someone's got to tell Christian Communication Network's 'Christian Newswire' to get an RSS feed - I'd check it every day just to keep track of the nutjobs.
"COLUMBIA, SC, April 24 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Last June the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention approved a version of a resolution submitted by Dr. Voddie Baucham and Bruce Shortt that, among other things, warned parents of collaboration by public school districts with homosexual activists and urged parents and churches to investigate their local school districts. The Baucham-Shortt resolution was endorsed by over 60 conservative grassroots organizations, including many state chapters of the American Family Association, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum, and Focus on the Family.
"Following the adoption of the resolution by the SBC, Linda Harvey of Mission America developed a survey instrument known as the “Risk Audit” to assist Christian organizations, churches and parents in determining whether their local school districts are placing children at risk by having clubs, programs, policies, or curricula that could influence children to regard homosexual behavior as an acceptable lifestyle. "
Then it just goes on to list and quote all the people who think this 'risk audit' is a great thing. So I went over to MissionAmerica.com to check this thing out. Their page title's a little long; 'Mission:America - Learn the Truth about Homosexuality, Witchcraft, Changing Christian Church, Radical Feminism, and the Youth Culture'. They should probably just change it to 'We Hate Everybody'.
There's a lot about why homosexuality's evil - although you'd think that anyone open to that argument would already know all of this stuff. Predictably, not a lot of it is accurate. They warn it 'substantially increases the likelihood of smoking, having mental health disorders (other than same-sex attraction), being the victim of “domestic” violence, and being involved in alcohol and drug abuse.' First off, homosexuality isn't a disorder, so the qualifier isn't needed. And being gay makes you smoke? I'd like to know how that works.
But the real fun's in the 'audit' itself. It's basically a checklist of things to be on the look out for. The very first one is asinine; 'An anti-harassment, anti-bullying or “safe schools” policy that includes the category “sexual orientation”'. That's just great, let's not protect kids from bullies. Very christian.
Another is, 'Requirements for teacher/ staff training on “diversity,” “tolerance,” “sensitivity”'. One I like is 'Local or state laws: There may be local or state laws that determine or influence what is taught at the school level. Some states have public school “non-discrimination” laws that include “sexual orientation” and also in some cases, “gender identity.” At present, those we know about are: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin.' By their logic, being from Wisconsin makes you more likely to be gay.
In fact, this one kind of kills their whole argument - most of these states don't have higher percentages of gays than other states. So the idea that being tolerant of gays makes you more likely to 'turn' gay is shot to hell. Of course, this flies right over their heads as they go on.
'Federal grants for “safe sex,” “safe schools,” “tolerance,” or “anti-bias” programs may be the funding sources of pro-homosexual lessons in your school district.' That's right, your school has to turn down federal funding.
Other evils are 'Programs on tolerance, diversity, “hate” or “bias”' and 'Political Science/ History/Civics classes on current issues'.
Now, it may seem like this is just ranting from the lunatic fringe, but it's endorsed by mainstream conservative groups like Concerned Women for America, American Family Association, and the Family Research Council. Looking at the current party in power, it looks like the lunatic fringe is running the asylum.
November can't come soon enough.
--Wisco
