The "gay" high school opens with hateful protests

[Timber Loftis]

Hey, Rokenn, no offense, but if you post a link with sound files, please forewarn those of us who are at work -- so we can turn the volume down.

Okay, so he was a gay guy who got assassinated for being gay. Thanks for the info.

[Rokenn]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Hey, Rokenn, no offense, but if you post a link with sound files, please forewarn those of us who are at work -- so we can turn the volume down. Okay, so he was a gay guy who got assassinated for being gay. Thanks for the info.

It had sound? My appologizes, the firewall here at work blocks streaming media so I was not aware.

[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by Rokenn: It had sound? My appologizes, the firewall here at work blocks streaming media so I was not aware.

No problem. It gave people something to stare at other than my feet-on-desk.

[Chewbacca]

Making it sound like 170 scared and harrassed teenagers who have a safe refuge are going to reverse all the strides gays have made becoming accepted in society and that getting beat up is something worth happening for the valuable lesson it teaches is ridiculous.

Sorry, I will only agree to disagree with these lines of "reasoning".

And Skunk- where did you get the idea this school is better funded than any other one in the N.Y. school district? Did I miss something in the articles I posted?

[khazadman]

Wow TL, you have a Marylou Retton doll too?

[Skunk]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Making it sound like 170 scared and harrassed teenagers who have a safe refuge are going to reverse all the strides gays have made becoming accepted in society and that getting beat up is something worth happening for the valuable lesson it teaches is ridiculous.

Now, now, it's a very *dirty* tactic to twist anothers words into a completely different meaning.

The valuable lesson to be learned is to stand up for yourself and not cower every time you are threatened.

Originally posted by Chewbacca: And Skunk- where did you get the idea this school is better funded than any other one in the N.Y. school district? Did I miss something in the articles I posted?

I think that you missed about 3.2 million things...

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by Skunk: quote: Originally posted by Chewbacca: Making it sound like 170 scared and harassed teenagers who have a safe refuge are going to reverse all the strides gays have made becoming accepted in society and that getting beat up is something worth happening for the valuable lesson it teaches is ridiculous.

Now, now, it's a very *dirty* tactic to twist anothers words into a completely different meaning.

The valuable lesson to be learned is to stand up for yourself and not cower every time you are threatened.

Originally posted by Chewbacca: And Skunk- where did you get the idea this school is better funded than any other one in the N.Y. school district? Did I miss something in the articles I posted?

I think that you missed about 3.2 million things... [/QUOTE]Um sorry you think I am twisting another's words. I did draw my own interpretation of many comments on this thread and I won't say they are correct or incorrect, only they are my own.

Perhaps standing up for yourself is having the courage to find a safe refuge? It is wise to dodge and retreat if facing a dangerous overwhelming force. So instead retreating by dropping out of school, these kids can retreat to a safe school. The lessor of two evils IMO.

Believe me I am unashamed on the several occasions I fled the beatings of Nazi skinheads and the one occasion I fled a beating from gang bangers. When it was 5+ against 1, I made the smartest move in the world. I ran like hell! Boy those gang banger had me running!!! I learned to be very careful and aware of my surroundings when at a party or walking to the car after a concert because of these experiences.

I learned the value of fleeing to safety when there was no hope in "standing up for myself". Actually by running I did stand up for myself. By not running I put myself in a very deadly position.

Perhaps standing up for yourself is irrelevant. It doesn't work all the time and you are not allowed to do so in the school system here. You only invite punishment from the authorities and maybe retribution from the aggressors.

This is more than just mere bullying, it is violence, harassment and hatred.

And yes, the school was given money, 3.2 million dollars, to expand. The first money this school has received AFAIK to expand in 20 years of existence. I am sure other schools receive money for expansion or renovation if it is necessary to support a growing student body, so I still don't see how this kind of investment is so special and exclusive. Considering the sheer size of the NY school system I would think that 3.2 million is a drop in the bucket, but I honestly don't know how the over-all budget pans out.

Not sure this has been asked and asnwered sufficiently....

Why are these gay kids so sure they are picked on any more than any other kids? Im pretty sure bullies don't give the nerdy skinny kids a pass. Im sure that they harrass others. Why special protections for one group?...Having been a 110 pound nerd (but fortunately not weak due to farm work) I suffered my share of bullies....Im still wondering where this particular set of students gets the idea they have it so much worse than every other person in the whole school system?

Chewie I see what you said in your last reply to me and it is a nice theory, but I am convinced that I am a far better man for having had to deal with adversity in highschool than I would have been had I been coddled and sheltered.

But that is most definatley a Personal Opinion and there's no way to know what I woul dhave been like if I had been....except for seeing those who do get sheltered and the results....


[ 09-11-2003, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Chewbacca]

Originally posted by MagiK: Not sure this has been asked and asnwered sufficiently.... Why are these gay kids so sure they are picked on any more than any other kids? Im pretty sure bullies don't give the nerdy skinny kids a pass. Im sure that they harrass others. Why special protections for one group?...Having been a 110 pound nerd (but fortunately not weak due to farm work) I suffered my share of bullies....Im still wondering where this particular set of students gets the idea they have it so much worse than every other person in the whole school system? Chewie I see what you said in your last reply to me and it is a nice theory, but I am convinced that I am a far better man for having had to deal with adversity in highschool than I would have been had I been coddled and sheltered. But that is most definatley a Personal Opinion and there's no way to know what I woul dhave been like if I had been....except for seeing those who do get sheltered and the results....

MagiK I can only repeat that this school is not just for gays.

As far as special treatment goes, Well we give special treatment and special schools to smart kids, "dumb" kids, creative kids, and trouble-making kids. Why not have one for fearful kids?

Being coddled and sheltered implies never having to deal with threats, hate and bigotry. This school is designed for people who haven't been coddled or sheltered and in the face of repeated hateful adversity chose to flee rather than fight.

I can only repeat as well that the kind of violence faced by gays is more akin to racism than mere schoolyard bullying.

What if we put security gaurds in every hallway and provided personal escorts for the kids facing hateful bigotry?

I hate to think anyone's position is that taking a beating is preferable to providing security, but so far I have yet to hear a alternate solution to this problem of bigotry and harrassment that isn't akin to trying to fit a square peg in to a round hole.

What alternate solution is there besides these kids should just take their lickings and deal with it? I can only agree to disagree with this "solution".

[Grendal]

Originally posted by MagiK: [/qb]

So what is this kid who cannot cope going to do the day he graduates? Move to an all gay community and get a job at an all gay corporation?

Edit: for typo's and to make sure Chewie knows, Im being serious and not sarcastic here.
[/QB][/QUOTE]

No this kid who cannot cope will not graduate at all. He will wind up jumping off a bridge. Here in Vancouver in the last 5 years we have had a 14 year old "gay" kid jump off one of our bridges due to bullying. We have had a 9 year old girl hang herself in her bedroom and in her suicide note she blames the bullies at school. And over on Vancouver Island we had Reena Virk (15 I think) get beat up and left face down in the ocean at lunch time. Beat up I might add by what, 3 or 4 other 15 to 17 year old kids? And yes she was dead when they found her. Bullies, schools, kids, and our general outlook on other folks has seriously changed in the last 40 years. You can hope and wish all you like that things would be the way they were "back in the day" but they are not and they wont ever be again. You cannot even think that yesteryears values and or rules are remotely applicable today. Its a WAY more violent society we live in today and if we have to segregate our kids so they can get that extra 3 or 4 years of life experience and maturity I say segregate away! it might give them a fighting chance to make a go of life.