As a Conservative Christian, I do not want to be in the position many parents have found themselves in lately when their kindergarten child brings home “diversity materials” about homosexuality. One parent went to his child’s school to ask that his child be allowed to not participate in that particular class, and was arrested. I believe that as my child’s father, I should have the primary say in how my child is educated. Yes, I realize that no matter how hard I try my child will eventually be exposed to other customs and practices, but I can still hope to educate and prepare him to make tough decisions, to think for himself, to exercise responsibility, to respect others, and most importantly, to live a Christian life.
I believe in social liberty, including gay rights. Government shouldn’t be telling us what we can and can’t do in our private lives and consensually with others. Part of social liberty is acceptance, not of other’s lifestyles, but of their right to have that lifestyle. What that lifestyle is differs from individual to individual, culture to culture, religion to religion. No matter how hard I try, I will always be exposed to cultures, religions, and social practices that I don’t believe in, that I don’t approve of, or that I don’t want to be near to, yet it is still my social right to try to avoid them. There is a large gap between promoting liberty, equality, and respect for all, and the current trend of forcing conformity. I accept that gays have the same rights, opportunities, and deserve the same respect as a person as I do, but that does not mean I approve of their lifestyle. I, as a Christian am a sinner with my own faults, it is not my prerogative nor my mission in life to judge and condemn others for being sinners too.
I expect that many will call me a bigot for believing that homosexuality is a sin. I am not bigot, I have homosexual friends, I do not judge them, it does not change the manner with which I interact with them, nor do I treat them any differently than I treat anyone else. All sins being sin, sin being equal, you could as easily call me a bigot for thinking that polygamy, pornography, theft, hate, anger, violence, and racism are sins too. Am I bigoted against myself? No, I am a Christian who is saved only by the grace of God.
My government should refrain from attempting to create a uniform culture. We hear so much about embracing diversity, but in practice when a culture has a strong moral system then it is discriminated against for its lack of tolerance and acceptance, and it is told that its ‘bigotry’ is both liable in court and punishable by laws forcing it to conform. Today, churches that speak out against homosexuality in their congregations, refuse to marry gay couples (in some states), or perform civil unions for them are taken to court and punished. This practice of forcing churches to comply to an opposing moral view is sick and twisted. Who gives government the right to control morality, religion, and culture? I don’t know anyone who thinks that Jews or Muslims should be forced to eat ‘unclean’ animals. In fact, if someone were to force a Jew or a Muslim to do such they would find that action repulsive. It is the same with forcing religions to accept homosexuality. Why can’t we just respect each other and preserve liberty instead of forcing the other’s view of morality to change?
This is what upsets me so much about public education. Instead of teaching our children to be responsible, caring, and respectful of all, our government in the name of ‘tolerance’ has used education as another means to force society to accept one particular moral view. There should be no debate over gay rights, gays should have the same rights as everyone else, and Government should stay out of our lives, our culture, and our morality.
Separation of Church and state was not a concept designed to tell us that we can’t pray on sidewalks or in public schools. It wasn’t meant as a regulation telling us to tear any Christian symbol off the wall of a government building. Separation of Church and state is the concept that government should not endorse a particular moral or religious viewpoint in its actions. Today, in the name of “separation of church and state” government has actively opposed Christianity in favor of endorsing amorality or self-morality. That is not separation of church and state, that is full blown involvement.
Give me the right to educate my child how I please. Give me my tax dollars back by either making me exempt from paying school taxes or giving me a voucher of equal worth allowing me to educate my child at the school of my choice, even if that means I homeschool my child. The freedom to educate my child how I see fit, that is my social right.
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James Thoburn (twitter: @you_count) is the founder of Backyard Politics. Comment here or @reply you_count on twitter to join the conversation.
“Give me the right to educate my child how I please” I completely agree. While it is beneficial for the government to have a educated public, it is not the governments job or duty. This is another case of government extending their rule into areas where they have no business being.
What irks me so much is that my tax dollars are supporting the teaching of ideas and beliefs that I do not agree with. I would love to help a school I thought did a great job of educating their students, but I would never help a school that directly opposes what I believe in.
Honestly! The government screws up just about everything they touch. This is why private school or home schooling is probably the better choice. There is so much wrong with the way the government runs things today…from education, to the current police/nanny state, to the economy, to the interventionist foreign policies. The less government the better.
May I recommend my new book on the topic of Freedom of Education?
Freedom of Education: The Dutch Political Battle for State Funding of all Schools both Public and Private (1801-1920)
It offers a fresh perspective on the topic, based on Dutch history.
In Holland throughout the nineteenth century a political battle raged over the issue of the State monopoly on tuition-free education. It was opposed under the banner of “Freedom of Education” and the Separation of Church and State. The Dutch called it “De Schoolstrijd” (The Battle of the Schools). The policy issues surrounding school vouchers and school choice in America are in essence the same issues that were at the heart of De Schoolstrijd. This book traces the history of that battle. The lessons of Dutch history point to alternative solutions to the issue of school vouchers and school choice that could be applied to the American debate. The Dutch equated Freedom of Education with Freedom of Conscience and Freedom of Religion, and came to realize that a secular tuition-free Public School forced parents into making a choice between their conscience and their pocketbook. The Dutch solution was the Separation of School and State by funding all schools equally, both public and private.