I must really hand it to our moderator for supplying us with this
great sample to use in teaching our children at home about
close-mindedness, intolerance, and hatred. It provides a perfect
example we can use as a part of our curriculum. Here is how I plan on
using it:
Let them read (or read to them) the letter and break in at crucial
points to show how it exemplifies the kind of behavior and thinking
that poisons our society.
 GT> Heilsa, Lisa Mcintosh!
 GT> Wednesday September 04 1996 14:47, Lisa Mcintosh wrote to KEN WOODARD:
 KW>> Sandy, I would appreciate anything you have. Though I am not Lutheran,
 KW>> I get disgusted by the fact that Glen Todd doesn't seem to realize
 GT> Lisa, your gratuitous reposting of gratuitous moderator-bashing is
 GT> itself off topic and inappropriate for this echo.   It seems strange
 GT> that a certain cult is accusing _me_ of hatred and bigotry, when _they
Using the word 'cult' is intended as a direct insult to the person. We
can teach our children that our choice of words can be hateful as well
as cruel. The message can still be communicated without using words as
'arrows'.
 GT> _ are the ones who are guilty of hatred and bigotry towards anyone who
 GT> won't permit them to impose their own restrictions and prejudices on
 GT> this forum.    I have nothing against people teaching "this is what we
 GT> believe" as long as it is phrased IN THAT WAY and is balanced by "this
 GT> is what other people believe."
 This is an example of Post Modernism. Explain to your children that
 some people believe that there is no absolute truth and reality
 becomes relative. Depending on their age they should immediately
 grasp the absurdity of this viewpoint and its own self contradiction.
 GT>                                 Artificially imposing_restrictions_ on
 GT> what children are allowed to learn in order to impose aparticular
 GT> doctrine is unethical, abusive, and entirely inappropriate for
 GT> aneducational forum.    The topic here is, after all, EDUCATION, not
 GT> indoctrination.
 Here is an example of 'vocabulary twisting'. Your children will
 quickly understand that calling a 'rule' an 'artificially imposed
 restriction' is a way of side stepping reality. Words can be twisted
 to sound like what they are not, examples: Artificial glass
 (plastic), vegetarian leather (fake leather), Male personel with
 female atributes (women--used by the US Army in Kuwait). This is also
 called double-speak.
 GT> Even my own children, intelligent as they are, I could not reasonably
 GT> expect togrow up with a complete and balanced worldview that would
 GT> facilitate their making informed and intelligent choices if they were
 GT> permitted to learn only those statements and opinions which supported
 GT> one particular point of view.
 This is a Rogerian approach to education (Carl Rogers) denounced by
 the founder before his death, as completely innapropriate for normal
 people especially in a schooling situation.
 GT> That is my position and de facto the position of this echo, and is
 GT> reflected inthe rules of this echo.    For your information, I am _not_
 GT> anti-religious -- Iam, in fact, an ordained minister.
 Make sure your children understand that words have many meanings and
 this ambiguity in our language can be used to confuse. 'Ordained
 minister' can mean virtually anything. One could easily invent one's
 own religion and declare oneself an ordained minister (or diety for
 that matter) of that religion.
 GT>                                                        That is one of
 GT> the reasons why I take theposition that I do.   I have learned in the
 GT> course of my studies of the historyand theology of the path I follow
 GT> and those of other religions, and in thecourse of my involvement with
 GT> the day-to-day affairs of my religious community just how damaging the
 GT> forces controlled by religion can be when governed byblind faith and
 GT> zeal rather than education and intelligence.
 Warn your children about meaningless buzzword that are used to evoke
 emotion rather than thought.
 GT>                                              That is one reasonthat I
 GT> undertook this position, thankless as it is.    I do not use this forum
 GT> to 'push' or 'evangelize' for my particular path.
 You might add examples from history to show how people have claimed
 to do one thing when they all along were doing the exact opposite.
 Their actions must be looked at more than their words.
 GT>                                                    Among other
 GT> reasons, that would be both unethical and dishonourable.   In fact, I
 GT> don't think I have eversaid in this echo exactly what path I walk, nor
 GT> will I unless it becomesnecessary to establish my credentials to
 GT> discuss an _academic_ point.     Otherthan that, I do not believe that
 GT> _my_ particular path is relevant to this echo - -- nor is anyone
 GT> else's.     Facts are facts, and the path I, you, or anyoneelse walks
 GT> cannot change them.
 GT> Ves thu heil,
 GT> Glen Todd -- Moderator
 GT> HOMESCHL
 GT> ... Fundamentalism means never having to open one's mind.
 Again show them how hateful words, are the same as hateful actions.
 One should never use words as blind clubs of hate.
 Please thank Mr. Todd for offering this great piece that we can add to
 our curriculum.
            *Danny Carlton*********************************
            ***********************danny.carlton@bgbbs.com*
 
... True worth is in being, not seeming. --Alice Cary
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