Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

1168.0. "Rumors of Persecution" by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE (Ps. 85.10) Sat Oct 21 1995 23:32

"Why's everybody always picking on me?!" -- from the song "Charlie Brown."

              --------------------------------------------------

by John Young, editorial page editor,
Waco Tribune-Herald

	There are alligators in the sewers.  And down there you also might
find Ashley Pollack's lunch boxes.  And if you happen to see Ashley, tell
her some school officials would love to meet her.
	In recent months Ashley and the Millcreek Township school district in
suburban Erie, Pa., were held up as an example of how public schools trample
on religious freedoms.
	The story, passed on by syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, was that the
fourth grader had purchased and given to two classmates new lunch boxes with the
note "God love you in Christ."  The story goes that the girl was reprimanded by
her teacher, told, according to Thomas, "she must not write or even speak about
religion in school."
	It would be an abomination if true.  The true abomination is that it's
a lie.
	A district spokesperson, interviewed by phone, says Ashley Pollack
doesn't exist.  Or, if real, Ashley never attended Millcreek schools.

[The piece goes on to expose several other hoaxes concocted to demonstrate
how public schools are trying to crush religious liberties, and closes with:]

	A press release from the office of state Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston,
proclaims, "Prayer is back in our schools." (Silent, voluntary prayer was
never out of our schools).  It also reads. "A number of people have been
reprimanded, suspended and even fired because of their beliefs and
participation relating to prayer in our schools."
	When asked on the phone to enumerate, Edwards could cite only one
example: Waco teacher Linda Thrasher, fired after repeated warnings for
clearly and zealously promoting her religion in class....
	And so the hoaxsters go merrily on their way.  They make the public
schools the bad guys, anti-God and anti-good, for making the tough calls
that come with accommodating a nation of many faiths.
	Should we beware of our school system, or should we beware, as
Matthew advises, of false prophets?

.0> "Why's everybody always picking on me?!" 


perhaps believing this is a lot easier than being self-critical?





good night friend. 


andreas.

re Note 1168.0 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE:

> 	And so the hoaxsters go merrily on their way.  They make the public
> schools the bad guys, anti-God and anti-good, for making the tough calls
> that come with accommodating a nation of many faiths.

        Have you noticed that lately, instead of saying the
        traditional phrase "public schools", more and more people are
        saying "government schools" (always in a critical context)?

> 	Should we beware of our school system, or should we beware, as
> Matthew advises, of false prophets?

        Notice how the dissemination of misinformation is supported
        by the constant drumbeat that "you can't trust the media"
        (except ours, of course)"?


        Certain parties in this country have done quite well of late
        as a result of repeating certain mantras for 40 years (since
        they had nothing more to offer).  Among those mantras were
        "government is bad" and "you can't trust the media".  It will
        be interesting to see how much democratic civilization is
        damaged after so much cynicism is sowed.

        Bob

    I guess you have to experience it before you stop belittling it.

    	I guess the court cases about kids/parents/teachers not being
    	allowed to express their faith were rumors too.
    
    	There is a whole sub-industry in the legal profession that
    	addresses this.  They are all rumors too.

.3

>    I guess you have to experience it before you stop belittling it.

Experience what?  Persecution for my Christian witness?

Do you think I haven't?

Richard

    Probably not in a public school going by your posts in this topic. 

>    Probably not in a public school going by your posts in this topic.

That much is true (at least, so far).

Richard