Focus on the Family (FotF) is not my favorite organization out there, I will be clear about that up front. I want their religions beliefs kept out of my government and laws.
I am very strong supporter of religious freedom and will argue passionately that people should have the right to whatever belief system they so choose, no matter how much I might personally disagree with those beliefs. However, I want religion kept out of politics and government. And for the record I am an atheist.
Getting back to the video that prompted this post (below), I knew it was going to be one that raised my blood pressure, and sure enough I really started cringing right around Candi Cushman's first "in God's image". Religion has no place in this conversation in my opinion, it just doesn't come into play in the least.
FotF doesn't want specific bullying behaviors named. Of course FotF doesn't want the individual behaviors named because when a child displays a particular behavior, especially a bigoted one, it's a refection on the child's parents or home environment. Children aren't born bigoted or racist- it's a learned behavior.
I agree with the idea that all children need to be protected and I also agree that the bullies themselves need to be counseled. That being said, the laws and guidelines surrounding this issue need to be very clear and inclusive.
Without a clear set of standards - who exactly would determine that a child is being victimized? If we eliminate all the specifics the consequences could be catastrophic. For example, could racist teachers (who have the right to their own personal beliefs) allow minority children to be bullied in front of them? Clear, plainly worded laws are necessary to ensure that all children are protected.
Eliza Byard was very cool and collected in this piece and I really like that she stuck to the data and informative talking points and didn't get sucked into FotF's baiting.
Here is the vid - hope this works, I'm new to the embedding thing.
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