Coming out

[Snowden]

Coming out
By Cal Thomas

LOS ANGELES — As one group attempts to use California public schools as laboratories to assist children in "coming out" with their nontraditional sexual orientation, another is urging parents to come out from these schools and educate their children with their values at home or in private schools.

Last Sunday, a group called "Exodus Mandate" (Christian Schools) began placing literature in scores of Southern California church lobbies, urging parents to take charge of their children's education and oppose attempts by activists and politicians to shape the worldview of young people, a worldview that runs counter to what many taxpaying parents believe and teach in their homes and places of worship.

The final straw for some was the decision last fall by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign SB 777 — a bill opponents say will have a long and significant effect not only on California public schools, but also on public schools everywhere. That's because California is one of the largest purchasers of school textbooks and publishers tend to shape content to reflect the wishes of the state that buys the most books.

SB 777, or the California Student Civil Rights Act, requires "nondiscrimination" against sexual orientation, as well as other characteristics. Opponents take that to mean favorable teaching about homosexuality, bisexuality, gender identity and any and every other form of sexual expression for which there is an advocate.

Dr. Ron Gleason, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Yorba Linda, Calif., is leading the exodus movement in Southern California. In a telephone interview, Gleason acknowledges it is difficult work because he says there is virtually no leadership at the pastoral level with the "big name Christian celebrity" pastors largely remaining silent. "They prefer to build their empires rather than step out and lead," he says. Gleason says 96 percent of his congregation have their children in private schools or educate them at home.

Gleason says SB 777 has resulted in California schools not being allowed to use the words "mommy" and "daddy" anymore. "Children will be taught that sexual orientation and gender are merely a matter of personal choice," says Gleason, "and they will be taught to find what is 'right' for them."

The Website for Gleason's group argues SB 777 essentially makes it lawful for public schools to "indoctrinate" children as young as pre-kindergarten to accept as normal and morally acceptable homosexuality and "other sexually deviant lifestyles." In addition, says the group, the legislation represents a "complete reversal of 2,000 years of Christian moral teaching on human sexuality, family, and marriage."

Gleason has a response to questions like, "What about the single mother who can't afford tuition for a private school or spare the time to home school her child?" He offers church families who home school their children as places where the single mother can put her child.

Gleason's rationale is simple. "If you're going to send your kids to Caesar, you're going to get Romans back."

He's right. It isn't just the sexual re-programming. That's symbolic of a larger problem. The government schools want to shape a child's mind in ways that reflect a mostly liberal, humanistic worldview. This has implications for a child's understanding of economics, foreign policy, American history and the size and purpose of government, in addition to what once were known as "traditional values." It is about reflecting the worldview of the teachers unions, who are in the pocket of the Democratic Party. In other words, the Left uses public schools to produce the next generation of Democrats.

The tragedy is that too many conservative Christian, Republican parents who want their children to have a different worldview — their own — willingly participate in the destruction of their children's minds by turning them over to a way of thinking that is antithetical to their beliefs. Parents who worship at conservative churches on Sunday willingly send their children to schools five days a week where what they are taught undermines what they learned in church and at home. They would never think of taking their kids to a church that teaches doctrines opposed to their beliefs, but they don't give a second thought to doing the same thing by sending them to government schools. It makes no sense.

Gleason has found it difficult to start a fire among conservative Christians because apathy is like wet underbrush, but he is undeterred. He thinks that like those other fires with which California is familiar, the best time to get out is while you still can.


Cal Thomas

[filthybeast]

Ok I have to address this issue. Do not laugh I am not joking here. Any serious talk about Sex or a persons " Orientation " within the world of sex prior to college in this country is a joke. As far as I know there are only Two I say again Two people in the United States I know of that treat the topic openly and in a fair manner. I happen to be one of them. The other is a Gay Prof I have known for many years.

I hear all the time from parents and friends that they are uncomfortable talking about sex not only with there kids but with other people in general.
Look the act of sex is a normal function of life. It is fun and yes it does carry some emotional baggage. But we make too big a thing about it. When I was growing up my parents would not speak on the subject nor would any adult answer questions I learned about sex from the locker room and the back seat of my car like millions of others. I have been to many places on this planet of ours and it is sad to say that all of them have a healthier outlook on the subject than we Americans do. It kills me that we have a multi billion dollar industry that does nothing more than exploit sex and most states will not allow prostitution!

Education on the subject of sex must start at home. Then the schools and yes the church pastors need to get involved. Questions should be answered so that our children can make there choices. I dont care if you like boys or girls in fact I dont really care if you do animals! The only rules I have ever gone by is what ever floats your boat is ok as long as you dont force yourself on someone, or go after minors. I exclude High School kids doing each other, it is going to happen lets face it. Your kids have a right and you as parents have a resonsibility to inform them on matters of Sex.

I am tired of hearing crap like gay's should be shot or lesbians need a real man to square them away. The feelings one person feels for another person is there business and theres alone unless they wish to share it. Get it in your head that Sex is gonna happen it is a function of the body nothing more. I have been married for way over 30 years I can say for sure that Love evolves and grows deeper with the day to day life with each other. The knowledge that there is one person in the world that is on your side no matter what. There is your true affection your happy baggage. The act of Sex is a part of it but it is a very small part of it. Your kids should be made aware of this for that is the true meat of life on this rock we call earth.

Lets face it be real here if your kid walked up to you and told you they were gay you might be pissed for a while but in the end you are gonna support there choice. Well if you start out being open with your kids about sex and let them in on the big secret in an honest manner you wont have to say where did I go wrong! Children are humans too and have the right to be educated about there body. You dont want them ending up as screwed up as the rest of the population.

Beast gets off his soap box.

[Snowden]

I agree that Thomas goes overboard here. Beast, as usual, I find what you say to be practical and spot on. That's not surprising. Sex is a necessary part of life; because parents don't know what to tell their kids and put it off too long if they do, kids find out what their peers think and do. Usually, by the time a parent approaches the subject, they already know.

The door should be open, but sometimes the parents are the ones who have to go through and talk to the youngster. There's nothing wrong with that. But sexual education should start at home, not in a locker room or back seat. By the time those places are helping in education, the youngster needs to know what he's doing and what are the possible consequences. This world consequences. After all, God is love, and part of love is Eros. It can go any way, as we see in the world today.