This is the shit that makes me nuts.
I know: I should no longer be surprised at the bat-shit crazy that comes out of the American Family Association, yet I am. According to the New York Times, the small minded bigots there have taken on the incredibly benign and adorable “Mix it Up at Lunch Day” wherein kids are encouraged to talk to kids outside of their social circles as a way to combat bullying.
Sounds sweet and adorable, right? Maybe a bit on the pollyanna side – I mean, one day of talking to each other isn’t really likely to cure all bullying – but certainly benign. But apparently the American Family Association is at odds with the people BEHIND the project – the civil rights organization the Southern Poverty Law Center.
So their response? On their site (which I link to only to prove their quote):
On, Tuesday, October 30, over two thousand schools across the nation will be observing “Mix It Up” (MIU) day. MIT is a nationwide push to promote the homosexual lifestyle in public schools. A strong focus is directed specifically to elementary and junior high grades. MIU is a project of the fanatical pro-homosexual group, Southern Poverty Law Center…
See if your school is on the list. If it is, a simple phone call or letter to school administrators telling them your child will not attend school on October 30 may be enough to cause some participating schools to change their plans to sponsor, endorse, or promote “Mix It Up” day.
What does Tolerance.org – the creators of Mix It Up day – actually say about the day?
A national campaign launched by Teaching Tolerance a decade ago, Mix It Up at Lunch Day encourages students to identify, question and cross social boundaries.
In our surveys, students have identified the cafeteria as the place where divisions are most clearly drawn. So on one day – October 30 this school year – we ask students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It’s a simple act with profound implications. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away.
So I ask you: where the FUCK do they talk about promoting homosexuality?
The New York Times tries to make sense of this, but only highlights the utter fucking hysterica of the American Family Association who is not only opposed to Mix It Up at Lunch Day but ANY anti-bullying efforts.
“Anti-bullying legislation is exactly the same,” Mr. Fischer said. “It’s just another thinly veiled attempt to promote the homosexual agenda. No one is in favor of anyone getting bullied for any reason, but these anti-bullying policies become a mechanism for punishing Christian students who believe that homosexual behavior is not something that should be normalized.”
As we head into the last few weeks of the election season and the race is tied up tightly I hear about things like this and despair, mightily. It’s hard to feel hopeful about moving our country forward when attempts to stop bullying of kids – something that has gotten much worse lately, particularly with the saturation of social media – are declared to really be about promoting gayness.
Look: I don’t want Christian kids to be harassed for wanting to say grace before lunch, either. That is completely their right and should be protected. But so should gay kids, disabled kids, and those kids that are quieter or poorer or different looking than the rest of the kids.
I call bullshit on the American Family Association, AGAIN. I find this so disappointing.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, in my mind, pro-gay=pro-human or pro-humanity, so sure, sign me up.
Oh what the fuckity fuck?! I was raised in that sort of twisted Christian environment, and it’s disgusting to me. They feel like everything is a ploy by the devil to suck their young kids in and drag them down to hell. They look down on everyone that isn’t as “religious” as they are and treat others like garbage just because their beliefs differ. That sort of religious group literally believes their children will be tainted by an environment that is accepting of homosexuals. I was raised to believe that I needed to be “separate” from the “world” and it’s sinful ways. It really is disturbing.
Thanks for the heads up though, now I can see if my children’s school is participating. We are huge on love and acceptance of everyone, no matter what. I think this is a wonderful opportunity to help kids break through those social barriers. If only for one day for now, it’s still a step in the right direction!
*scratching head* Seriously? people must have fallen out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.
I think that MIU is a fantastic idea! WTF is wrong with those wack-jobs? ugh!
Wow. That really is a “if a dog has 4 legs and a dog is an animal – and an ostrich is an animal too, so therefore an ostrich is a dog” sort of logic, isn’t it?
For years I have heard the expression that kids can be the cruelest of all. Perhaps we need look no farther than their parents, extended family, social and church influences for the reasons why. I live in a red state, surrounded by red states and am a transplant from the north. I am proud to say I raised two tolerant, thoughtful and loving children here.
………the hell?
Truly a WTF inducing example of twisted, frakked up thinking.
Awww, this makes me so sad for all the kids exposed to this kind of hate. Sigh :(
The AFA is saying, essentially, “we’re against bullying. Well, except for when it has to do with homosexuals. Because homosexuality is wrong.”
WTF, indeed.
What’s wrong with being pro-gay? As Lisa said, sign me up!
Who are these people and where can I find them to spork them in the eye for being idiots?!
I had the same reaction when I heard of parent requiring schools to inform them of their anti-bullying lectures, so he can withdraw his kid(s) from school on that day, as to not expose his own kids to homosexuality as acceptable (not-bully-able) behaviour. And he is asking for full transparency and that schools should be liable to inform every parent of this kind of teachings, so parents can take preventive measure (re: religious beliefs). I get it that there are people that think this way, and yes, you have right to raise the kids any way you see fit, but I was floored by the number of comments along the lines: parents have the right to refuse education that is contrary to their religious beliefs. Apparently that teaching also includes who you can and can not bully. And all caller parents commented how the kids (being of christian faith) are already lectured on inclusivity, so skipping anti-bullying class is no loss. I beg your pardon? Excluding gay from bully curriculum is apparently not part of inclusivity. What the….!?!? “Yes, we are inclusive, as long as you are christian, blue-eyed and straight!”
Stop the insanity!!! Seriously, WTF??
Unfortunately this no longer surprises me. I sincerely wish it did.
I think these nuts–that is, the AFA–really think that gay kids can be bullied out of being gay. Like, if enough “Christian” students make them feel bad about themselves, they’ll somehow become straight. So bullying is actually good. Sometimes. As long as the poor, holy, straight Christian kids aren’t being targeted.
I’m a teacher at a middle school that’s done MIU day for several years. I’m actually the teacher “in charge” of lunch duty for half of the 7th grade, and I can say from personal experience that there is NOTHING AT ALL involved with pro ANYTHING during MIU day activities. At least at my school, it’s as benign as it sounds. Kids are encouraged (but not even required, definitely not forced, it’s all optional!) to sit at a color they’ve received some kind of marker for. For example, all tables have different color balloons and kids receive a string bracelet that match one of the balloon colors, and that’s the table they are encouraged to sit at. Most kids find someone at the new table that they know from classes, it’s not even about meeting new people but simply changing their usual lunchroom clique. I’m kinda thinking the AFA is encouraging parents to bully the school into NOT having programs that support all kinds of kids, even if this were a program letting students know it’s OK to be gay (or bisexual, or whatever perceived difference they may have).
As the article states, the parents did not in fact boycott this once they understood what it really was. That makes this entire article a troll and every liberal minded friend I have reposted it. I’m incredibly frustrated with that. It’s like people enjoy being outraged about what a bunch of hateful assholes Christians are.
No, it doesn’t. Just because the parents didn’t actually boycott doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t have if they believed the American Family Association. The American Family Association sends the direct message to families that this is what MIU day is. People don’t want to be outraged at Christians because it’s the majority religion in this country, most ARE Christian. But when you see stuff like this message, it’s not only untrue and anti-gay, it’s anti-Christian and it absolutely is awful. If they stop being hateful assholes, there won’t be a story to talk about in the first place.
I’m so over the AFA and their hateful tactics. I wish they would actually read the Bible.