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From: debray@sbcs.UUCP (Saumya Debray)
Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics
Subject: Re: secular humanism banned in schools
Message-ID: <465@sbcs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Sep-85 20:18:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: sbcs.465
Posted: Tue Sep 24 20:18:12 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Sep-85 06:34:19 EDT
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Organization: Computer Science Dept, SUNY@Stony Brook
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Xref: linus net.flame:11116 net.politics:10467

Dave Bottom (dec-katadn!bottom):
> Anyone who proposes that "christians" have more influence on what is 
> taught in our schools should remember that the Catholics (until the mid 
> 70's) used to beat left handed children and force them to write right 
> handed.

By the phrase "the Catholics" do you mean "all Catholics" (in which case I
must question your perception of reality), or are you just getting carried
away by your rhetoric?

> These are two very good examples of how "rational" and caring our 
> "christian" brothers are. They are also two good examples of why these 
> people should be prevented from exercising their influence on the 
> educational process to the exclusion of other more level headed 
> approaches.

Oh, be reasonable!  I'm a secular humanist myself, but some of the most
admirable and selfless people I've known have been Christian missionaries.
While I find most of the tenets of fundamentalist religion (be it
Christianity, a la Falwell, or Islam, a la Khomeini) deeply disturbing, I
can't see how you can possibly generalize this to apply to _all_ Christians.
Don't you think you're being a little bigoted about your secular humanism?

No, I'm not saying that creationism should be taught in schools instead of
evolution.  I'm not saying that we should give in to the demands of
fundamentalists.  What I _am_ saying is that, if you have reasons to oppose
specific ideas and actions (of any group), then give your views in a
reasonable debate.  Uncalled-for generalizations and name-calling serve no
useful purpose.
-- 
Saumya Debray
SUNY at Stony Brook

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