pinga can you post your ask pinga site again? Thanks

crazyheart, what do you mean?

There was a link you posted on a thread and I clicked on it and went to the site.

You mean this one, Crazy? http://pingadohtor.wordpress.com/

or do you mean the one for the CBC article above?

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/10/10/gay-author-schools.html

From the article:

Some principals felt their schools were just “not ready” for the kind of presentation that Sanchez will give, he said.

Hello?  What's the point of education?  Isn't it to be challenged?

This is unreal.  I can't believe this would happen in Canada.  I am disappointed.

I totally agree Chocolate.  I am quite disappointed in the principals.

I am frustrated I can't get the search feature to work, I wanted to go back & grab some of the wonderful writing of others, with their wisdom, and pull it , with reference, into the threads on cbc.

well, off I go, to at least bump up those who have done so...ie, named homophobia

Madmonk posted! yeah in response.

Pinga has as well.

I encourage others from this site to do the same...yes, I am drumming up business, but, I can't help but think of youth in NB.

ok, last time i checked the tide had shifted.

and, i think the moderator removed some psots...thank goodness.

I read this article earlier today in disgust and was extremely disappointed that this kind of crap is still going on.  Why do we (aka Canadians) let homophobia still have such power?  We consider ourselves to be so much more open minded than Americans, but are we really?

Hopefully some churches/activist groups will be able to respond with some counter-pressure on the school board in question.  They might not be able to get Sanchez to speak at the school this time, but maybe they can make it known that the electorate will not tolerate this kind of prejudice.

I would like to see the students speak up as well.  Will they allow the board to make decisions like these without input?  If the board wants to hide behind the reasoning that "they're not ready", maybe student groups can show that the board is underestimating them.

My congratulations to Rev Bob Johnson of Wesley UC in St Andrew's NB for opening his church for the Sanchez lecture. So proud of you. Bob is also the president-elect of Maritime Conference. Our church has come such a long way. Thanks be to God.

yes, thanks bellringer. I meant to look up the church.  blessings on them.

please keep us posted on how it goes.

wow... makes me SO PROUD to be UCC!!!

Yep.  Me too.

That is something you'd expect to hear of in the Southern States, not in Canada. It's really sad.

It's being fought, but in the meantime,  the author is going to speak in a local UCC

It is yet another sign of accepting marginalization in public institutions.

Perhaps this exists only in my imagination, but I believe there was a time within  the halls of government and public schools, the officials in charge of those institutions, were responsible for the protection of the minority from the majority.

This appears to have been lost.  I do not hold the parents who objected responsible - all of us posses our own prejudices - but leaders should be able to set those aside and recognize that all are equal even those one disagrees with. 

Silencing the voices of the minority does not make them disappear but it does cause harm.  It allows for the proliferation of misinformation, alienation, anger and pain.  It creates a world of us against them.

Most people follow in their leaders footsteps.  The students of those schools will note the leadership of the principals, they will believe that either it is acceptable to silence others or unsafe to express differences.  Neither is conducive to growth.

LB

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

As a resident and student of the District where this issue has happened, I have a strong opinion about it.

First of all, to invite someone to come to speak at schools in the District, and then to uninvite them is just plain rude. There are teens in NB who would benefit from the speaker, whether or whether not they are gay. My one concern about having the presentation outside of school is that teens who actually attend might be stereotyped by their peers.

Second, deciding to cancel a presentation because a few parents disagreed is a terrible choice to make. Why wasn't the presentation made optional, and teens who disagreed (because it shouldn't be the parents' descision) could opt out. That way, the children who would benefit most would be at the presentation.

The third point I would like to make is that the media made it sound like the whole of District Ten had feelings against the presentation. That is not so. Alex Sanchez was originally only going to two high schools: one in St. Stephen, and one in St. George. He is now going to give a presentation in St. Andrews, which he wasn't going to before. Sir James Dunn Academy in St. Andrews is known as an especially accepting school, and I'm sure Mr. Sanchez would have been welcome to speak there if there had been that option. Please make sure that you don't stereotype everyone in the district because of a few people's actions.

I thank Rev Bob Johnson for inviting Alex Sanchez to come speak at Wesley United Church so the opportunity has not been wasted.

I appreciated reading your thoughtful comments clupea - thanks for your input.

THANKS for that, clupea... much appreciated.

you're welcome :-)

Greetings!

I also thank you, clupea123 for posting as a resident and student what you did.

I read the article pinga referred to, and what caught my eye was . . .

"spokesman for the Charlotte County Rainbow Support Group, said Sanchez is a terrific public speaker whose message is about tolerance."

I think tolerance is an important message, and all our youth, and adults too, could stand to learn something about tolerance.  I hope many took the opportunity to go to hear the speaker at Wesley United.  Can someone there update us on what the presentation contained?

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

 we all seem to forget the adage: love the sinner, hate the sin. 

The bible clearly states agains homosexuality. But we all fall short of the glory of God too, don't we? Who are we to judge them?  Teaching tolerance is a good thing.

actually, trishcuit,  I would disagree re the bible interpretation that you have.

To me, it is not a question of tolerance, rather, as Christians we are called to recognize injustice and actively work to seek a better world.

For this reason, let me be clear...I do not consider homosexuality a sin. I do not believe the bible clearly states anything about homosexuality. I do believe Christians have mis-read the bible on many topics including homosexuality...and misunderstandings continue to circulate by those who preach hate as well as those who are just naive or ignorant .

Teaching tolerance is not acceptable...and it isn't even a decent start, as to teach tolerance implies "wrongness" or a lesser person.

Teaching should be about teaching love and acceptance and celebration .

Hey there everyone, I know I am very new to this site and just came across it today but I found it very interesting and decide to join.

I am originally from New Brunswick myself and now live in Toronto. This article goes to show what the gay youth in NB go through every day. I was a closeted kid all though high school just for the fact that I would of been ridiculed by the others just for being what they call "different" I understand what the board is saying when they think they are not ready for this but being a kid that grew up in the area this would be the best way to educate the kids out there that the gay community is nothing different than them and that we are not mean or malicious people. They seem to have in their mind that its sooooo wrong to be gay but yet who I fall in love or sleep or whatever is none of their concerns. I moved to Toronto for the simple fact that it’s a accepted lifestyle here and no one cares unlike the maritime provinces. I am not saying that everyone is close minded but for the most part they are.

That’s just my 2 cents and take it for what it’s worth...

Welcome to Wondercafe Richi and for contributing a well thought out response.

LB

Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.    Rene Dubos

Another welcome to Richi - I appreciated your thoughtful comments from your personal experience and perspective.

And Pinga I agree - I do not use the word tolerance. For me it does not suggest the openness and inclusivity that the word acceptance does.

 I stand corrected. 'acceptance' is a much better posture to have. Thank you.