Girl bullied over religious mural lawsuit.

[Rageaholic]

http://cranston.patch.com/articles/a...reats-worth-it

Short version, girl fights to remove a religious mural in her school. She makes it a lawsuit and it is removed. Now, several people are giving her nasty, hatefilled messages, some threatening her life, and one even posted her address. Here is a blog listing some of the nasty comments she recieved.

My opinion: I don't see the harm in the mural, and I don't think it's worth fighting for. However, that goes for both sides. The so called Christians who are sending all these nasty threats to her are just assine. They talk about how Christians are being persecuted and opprossed in America, but I call bullshit. If anything, they are persecuting others, like they did to this girl and others who are on their god's shitlist. It's really hard to take any Christian seriously when they complain about how they are being oppressed when they live in a country where Christian beliefs are made into law. For that reason, I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who was so offended that this mural was taken down.

[Andara Bledin]

Good for her for having the fortitude to see her suit through. There is no objective argument to keep the thing there. Hell, I'm Christian and it's presence would have annoyed me.

Honestly, they could rework the mural to express a similar sentiment but without the whole "heavenly father" and "amen" stuff.

^-.-^

[HYHYBT]

That it's apparently a banner, not a painted-on-the-wall mural, makes a difference to me: if it's really of historical significance to anyone, it can be put elsewhere.

[Kheldarson]

It kinda read to be more like a mission statement for the school written as a prayer. So take down the original and put it in the library as a part of school history and put up a more official mission statement. That's not hard, right?

[BlaqueKatt]

Honestly, they could rework the mural to express a similar sentiment but without the whole "heavenly father" and "amen" stuff.

the ACLU offered the school that option, it was discussed at school board meetings that deteriorated into school board members proudly discussing their religious convictions(with some quoting the bible in defense of the mural), and how they "wouldn't leave their faith at the door" they refused claiming the terms "heavenly father" and "Amen" were secular(because numerous religions use them-someone does not understand the definition of secular), they are appealing the ruling still claiming a religious prayer is somehow secular....so the school is more to blame actually. Especially as the school board which held meetings for two years after the initial ACLU complaint in 2009 which Jessica had nothing to do with(the ACLU asked her to be party to the lawsuit as she had standing), all the school board members claimed to not see how it could be offensive to anyone, and didn't understand that them identifying as christian had anything to do with that. They went so far as to research ways to defend a lawsuit without it costing any money, which lends credence to the fact they knew it was wrong. They allowed 26 adults to speak(only two were for the removal), amongst boos and threats for those for removing it, and cheers, amens, and halleluiahs for those for keeping it(Jessica was escorted from the meetings by police because they feared for her safety), and 8 students(for against removal and four for removal). The decision s 40 pages but covers a lot of history, worth a read....

So take down the original and put it in the library as a part of school history and put up a more official mission statement. That's not hard, right?

also covered in the meetings and boo'd/voted down, as "religious persecution"

[jackfaire]

Honestly if something like that was in my school it would have felt like it's presence was oppressing my own beliefs. I mean it's not just some students saying, "I believe this" It's the administration saying, "This is our official policy on religion"

[Dreamstalker]

That's my take on it; like the school is endorsing a given religion (almost the same as school prayer). Mom disagrees with me of course, but can't seem to correctly explain her objections.

[Skunkle]

If it was a Christian school it wouldn't bug me. It's not, it's a public school. Mandated prayer isn't allowed in public schools. This is, I think, just an extension - a really nasty one - of the group who despise that fact already.

[Hyena Dandy]

Yeah

While I think its not something I bad, and its a good sentiment... She's right. Its not appropriate. I support her.

[Iseeyouthere]

http://jesusfetusfajitafishsticks.bl...christian.html

Delightful comments by some of the Christians (Note: Key word here is some). Warning. You may need a strong/empty stomach when reading some of these.

Their names are visable so they can be reported. Also, if they had the courage to post threats like that with their true name, then they have the courage to face the consquences of their actions.

It is a public school. Religion, in my opinion, as no right to be there. They got their Christian schools which they can do this in, but not a public school. Public school is for everyone, not one group.

[protege]

Delightful comments by some of the Christians (Note: Key word here is some). Warning. You may need a strong/empty stomach when reading some of these.

Typical fundie bullshit. They have no problem using the laws to further their own agendas, even when it violates the rights of others. Then they turn around and claim "persecution" when their victims fight back. Sorry, but are you fucking kidding me? If you want to put up a religious banner...put it in a Christian school where it belongs.

[fireheart17]

It's not, it's a public school. Mandated prayer isn't allowed in public schools. This is, I think, just an extension - a really nasty one - of the group who despise that fact already.

Funnily enough, while the schools down here do not allow mandated prayer (thank fuck), nearly every public primary and high school these days has a chaplain in place.

ETA: There is also a private Christian university in the state along with three public ones. The one I attend has a multifaith service on site, which has chaplains/counsellors etc. for various faiths (two Lutheran, one Uniting Church, one Pagan, one Muslim, one Hindu) and in the past, also had a fully ordained Vietnamese Buddhist monk. I am NOT kidding. The guy was Adelaide-born and lived in Vietnam long enough to be a fully ordained Sangha (monk). It is slightly strange to see him but you get used to it after a while.

.

Their names are visable so they can be reported. Also, if they had the courage to post threats like that with their true name, then they have the courage to face the consquences of their actions.

It is a public school. Religion, in my opinion, as no right to be there. They got their Christian schools which they can do this in, but not a public school. Public school is for everyone, not one group.

Some of this just only proves how stupid some of the fundies can be. If you're going to post threats, then at least do it behind a fake name! (i'm not advocating this btw)

I'm reading the actual blog comments. It seems to be swinging around quite a bit. One of the commenters is correct, if one does read the actual Bible, there is a LOT more violence and intolerance. Jason Morrell at least seems to be among the sane Christians.

[Iseeyouthere]

Typical fundie bullshit. They have no problem using the laws to further their own agendas, even when it violates the rights of others. Then they turn around and claim "persecution" when their victims fight back. Sorry, but are you fucking kidding me? If you want to put up a religious banner...put it in a Christian school where it belongs.

The irony here is that the banner states: "smile when we lose as well as when we win "

Oh... The irony. It stings!

[Panacea]

I'm reading the actual blog comments. It seems to be swinging around quite a bit. One of the commenters is correct, if one does read the actual Bible, there is a LOT more violence and intolerance. Jason Morrell at least seems to be among the sane Christians.

This is the part that makes me really sad. People using the Bible to justify their own intolerant views OR to dismiss the positive things Christianity teaches.

Everyone loses when that happens.

Jessica was right to fight this battle, and I applaud her. Religion has no place in the public schools period.

Those who posted those disgusting and destructive comments need to spend a little more time in church. Clearly, they've missed the point of their own religion.

The irony here is that the banner states: "smile when we lose as well as when we win "

Oh... The irony. It stings!

Doesn't it, though

[Dreamstalker]

The mural got taken down. I can't remember exactly what the news report said, but it was costing the school quite a bit to fight it, and said money could be used for much better things so they backed down.

Yes, I think that public schools can have chaplains and the like available, but should not publicly post a prayer specifically mentioning one type of god (if it's 'historic' there's no reason why it can't be in an office or collection in the school). My college, while public, was a Christian Brothers school and yet the only hint was that the brothers would sometimes wear their black clothing/collars to class.