Equal time is the RIGHT time!

[wordsmythe]

Oh the indignation!

The Wall of Separation

Falwell’s Flub: Jerry-Rigged Policy Opens Door For Pagan Proselytizing In Virginia Public School
A group of Pagans in Albemarle County, Va., was recently given permission to advertise their multi-cultural holiday program to public school children – and they have the Rev. Jerry Falwell to thank for it.

The dispute started last summer when Gabriel and Joshua Rakoski, twins who attend Hollymead Elementary School, sought permission to distribute fliers about their church’s Vacation Bible School to their peers via “backpack mail.” Many public schools use special folders placed in student backpacks to distribute notices about schools events and sometimes extra-curricular activities to parents.

School officials originally denied the request from the twins’ father, Ray Rakoski, citing a school policy barring “distribution of literature that is for partisan, sectarian, religious or political purposes.”

A Charlottesville weekly newspaper, The Hook, reports that Rakoski “sicced the Liberty Counsel on the county,” and the policy was soon revised to allow religious groups to use the backpack mail system. Liberty Counsel is a Religious Right legal group founded by Mathew Staver and now affiliated with Falwell.

Some local Pagans who attend Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, a Unitarian-Universalist congregation in Charlottesville, decided to take advantage of the new forum as well. They created a one-page flier advertising a Dec. 9 event celebrating the December holidays with a Pagan twist and used the backpack system to invite the entire school community.

“Have you ever wondered what ‘Holidays’ refers to?” reads the flier. “Everyone knows about Christmas – but what else are people celebrating in December? Why do we celebrate the way we do?”

The flier invites people to “an educational program for children of all ages (and their adults), where we’ll explore the traditions of December and their origins, followed by a Pagan ritual to celebrate Yule.”

It concludes, “Come for one or both parts and bring your curiosity.”

Many members of this congregation are strong supporters of church-state separation who don’t believe public schools should promote any religion. But they were also unwilling to cede the field to Falwell and his fundamentalist allies. Falwell opened the backpack forum, and the Pagans were determined to secure equal time.

Suddenly not everyone was pleased by the open forum. Jeff Riddle, pastor of Jefferson Park Baptist Church in Charlottesville, wrote on his personal blog, “If the school allows the Baptist or Methodist church to send home a note to its students about Vacation Bible School, it also has to allow the Unitarian Church to send home a note about its ‘Pagan ritual to celebrate Yule’….This kind of note adds weight to the argument that it is high time for Christians to leave public schools for reasonable alternatives (homeschooling and private Christian schools).”

Another conservative Christian blogger in the county complained about finding the flier in her child’s folder. Apparently unaware of Falwell’s role in bringing it about, the blogger who goes by the name Cathy, noted disclaimer language at the bottom of the flier noting that the event is not connected to the school and wrote, “They [the school officials] aren’t endorsing or sponsoring this? Then it shouldn’t have been included in the Friday folders. The Friday folders have never been used for any thing other than school work and school board and/or County sanctioned/sponsored programs.”

She then fumed that a “pagan ritual” is “an educational experience my children don’t need.”

Well, Cathy and Jeff, it’s a new day. Your pals Falwell and Staver have opened up this forum, and now everyone gets to use it. Isn’t that what you wanted all along – freedom of religion? That freedom means all religions – even ones you don’t happen to like.

--Rob Boston

[notyoubob]

If it weren't for the Law of Unintended Consequences, DCB might be reduced to sharing Spudnut recipes.
And yes, Jolly, I am eager to try out your recipe. Thanks.

[Bubba]

DCB???? Who/what is that?

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by Bubba

DCB???? Who/what is that?

Well Bubba...

A long time ago in a FAR away place there were these egomaniacs who took over a board, a little like this one, and then started talking to themselves.

Ring a bell?

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by wordsmythe

Well Bubba...

A long time ago in a FAR away place there were these egomaniacs who took over a board, a little like this one, and then started talking to themselves.

Ring a bell?

Not really...I remember a board called DodgeCitytalk that was abbreviated as DCT and I remember a user on that board that was a little too much in love with his veggies and his handle I believe was DCV. But I'm at a complete blank with the DCB.

More clues needed for the clueless, I guess.

[wordsmythe]

Awww It had been long enough that I guess I'd forgotten too.

[TexKan]

I think he meant Dodge City Board.............. since we are the ONLY game in town - really - I (by reading between the letters) think he meant DodgeBoard........ I figgered Jollys recipe wasn't posted anywhere else..... LOL Get the hot oil ready Bubba!!!!.............

[tat2me82]

I don't see what the big deal is, they let one religion use it why can't the rest?? It wouldn't be fair not too.. I think it's more in part to that most people associate pagens, wiccans etc. to satanists (which is completely false) I would get pretty peeved if school started sending religious material home w/ my son, if they were to do that I would expect material from all religions just not one!! My son is only 3 and I would throw the papers away anyway until he was able to understand what he was reading so he could decide for himself what he wants to believe in.

[wordsmythe]

I think it has to do with them not wanting their children to realize there IS a choice other than the one they made.

[tat2me82]

I definately agree w/ that statement