TOWARD AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES...
Dr. Bob Greene
March 5, 19971. SPEAKER GUIDELINES
"The Escambia County School District is establishing written guidelines for guest speakers in its schools. Each guest will be asked to sign an agreement before speaking. The terms are:
A legitimate and reasonable connection between the adopted curriculum and the guest's presentation must be established.
With the exception of school sponsored fund-raising events, promotion of a business, distribution of advertising or collection of students' names, addresses or phone numbers is prohibited.
The religious viewpoint of all students must be respected. ADVOCATING A PARTICULAR POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINT or alternative lifestyle is not permitted.
MATERIALS/PRESENTATIONS MUST BE FREE OF RACIAL, CULTURAL, ETHNIC AND RELIGIUS BIAS, JUDGMENTAL BELIEFS SHOULD NOT BE EXPRESSED.
Information must be accurate.
Appropriate attire, language and behavior are required.
School officials have the right and responsibility to interrupt the presentation with a warning and/or to stop the presentation for any violation of the agreement.
(PNJ article, Nov.'96)A. Perspective
1. UN-AMERICAN. Our founding fathers fought for, and established for us a country free from restrictions on faith and expressions of faith.
2. UNCONSTITUTIONAL. The first amendment of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech. The "Establishment Clause" ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof') of the first amendment guarantees that no governmental agency can interfere with the expression of one's faith.
3. UNFAIRLY APPLIED. It is very strange that upon the first public opportunity to make a judgment call on the use of "speaker guidelines," Muhammad Ali was not required to sign them. Mr. May maintains that the function at the Civic Center was a field trip, not a classroom activity, and thus did not fall under the requirements of the guidelines. Mr. May has offered to allow students to attend another function, one with a Christian speaker. This calls into question the need for speaker guidelines. The point is, we are at the mercy of the person or group who write the rules, and enforce the rules. I would rather see no guidelines, than these.
4. UNCERTAIN FUTURE. In their February meeting, the School Board agreed to take up this question of speaker guidelines. I understand that some time at the March meeting will be given to discussion of this issue and that a decision will be made at the April meeting.
B. Questions Which Need To Be Answered
1. Have the present guidelines been examined as to the question of legality and constitutionality? Which legal authorities have been consulted? What conclusions were drawn? Have guidelines such as these been challenged in court? What was the outcome?
2. If the guidelines do not apply to "field trips," then what, if any, topics or subjects would be out ofline for our students? Who would make the judgment call on such a field trip? How could parents be sure their children, on a field trip, would not have their faith belittled and be indoctrinated with a false religion -- one blessed by the Superintendent?
3. THE ALI RALLY / COMMENTS BY THOMAS HAUSER
A. Perspective
1. The video tape of the entire rally is available for viewing. I am told that the Blab TV version has been edited to omit the most offensive of Mr. Hauser's comments. Channel 50 on Cox Cable showed the unedited version. Although the quality is less than the best, it is a report ofwhat actually was said.
2. Mr. May, in explaining why the rally was important for the students, said: "Prejudice and tolerance are truly not something with which you are born. They are something that you learn. And tragically, and I do mean tragically, it's something that you are taught. And who does that teaching? The people who do that teaching are the people who are responsible for your upbringing and your care."
Mr. May plainly was slamming both parents and churches for instilling prejudice in our children. But not to worry, the rally was meant to straighten us all out.
3. Mr. Hauser began his talk with the quote by Ali that he (Ali) does not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He went on to preach a message of universalism: all gods are the same god, and all roads lead to heaven. All one must do is be sincere in his belief, and he will receive God's blessing. His talk was very offensive to me. I encourage you to watch the video and draw your own conclusions.
4. Mr. May concluded the program with a quote which said: (my paraphrase) "You now have enough religion to hate, will you get enough religion to love?"
B. Questions Which Need To Be Answered
When did the School System of Escambia County adopt the doctrinal view of universalism? (This entire program was plainly endorsed by Mr. Jim May. He was one of the preachers of this view. He was singled out for commendation for standing up against some nonspecific group who opposed the rally). Since this is now our District's official religion, then is the Superintendent prepared for the legal action which may follow this clearly unconstitutional action? What place will Christians have in this new "tolerant" world? Why is it permissible to preach universalism, when Christianity cannot be preached to our students?
3. DISTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK "HEALING"
A. Perspective
1. Since Bibles are not distributed in the public schools (it is not done in this county under threat of a lawsuit), it is questionable why Mr. May was so insistent on distributing this book, which is a primer on the religion of universalism. Although Mr. May and I disagree on whether the book is a religious book, you decide for yourself.
"My mother was a Baptist. She believed Jesus was the Son of God, and I don't believe that.
. . If you're a good Muslim, if you're a good Chrisian if you're a good Jew: it doesn 't matter what religion you are, if you're a good person you'll receive God's blessing" (Healing p. 3).
"Confront the bigots. Shun their message. . . . For example, don't say, 'This is my religion, so it's the only one that's good.' Say, 'I'm glad you like your religion; I like mine too" (Healing P. 10).
"The great monotheistic religions of the world all worship the same God. They just call Him by different names" (Healing P. 9).
"All people serve the same God. We just serve him in different ways" (Healing, p. 32).
2. Not only is this book being distributed to high school students who bring in a parental permission slip, but it is also being placed in every school library (even elementary schools!) in our county. The Blab TV version of the video tape is also being placed in the libraries.
3. Copies of the book were made available to art classes prior to the Ali rally, and posters based on the book were judged for prizes given at the rally. Teachers were also encouraged to develop class projects around the concepts in the book.
B. Questions Which Need To Be Answered
Why has there been such a push to distribute these books? Why has Mr. May so completely resisted every effort to show him the religious nature of this book? Is the District prepared to defend its actions in promoting this book, since this appears to be in conflict with the first amendment protection of citizens from government establishing a religion? Is the District open to the placing of other religious texts in school libraries?
SUMMARY
George Washington said, "It is impossible to govern rightly without God and the Bible."
William Penn said, "Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world . . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
If men and women of conviction will rise with purpose, speak the truth in love, and become engaged in the battle for America's soul -- in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, we may see meaningful change take place. But we must begin now.
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