Two stories caught my eye this morning when I logged onto sayfiereview.com- my favorite news souce in florida. One, was about the adition of more faith-based prisons. The other was about a gay-straight allaince issue is Okeechobee. Both stories, though obviously different, are closely connected here in Florida (and around this country) in a startling way.
So here's the deal. Governor Bush put in place the first faith based prison in the US, and now we have 3. After a number of years a panel, which he has set up, is asking for more. Why? Because they feel that after this voluntary program inmates are less likely to revert back to crime. Science says otherwise. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence--at all-- that this kind of program works. As usual, Governor Bush is lounging around with the Christian right, instead of figuring out ways to get out fourth graders reading, writing, and adding.
So here's the next deal. Down on the shores of the great, slightly green Okeechobee river is a town called Okeechobee (inventive i know). They describe themselves as "a church going town," who just want to be left alone. But they wont be. Why (everyone asks in unison)? Because when a student requested to start a gay straight alliance her school board said (drum roll please) NO! She's now suing the Principal and school board. And in walks the ACLU. If this was a boxing match it'd look a lot like this: on one side of the ring a bible holding school board, and the remainder of the town, and on the other side a few students and the ACLU. I personally, think I'd make a great Celebrity Death Match. The best part of this story is a quote whose ignorance, and intolerance shines as brightly as the Christmas lights in downtown okeechobee. Prepare yourself please.
"The ACLU needs to go back to Washington, where people are more tolerant, and leave our nice little churchgoing town alone," said Rubio, 33, an insurance clerk whose children attend Okeechobee High.
Why is it that in 2006 we are still dealing with these issues? What do we not undersand about the simple, self explanitory seperation of church and state? Get the faith based programs out of the prisons. Stop the evolution argments in the schools. Allow the gay straight alliances in the schools, and if you don't like it start your own group against it- you should have that right too. The intolerance is unnecessary. The hatred is unncesessary.
have a wonderful day.
