What happens when you let rednecks vote...

[beyond hope]

I have serious issues with home schooling: if done the right way, then yes it can give your kids a better education than the public school system is capable of (at least here in the states, I won't speak for other countries.) Sadly, I think that many times home schooling is done to indoctrinate children with the exact same narrow-minded fundamentalist mindset that their parents have ("no child of mine is getting taught by darkies and fags!") Can you imagine the poor children who grow up fed that mindset, having to confront the real world?

I'm thankful every day that my mom didn't have the time to home-school me like she'd planned, I was a pretty close-minded teen anyway and I got a public school education.

[Darth Wong]

95% of home schoolers do it to give their kids less education (ie- keep certain ideas away from them) rather than more education (ie- improve upon public-school standards). But of course, they all claim they're giving them a better education by keeping them away from "impure" thoughts, because to quote Orwell's 1984, ignorance is strength.

[Raptor 597]

And on the eight day, the Lord God said "let there be morons." He looked upon His new creation, and He called them "Georgians". -Hesitations 1:8

*Shakes head* Not, all Georgians are idiots I happen to know some quite intelligent people Georgia. And your putting all whites in one group, not everyone are Rednecks. for instance I look Caucasin, but I'm Acadian. *Realizes he might have incidently started flame war*

[Darth Wong]

*Shakes head* Not, all Georgians are idiots I happen to know some quite intelligent people Georgia.

However, the majority is idiotic. Look at the laws passed under their democratic government, not to mention the way they resisted (and continue to resist) civil rights movements. They still have segregated high school dances in many municipalities down there.

And your putting all whites in one group, not everyone are Rednecks. for instance I look Caucasin, but I'm Acadian. *Realizes he might have incidently started flame war*

No one ever said all whites are rednecks. However, we have basically been saying that most Georgians are rednecks, and frankly, while there are exceptions, even those exceptions will generally admit that it's a redneck state. The fact that it's not quite 100% does not mean we can't make a judgement either way.

[Mr. B]

There are even rednecks here in Minnesota. It's not just localized to the South. But they are all in the really small towns.

[Durandal]

Anyone remember when The Onion ran this little piece?

http://www.theonion.com/onion3631/chris ... bbies.html

It's a satire, but somehow, I wouldn't be surprised if it was true.

[Mr Bean]

I remeber I inculded that link a few days ago just for Mr Wong as though its Satire its also saddly true(Pausus to look for link)
Damn its 404 now but there was acutal a Fundie Group in South Cariolina that where trying to use the Bible to Disprove the first two Laws of Thermodynanics

[Raptor 597]

*Shakes head* Not, all Georgians are idiots I happen to know some quite intelligent people Georgia.

However, the majority is idiotic. Look at the laws passed under their democratic government, not to mention the way they resisted (and continue to resist) civil rights movements. They still have segregated high school dances in many municipalities down there.

And your putting all whites in one group, not everyone are Rednecks. for instance I look Caucasin, but I'm Acadian. *Realizes he might have incidently started flame war*

No one ever said all whites are rednecks. However, we have basically been saying that most Georgians are rednecks, and frankly, while there are exceptions, even those exceptions will generally admit that it's a redneck state. The fact that it's not quite 100% does not mean we can't make a judgement either way.

Yeah, true their some nice people. But then again all you gotta say is your Catholic then they show rtue colors.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

I remeber I inculded that link a few days ago just for Mr Wong as though its Satire its also saddly true(Pausus to look for link)
Damn its 404 now but there was acutal a Fundie Group in South Cariolina that where trying to use the Bible to Disprove the first two Laws of Thermodynanics

Why don't they use the bible to prove that the Earth is flat, and it was created 6000 years ago?

[Crossover_Maniac]

95% of home schoolers do it to give their kids less education (ie- keep certain ideas away from them) rather than more education (ie- improve upon public-school standards). But of course, they all claim they're giving them a better education by keeping them away from "impure" thoughts, because to quote Orwell's 1984, ignorance is strength.

Let me ask you this, if you could, would you outlaw home schooling or even private schools?

[Joe]

However, the majority is idiotic. Look at the laws passed under their democratic government, not to mention the way they resisted (and continue to resist) civil rights movements. They still have segregated high school dances in many municipalities down there.

I live in Georgia, and I attend the University of Georgia. Please, for my benefit, list some recent civil rights movements that we have continued to resist. Don't say the Confederate Flag. I'm asking out of curiosity, not antagonism.

[Durandal]

Interracial marriage in Georgia was banned until 1996 (or was it Alabama?).

[Joe]

Interracial marriage in Georgia was banned until 1996 (or was it Alabama?).

I highly doubt that these laws were ever enforced. A law you don't enforce isn't a law.

Why does Georgia get singled out for racial problems? I don't recall an African immigrant getting shot 41 times in any southern cities....

