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Not in Our Schools

THURSDAY JANUARY 11 2007 11:00 PM

Submitted by johnnyfu. Edited By erin_broadley.

TAGS: Schools, Christians

It’s been a while since I’ve been in school, but here’s what I remember of it: school pretty much sucks. Most of the time there’s some teacher all bah-blah-blabity blah about calculus or some shit, and when they do break with the program, it’s for something else just as boring. If I had the chance to watch a critically acclaimed documentary film or practice some semi-trendy deep breathing exercise, I would have been three shades of psyched.

But, judging from two news stories this week, some spoil-sport Christian parent would have ruined it for everybody.

A school board in Washington has put the kibosh on students watching Al Gore’s global warming documentary An Inconvenient Truth because of a complaint from a God fearing parent. Apparently, father of seven Frosty Hardison has little tolerance for deviating from standard school curriculum or a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelations, even though one would think that being named for a beloved cartoon snowman would have made him loosen up years ago.

"Condoms don't belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He's not a schoolteacher," said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old. "The information that's being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is ... The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn't in the DVD."

After Hardison sent an email complaint to the school board, the board decided that the film could only be shown if a teacher has permission from their principal and superintendent, and if a "credible, legitimate opposing view” is also presented. Which means, in theory, a school could screen the Kirk Cameron-starring Christian end times film series Left Behind to balance out the lack of rapture-informed content in Mr. Gore’s PowerPoint presentation.

Meanwhile a couple of days ago, a Canadian school anti-obesity program was knocked for an alleged anti-Christian bias. The program included yoga, which Christian parents in Quesnel, British Columbia feel is a religion. One parent objected to how a yoga pose required her child to put their hands together in a prayer-like gesture. Another parent was quoted speaking against yoga in language strikingly similar to that of Robert Mitchum’s evil preacher character in The Night of the Hunter.

"There's God and there's the devil, and the devil's not a gentleman. If you give him any kind of an opening, he will take that."

Thankfully, the school is continuing to teach yoga. Those Canadians really are more sensible. Actually, scratch that. Lately even Christians are more sensible. There’s a growing Christian environmental movement and a series of video tapes about Christian Yoga.

Can’t the cool Christians get together with all the stick-in-the-mud Christians for a three day seminar on how to chill-the-fuck-out?

76 Comments

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MschfMayhemSoap

Phoenix, AZ

April 2006

JAN 11, 2007 11:11 PM

Can't the cool Christians get together with all the stick-in-the-mud Christians for a three day seminar on how to chill-the-fuck-out?

That would require reason and a SLIGHTY more open mind. Now bear in mind this is CHRISTIANS we're talking bout.

baudot

Spain

February 2004

JAN 11, 2007 11:11 PM

To be fair, yoga did start as a monastic exercise to counteract the neglect of hours spent in meditative poses, and is deeply intertwined with shaivic/hindu terminology even if the practice has expanded beyond its religious base. And we certainly can't have our good Christian children understanding any alternative to their parent's beliefs. God may give us free will, but good fundamentalists consider that a mistake.

radio_schizo

Tustin, CA

December 2006

JAN 11, 2007 11:16 PM

yeah, he's got a point that's like asking Donald Trump to stop making that stupid scowl with his mouth that makes him look like he's been sucking a cock...

MschfMayhemSoap

Phoenix, AZ

April 2006

JAN 11, 2007 11:17 PM

baudot said:
To be fair, yoga did start as a monastic exercise to counteract the neglect of hours spent in meditative poses, and is deeply intertwined with shaivic/hindu terminology even if the practice has expanded beyond its religious base. And we certainly can't have our good Christian children understanding any alternative to their parent's beliefs. God may give us free will, but good fundamentalists consider that a mistake.

But good fundamentalists believe God NEVER makes a mistake, or else the Universe ends in a blink.

So...... Good Fundamentalists are hypocrites? I like that.

Havilah

El Mirage, AZ

April 2006

JAN 11, 2007 11:21 PM

johnnyfu said:
Can't the cool Christians get together with all the stick-in-the-mud Christians for a three day seminar on how to chill the fuck out?

We don't mix well (I learned this the hard way at Bible College).
There have been attempts

Wraithkiss

Everett, WA

November 2004

JAN 11, 2007 11:26 PM

Jesus Christ.

Whatever happened to religious freedom and tolerance? You'd think a freaking christian would appreciate that. People in the US preach about how bad islam extremists are and then they try to squash anything remotely different from their own Christian views the same way and people back down, not because they think the people complaining are right, but just to avoid a psycho picking a fight with them... jeeeze this country drives me nuts. We need to be defending our rights and not caving when anyone tries to confront us.

Trying to complain about the global warming video because it didnt provide any counter arguments against it? You know why there werent any counter arguments? cause the facts he presented were undisputed by anyone in the scientific field.

And WTF with the yoga thing? since when is stretching a religion? At least Canadians have some sense and a bit of a spine.

BurningKrome

San Jose, CA

April 2005

JAN 11, 2007 11:36 PM

The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn't in the DVD."

This is a joke...right?

I mean...I've read the Bible...cover to cover (as one should never discuss books one has not read). Although revelations does mention the earth being "consumed in fire", I'm pretty sure it doesn't suggest it's from global warming or CO2.

Maybe Frosty should try reading it. Or any book. Or learn to read.

And we won't even start with Yoga. I think the parent got stuck in the "Craning yahoo with head up ass" pose.

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA

July 2004

JAN 11, 2007 11:39 PM

Frosty's a dumbass.

Trevallion

Murfreesboro, TN

February 2004

JAN 11, 2007 11:50 PM

"He's not a schoolteacher," said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old. "

Actually, Al Gore has a visiting professorship at several universities across the country. I only know this because one of them is at Middle Tennessee State University. I used to go there. Eat that, Frosty!

Kyra

SUICIDEGIRL

I'm lost

JAN 12, 2007 12:09 AM

It's sickening that these insane people keep winning and are allowed to brainwash their children as well as other peoples' children.
An Inconvenient Truth was fantastic, by the way.

68stretch

Portland, OR

March 2003

JAN 12, 2007 12:17 AM

the film could only be shown if ... a "credible, legitimate opposing view" is also presented.

I'm sure the school district ensures a credible, legitimate opposing view is presented to counter the teaching of.... gravity and stuff like that.

It is supremely arrogant for the fundamentalists to say that just because they happen to believe something, it must be presented as an "alternate theory". The truth is not neutral.

jeffvader

El Cajon, CA

November 2004

JAN 12, 2007 12:24 AM

"cockeyed view"...he should read some of the decider in chief's cockeyed views...frosty...who gave him semen to procreate with....have a cookie frosty....