I find it extremely inappropriate and offensive to compare the distribution of bibles to advertising cigarettes. I know people say that religion has killed more people than cigarettes have and that the church is corrupt, but the truth of the matter is that large problems don't happen on a local scale, and it certainly isn't the calm and devoted man standing outside the school that is creating a war against Islam.
The cigarette industry is about selling an addictive substance that pointedly destroys the lungs to anybody they can, including kids. We are exposed to more of their advertising on a weekly than a guy from the church could match in months.
On a local level, religion all over the world has been contributing to well-being and community. Religion is something that people can turn to unconditionally in a time of need or sadness. It can be a huge comfort to some to know or think that when a loved one dies they are just waiting in another life. Religion promotes caring, love, and service. As much as it may not be allowed to let someone give away bibles on school ground, it doesn't make sense to bash all religion over it.
It also seems prudent talk about the first amendment. Free speech says that this same man could have just stepped off the sidewalk or walked a certain number of feet away from the school zone and been okay to distribute his bibles anyways, so it wouldn't do anything usefull to combat him.
One last thing Tony. Why did you take the bible?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow Ryan. Thanks for "not attacking any named person" on the blog. Why did I take the Bible? Because then I'd have some proof that someone solicited bibles. No, I took it because it could be useful in a class, it's tiny, and I may read it (I already had a full, large Bible at home; I was also going to get a Qur'an). As I said in my 1st post, I am not trying to offend anyone. And I'm sorry if I offended you. But I wasn't comparing how bad cigarettes are to how bad religion is, or cigarettes to religion, or even the distribution of bibles to the advertising of cigarettes. I was comparing soliciting bibles and soliciting cigarettes on school property (which I am still hazy about; was it school property; does it matter if it wasn't school property, because it was so close to the school). The reason I used the comparison was to show that soliciting anything on school grounds is not allowed, whether it be a bible or cigarette, no matter how bad or good it is. "I don't think this is a terrible offense. I simply think that the school should be more public about its policies for solicitation on and near school grounds." The whole "impinging on someone's rights" thing was to show that by soliciting anything on school grounds, you are affecting people that might be more easily influenced and that no one shouldn't be able to affect kids (with whatever you have, bad or good) without the consent of a parent/guardian. If I really had it in for this guy or religion, I wouldn't have taken the bible, nor would I have said that it was no big deal.
ReplyDeleteIt's more likely that a kid watches "Pineapple Express" and decides to smoke weed than to read a book that an old man distributed.
ReplyDeleteIf you are worried about school children, wizened missionaries aren't their prime predator.