Posted by ( ) on September 24, 2007 at 10:01 am

I think it would be very enlightening for those who support this to research book burning in Nazi
Germany. When I say research, I would suggest a very objective approach. Who, how, and most importantly why would be very educational for some of the local taliban (gotta love that) around here. You know, there have actually been movements right here int he Unted States to ban all books except the bible. Sound familiar? Look no further than extreme Islam.

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Posted by ( ) on September 21, 2007 at 1:52 pm

Mother from Abingdon….

That was very well said and I salute your “facts of Life” attitude as well as your respect for your own child’s intellect.

I understand your point. Though I’ve lived all over the nation and the world, I have seen some of the worst excuses for parents right here in my home town than I’ve seen anywhere. It saddens me.

One example:
A guy and his wife approached my business looking for sponsors for his three boys to participate in motocross racing.
We’re very community minded, and having met their children ages 6 8 and 10, we decided we’d be glad to help. We agreed to give them $30 a week for the racing season. We had sepcial decals made to go on their trailer and bikes.
They would come in and tell us how well their boys did in the race that week. The kids would tell us how much fun they had and how they appreciated our help.
Well, as busy as I am, I decided I wanted to see the last race of the season. They told me it would be at 7pm at muddy creek some weeks earlier. I guess the didn’t count on me actually attending one.

I called the race track management to ask about exact directions to the track and obviously was shocked to find that there was no race scheduled.
In fact, racing had been over for three weeks.
The lady I spoke to became equally enraged when I told her what was going on.
She called me back and informed me that the kids had never been registered to race in their circuit.

I called the thief and asked why his kids weren’t at “the race”. He said one of them was sick and couldn’t make it.
That’s when I told him he was going to jail.

I filed a report with the Bristol PD and when they found out that he had coached his kids on what to say and do as a part of the fraud they were none too happy.

The man and his family have since fled the area.

This is the kind of thing that we agree has to be dealt with. When two parents are so low, so depraved as to use their children in the commission of a theft scheme, effectively teaching them that lying and cheating is how to get ahead, something has to be done.

I’m pleased to find out what a good parent you are.

Regards,

Harry Cannon of Bristol

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Posted by ( ) on September 21, 2007 at 12:08 pm

I’m the mother of one of the students in this AP English class.  She is now reading the book and is furious that this made headlines in the paper.  I asked her what the “big fuss” was over the book and she told me about the two paragraphs.  She also told me that her teacher told the class (before giving the book out) that some might find that section offensive and told them what page it was on and that they could skip that page.  Also, the parent making all the noise over it now signed the syllabus for her child to take the class, which the teacher spelled out which books would be read, what would be covered in her class, etc.

These students are high school juniors, for goodness sakes.  My husband and I do not drink, curse, use drugs, and we know who our daughter’s friends are, what she’s watching, listening to and what sites she’s visiting on the computer.  We take out daughter to church and she is a Christian.  But, we also allow her to watch PG-13 movies and the language she hears in those movies is worse than what is in this book and she does know that sex exists.  Also, we cannot control what she hears by just walking through the aisles of K-Mart or Wal-Mart.  The language that comes out of some ADULTS’ mouths in front of their own small children is shameful.  But those parents are making the decision to use that language and to act the way they do.  It’s called life.

I think that Dayton Owens and people like him may mean well but they need to realize that we cannot shelter children, especially teenagers, forever.  Banning books is wrong!!!  It’s like if you don’t want to watch a TV show.  Then change the channel or turn it off.  But don’t get on your high horse and decide that since it’s wrong for you that it shouldn’t even be allowed to be shown.  Or in this case, read.

The students in this class are driving cars, preparing for college, dating, and preparing for their future as adults.  The people who have the biggest influence on them are their parents.  It is OUR responsibility to raise our children.  To teach them right from wrong.

I believe that trying to pretend that certain things in the world aren’t happening is a disservice to them.  They need to know what is going on to be able to make decisions for themselves when they are completely on their own.

If you’re really concerned about our youth, work on the parents and grandparents about their morals.  If the children are raised right, we won’t have anything to be worried about.  It won’t matter what they watch, read, or listen to.  They’ll always do the right thing.

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Posted by ( ) on September 20, 2007 at 3:51 pm

HAH! :D

Let students think for themselves? Here In Republicanstan? The local Taliban would never allow it!

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