International Falls Daily Journal - Welcoming Schools - Comments

I finally got a chance to

roj2000 — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:05:09 -0500

I finally got a chance to read the article Schmitty53 referenced us to. WOW, unbelieveable!! What ever happened to putting condoms on cucumbers in the 2nd grade?? Now the kids will be learning new acronyms such as "LGBT". In my youth, we had to learn disgusting ones, such as "LSMFT", [showing my age with Lucky Strike cigarettes]. Of course those nasty cigarettes were commonly called "fags", but then "that" word took on a new meaning. But in this day and age, the word has been put on the "axis of evil" list of bad/unusable words. So now we have acronyms instead of bad little words. So, they decided to give this "strange" program a trial run in metro-MSP! Why not San-Fran-Sicko, or Berkeley, LA, Seattle, or Boston? I would be willing to bet that these children would run into the "LGBT" sponsored children alot quicker in those cities, than in Metro MSP. Just when I thought the State of Minnesota was starting to turn a shade of "red", here comes some "blue state" members and diluting the mix!! I can't win!! I for one, would be one of the parents yanking my kid out of this "left leaning" experiment, and I'd be demanding it be sent back to California or wherever it came from. Yes, you Minnesota taxpayers, this is where your money is being spent. Let the bridges fall into the river, but don't let little Johnie be called a name, when he trips in his high-heels while trying to put on his makeup during recess!! PLEASE, someone, keep us up to date on the progress of this "experiment"!

This didn't go the way I

Schmitty53 — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:08:04 -0500

This didn't go the way I wished it had either, believe me. I guess I'll never know why the topic could not be discussed though. I feel a need to say that at no time did I call you a name. I know you are better than that. The words I used in response to a reply are no worse than using the terms Ilk or minions to describe people on another post at this site. I'm not sure where the belief in tolerance was shown either. Well, nothing lost or gained, no dreams shattered. We do agree about one thing, God Bless America.

Even when I don't agree with

Thomas L. Johnson — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:52:54 -0500

Even when I don't agree with his point, I agree with roj about 90% of the time because he knows how to disagree without needing to smack the nose of the person he is disagreeing with. Lord knows, we have disagreed about almost everything and I have complained about racism and he has countered with liberalism and it never quite feels as "creepy" as this whole discussion. And then I read another start-up on the DJ site about SNOB and realize where that inviting topic could head. So good luck with your ventures and God Bless America.

I wondered how long it would

roj2000 — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:49:53 -0500

I wondered how long it would be, before the "soul force campaign" would be interjected into this conversation!! I have a few comments I would like to interject concerning this subject, however, I am enjoying you guys roughing each other up!! Keep up the good work. It's interesting debate, for sure!

Words directed at a

Schmitty53 — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:18:27 -0500

Words directed at a response, not a person. You somehow have managed to turn this into a you and me thing while never addressing the topic. Which would be the children and and exercises they would be expected to preform under this program. If that's the direction our education system is heading then God help us all! Please address the topic, instead of the writer and I.

While I'm at it, I have worn my passions on my sleeve here more than likely because I didn't have the where with all to use my real name at a site such as this, and you have taken me to task for showing those passions in the past more than once. For me since I don't know you, your name might as well be Joe because if I don't know you, your name is nothing but another avatar here. Enough with the self back patting for having that where with all the rest of us didn't.

How about having the courage to address the children and those exercises they would be expected to do.

Better than a you? Some things can be conveniently pulled from thin air.

Creepy, shallow, hollow?

Thomas L. Johnson — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:05:57 -0500

Creepy, shallow, hollow? Getting fairly personal are we? And you've got me all figured out; I was starting to worry that nobody ever would since I make every attempt to shield my personal identity and opinions from the general public of this blog. If this is the best investigative reporter in the state then God help us all. But one thing we all know for certain now is this: you have a memory although you may be lacking some key ingredients in your complex formula of 2 + 2. In fact, I work for a fairly conservative organization that has one very strong core belief: tolerance of diversity. I happen to share that passion. I am not very convinced that Kersten is in the same boat and I believe we can ascertain by your name-calling that you aren't either. But then, you are hiding behind a stage wall that allows you to make your catcalls with absolute impunity. Congratulations on your courage and wisdom. I believe you are better than I am and I believe you need to know that.

It just came to me

Schmitty53 — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:18:59 -0500

It just came to me professor. My little head happens to have a very good memory, now it's all coming together. I remember you connecting Mr. Reitan to the "Soul Force Campaign" and yourself to working for a company that supported them. Now I have the real answer to your replies that I was never going to get from you. Sometimes when you put two and two together you get a professor. Now I know a lot more about you since one of "Your Passions" has finally come to light.

And on your thoughts about Katherine Kersten. She never brings any facts out to support her topic's does she? She happens to be the best investigative reporter in this state. I'm sure her employer told her she had a free hand and facts just aren't necessary. But now I can see why you think of her the way you do. Your replies look pretty shallow and hollow to me now.

What Katherine Kersten

Thomas L. Johnson — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:40:18 -0500

What Katherine Kersten almost invariably does is to take an idea that seems to have some merit and then trace that idea back to some sponsoring group and point out the most objectionable thing about that group because it saves her the need to consider the first point -- and the one I discussed --whether bullying takes place due to sexual orientation. What's creepy is that when she does this, she is almost always responding the way dictated by her connection to the erz-conservative Center for the American Way and its ideology of far right answers to all life's tough questions. [PS. I just did what she does -- on purpose] At the bottom of that ideology is fear, in this case the fear that families are being deceived by these evil educationists. I accept creepy as long as it is coming from a Katherine Kersten devotee.

WHAT??? I thought this was

Schmitty53 — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:58:37 -0500

WHAT??? I thought this was about the children. You know, the ones who's next capable decision might be the color of the next crayon. YES! YES! AND YES! I do agree with Katherine Kersten. Are you telling me you don't? Are you saying it's OK to deceive children at an age when they are incapable of making such a choice or decision? How many of the children in those schools have been raised by straight parents? Chances are good it's all of them, so are you saying all of their parents are wrong and have been wrong forever? In the end this had a lot more to do with a named group using deception to promote or even induct a lifestyle on to children without their knowledge and behind the backs of the parents of said children. Now I would say that's a few light years from an anti-bully campaign wouldn't you? To be honest, I found your reply somewhat creepy.

So Schmitty, are you

Thomas L. Johnson — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:08:20 -0500

So Schmitty, are you agreeing with KK? In the International Falls I grew up in, kids who were suspected of being "gay" [we had different words back then] were indeed the object of bullying. I now look back in horror at some of the things we said or thought or joked about. Katherine Kersten is living in the cosmoplitan environment of the Twin Cities where one is likely to see openly gay people at school, at church, on stage, at restaurants. But almost never on the football field, for instance, because it would not be safe.
In International Falls, does bullying occur? Does it ever involve sexual orientation? If the agenda of anti-bullying is to protect potential victims from violence and if those potential victims are often gays, then she done us all a favor by bringing up the subject -- but she might not agree with our conclusions.