The Political Discussion Thread

[Goose]

if the religious after-school program though isn't forcing kids to participate and is just an optional after-school program that kids who are attending the school who might be religious might want to take part in and again is not forcing students to take part in the program then I don't see what the problem is

If it's after-school, then by definition it has nothing to do with the school, does it? Ergo, since it's not a school activity, it's perfectly legal. But you're not allowed to run a religious programme during school hours, even if it's voluntary.

[Gatefan1976]

If it's after-school, then by definition it has nothing to do with the school, does it? Ergo, since it's not a school activity, it's perfectly legal. But you're not allowed to run a religious programme during school hours, even if it's voluntary.

I think MG was talking about use of school property, even after school here Goose.

[SoulReaver]

if the religious after-school program though isn't forcing kids to participate and is just an optional after-school program that kids who are attending the school who might be religious might want to take part in and again is not forcing students to take part in the program then I don't see what the problem is

interesting. could you elaborate?

[Gatefan1976]

interesting. could you elaborate on this?

Schools, esp school halls are often used out here to hold religious services, they are also used as polling places as well. School halls are well build generally, so why not use them in thier "downtime" for community activities

[SoulReaver]

Schools, esp school halls are often used out here to hold religious services, they are also used as polling places as well. School halls are well build generally, so why not use them in thier "downtime" for community activities

that's what I figured he meant. but MG's statement was too concise :/

[Wolf O'Donnell]

So the Westboro Baptist Church (The "God Hates pretty much everything people) is saying they are going to come up here and picket.
These people are also talking about how because their idea of religion is not universal is the reason this horrible event happened.

[Goose]

I think MG was talking about use of school property, even after school here Goose.

You know, I don't actually know about that. I think you can hire out the school property for religious meetings; I don't see why you shouldn't be able to, to be honest. It's not using up school property during school hours, so I certainly don't have a problem with it.

[Womble]

Yes, because clearly these deaths are at the same level of the Utoya massacre, or Columbine. Guns kill at faster rates, and the faster the gun, the likelier the body count is higher.

13 people died at Columbine- well comparable to my example.

Obviously guns can kill at faster rates, but the type of weapon being used is not the root of the problem, that's my point. Had there been "only" 8 dead children in the Newtown massacre rather than 20, it would still have been a terrible tragedy. But that had they been killed with a butcher's cleaver like in China, no one would obscure the nature of the problem by blaming the knife.

The root of the problem is not guns. The root of the problem is why this kind of massacres happen in the first place.

[mad_gater]

So the Westboro Baptist Church (The "God Hates pretty much everything people) is saying they are going to come up here and picket.
These people are also talking about how because their idea of religion is not universal is the reason this horrible event happened.

those idiots again...

when my mom dies I plan to see to it she gets a military service, as she's a vet, and if those blowhards show up they're gonna see how nasty I can get real damn quick

and yes that's what I meant....if a certain religiously oriented group wanted to hold an optional after school activity/program for like-minded people why shouldn't they be allowed to use school property for that? especially seeing as how they generally aren't likely gonna be trying to outright force people to join in the activity/program

[Gatefan1976]

So the Westboro Baptist Church (The "God Hates pretty much everything people) is saying they are going to come up here and picket.
These people are also talking about how because their idea of religion is not universal is the reason this horrible event happened.

http://www.examiner.com/article/conn...ning-to-picket

Wow, just wow.

[mad_gater]

You know, I don't actually know about that. I think you can hire out the school property for religious meetings; I don't see why you shouldn't be able to, to be honest. It's not using up school property during school hours, so I certainly don't have a problem with it.

it just sounded like you were saying that no religious programs could be allowed at the school at all, even outside of school hours

[Wolf O'Donnell]

13 people died at Columbine- well comparable to my example.

Obviously guns can kill at faster rates, but the type of weapon being used is not the root of the problem, that's my point. Had there been "only" 8 dead children in the Newtown massacre rather than 20, it would still have been a terrible tragedy. But that had they been killed with a butcher's cleaver like in China, no one would obscure the nature of the problem by blaming the knife.

The root of the problem is not guns. The root of the problem is why this kind of massacres happen in the first place.

But sometimes you can't quantify crazy, what you can do is try to stop the crazies from getting guns.

[Gatefan1976]

You know, I don't actually know about that. I think you can hire out the school property for religious meetings; I don't see why you shouldn't be able to, to be honest. It's not using up school property during school hours, so I certainly don't have a problem with it.

Goose bud, I think this is what tripped people up

and religious organisations aren't allowed to use school property and time to organise any sort of praying.

If you skim that fast enough you may read it as "religious organizations aren't allowed to use school property at *any* time.

[Goose]

Goose bud, I think this is what tripped people up

If you skim that fast enough you may read it as "religious organizations aren't allowed to use school property at *any* time.

Absolutely; it is rather ambiguously worded. I should've said that they're not allowed to use school property during the school day. Sorry for the confussion

[Gatefan1976]

13 people died at Columbine- well comparable to my example

Obviously guns can kill at faster rates, but the type of weapon being used is not the root of the problem, that's my point. Had there been "only" 8 dead children in the Newtown massacre rather than 20, it would still have been a terrible tragedy.

Yup, it is no matter what.

But that had they been killed with a butcher's cleaver like in China, no one would obscure the nature of the problem by blaming the knife.

This is where you get the "design intent" factor involved Womble. A butchers cleaver is designed to cut meat, that is its design purpose. yes, it can be used to kill, so can a stick or a pillow, but that is not thier intent. A gun has but one purpose.

The root of the problem is not guns. The root of the problem is why this kind of massacres happen in the first place.

Yes, but until that is done, does it not make sense to limit in some way the ability of people inclined to do such things efficiently?