[Darth Wong]

I live in Georgia, and I attend the University of Georgia. Please, for my benefit, list some recent civil rights movements that we have continued to resist.

May 3, 2002. Taylor County High School allows its first racially mixed high school dance. Yippee; welcome to the 1970's ... 30 years later than the rest of us (note that the students made a point of saying that interracial dating is still nonexistent; hooray for social regression!)

In general, that part of the country has been foot-dragging badly on the issue of race relations. Alabama didn't legalize interracial marriage until November 2000, and by a 60/40 vote (which means that 40% voted to keep it illegal). It is also a criminal offense in Georgia to possess a vibrator (I'm serious). Moreover, Georgia tried to enact an Internet censorship law in order to protect its citizens from impure thoughts (see ACLU's website).

Don't say the Confederate Flag. I'm asking out of curiosity, not antagonism.

Why shouldn't I mention the Confederate Flag? If Berlin continued to fly the Nazi flag, I'd have something to say about that too, so why shouldn't I mention something which is a lasting symbol of slavery to black people in your country?

[Darth Wong]

Interracial marriage in Georgia was banned until 1996 (or was it Alabama?).

I highly doubt that these laws were ever enforced. A law you don't enforce isn't a law.

It is, however, a slap in the face to minorities. Moreover, the fact that it was so narrowly repealed speaks volumes about the general state of race relations in that part of the country.

Why does Georgia get singled out for racial problems? I don't recall an African immigrant getting shot 41 times in any southern cities....

Large statistical trends are more important than isolated incidents. For example, according to the National Drug Strategy Network, since 1990, blacks account for 75% of people incarcerated for drug offenses in Georgia (which in itself is cause for concern, but let's be generous to the Georgia police and assume that this is not due to uneven application of justice), but 97.7% of those given life sentences for those offenses (sorry, but that is definitely uneven).

According to the FBI's 1995 hate crime reports, Georgia had 1 hate crime for every eight thousand people. California, despite its massive and well-publicized race violence, had 1 hate crime for every eighteen thousand people.

Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama are located in something of a nexus of white-supremacist activity; look at all the KKK chapters, the location of the National Alliance, the guy who wrote the Turner Diaries, etc. Nobody likes hearing bad things about the place where they grew up, but there it is.

[beyond hope]

One thing I've learned from chat: you will run into these whack jobs from all over the US: I'd peg Indiana as likely being home to more bigots (it did after all boast a VERY large Klan membership during their resurgence in the 1950's and '60's.) As far as the blue laws go, Texas recently passed one that made possession of 4 or more "obscene or pornographic items" (VERY loosely defined in the law) a felony since you were considered to have "intent to distribute." In other words, it's illegal in Texas to own 4 or more dildoes. So it's not just limited to the South, the Pentehostiles are busy at work all over the US.

As far as the home schooling issue, if I had the power I wouldn't ban it. One of my major complaints about the Fundies is that they want to indoctrinate everyone else to their views (preferrably before they're old enough to think critically): denying them the right to pass their narrow little worldview on and raise little bible-thumpers would be just as wrong. I feel really sorry for the kids who grow up instilled with that kind of warped mindset, but like it or not it's their right. It's also our right to keep that sort of nonsense out of the government and out of public schools.

[Singular Quartet]

Yep, and now the National Alliance is invading Massachusetts(Starting with Framingham, with its 15% brazilian population).

[Enlightenment]

One thing I've learned from chat: you will run into these whack jobs from all over the US:

Looking at the lunatic asylum from the outside I rather think that 'these whack jobs' actually comprise a majority of the US population. Certainly whack job mentality gets far more air time in government than does any rational perspective on national or global affairs.

[beyond hope]

just remember when watching the news: sensationalism gets ratings, ratings get advertising $$$.

We really are not so bad (although I say this coming from a city where we have 169 murders this year and a population of about 250,000.)

[LadyBarbara]

The controversy stems from the fact that in the US there is supposedly a separation of Church and State. That is to say, the parents should be responsible for the spiritual education of their children, and the State or government should (and is) responsible for the secular education of their children. As a parent and a Christian, I believe I am capable enough to handle the former. I discussed home-schooling with a friend and we both elected to keep our children in school. I believe the interaction with kids of different races, ages, and belief systems allows them to develop a sharper mind than if I isolated them at home and taught them myself.

[Eleas]

The controversy stems from the fact that in the US there is supposedly a separation of Church and State. That is to say, the parents should be responsible for the spiritual education of their children, and the State or government should (and is) responsible for the secular education of their children. As a parent and a Christian, I believe I am capable enough to handle the former. I discussed home-schooling with a friend and we both elected to keep our children in school. I believe the interaction with kids of different races, ages, and belief systems allows them to develop a sharper mind than if I isolated them at home and taught them myself.

Interesting. Do you then contend that Christian education = spiritual education? What about other religions and philosophies?