Senate passes 'license to bully' legislation
Bill grants exception for religious views
By Todd A. Heywood

Advocates for a law to prohibit bullying and provide school districts with the tools to address the problem were dealt a stinging rebuke Wednesday morning in the Republican-controlled Michigan Senate.

The GOP pushed through an amended bill, SB 137, which does nothing advocates have pushed for — including reporting requirements and enumeration, or listing, of protected classes. In addition, the legislation provides an exception which allows bullying based on "moral convictions."

The full language of the insert is: "This section does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil and parent or guardian."

Am I reading this wrong or did I just read you can bully anyone you want if your religious beliefs or moral convictions are offended?  A school principal can bully a trans kid?  A parent can bully a gay kid?

What century is Michigan in anyway?!?!

FULL STORY

How utterly disgusting.  I know that there are Republicans out there who are not delusional Christian fundamentalists, but I seriously have doubts about America's future ability to be taken seriously as a "progressive nation" when some states are still passing laws that demonise and encourage hatred towards anyone who isn't Christian, straight, native-born or cis.  Makes me even happier that I left the US for Australia which actually has laws in place where I live to protect transfolk.

Quote from: Kreuzfidel on November 11, 2011, 07:16:21 PM
How utterly disgusting.  I know that there are Republicans out there who are not delusional Christian fundamentalists, but I seriously have doubts about America's future ability to be taken seriously as a "progressive nation" when some states are still passing laws that demonise and encourage hatred towards anyone who isn't Christian, straight, native-born or cis.  Makes me even happier that I left the US for Australia which actually has laws in place where I live to protect transfolk.

My thoughts exactly. Although I was born in Australia, I've come across situations where people have tried to discriminate against me and the law has been on my side. Good to live in a country that isn't moving at a snail's pace in terms of anti-discrimination..

I can't wait to discriminate against people for eating their pasta incorrectly.  I think they deserve to be pushed down and have their lunch stolen if they don't use the white sauce.  That would greatly offend the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

"Religous belief" could be anything.  "Moral conviction" could REALLY be anything.  I really hope the language of the bill isn't as vague as it seems.

That really doesn't surprise me at all.  The US has been behind on many issues for quite some time now due to religion and it will continue to remain to that way for some time to come.  The only real solution as.. well as other means are illegal is to hope they grow old and die soon.  So maybe some new blood devoid of an 1950's so called values can step in.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on November 11, 2011, 10:34:12 PM
A person in America *should* have the right to come up to someone they disagree with, and state their position.

What happened to "Mind your own business" or "Live and let live"?  Why should this country or any country consider it a right to walk up to someone, usually a person you know nothing about except what you see, and tell them your opinion of them?  Think of the kind of society this "right" is encouraging.  How about the right to live your life in peace?

Imagine walking down a crowded street and living in this kind of society you are condoning.  Every dope who doesn't like the way you look would be encouraged to walk up to you and tell you exactly what they thought of you.  All this kind of "right" does is further pressure people into that little box we conveniently call conformity.  And that stifles individuality and freedom.

"I think TG people are of the devil." is not bullying.
Well at the very least it's not realistic.  Really, you could yell that at me all the day long and it would have the same impact and effect as telling me to go back to Middle Earth with Frodo, or that I'm the spawn of my magic dragon on Honahlee , or 'get thee back to Planet Krypton ye heathen; where at least I can fly like Superman. 


A person in America *should* have the right to come up to someone they disagree with, and state their position.
And, that other person - also in America - should have the self-same right to reply - with feeling: '->-bleeped-<- you and the horse you rode in on.  If I wanted any lip from you I'd scrape it off my zipper like I do with your mom.'  Also, since this is America, you might want to think about how much heat the person is packing before you shoot off your opinion, least it not be the only thing shot off that day.

I draw a pretty clear and distinct line (I know, it's a century out-of-date, and doesn't take into account 'the personal is politcal' ...still...) between public and private.  If this is part of a public debate on policy, laws or issues, or if it's a public work like commercial 'art' - then sure, everyone has a right to voice (however stupid it makes them look) their opinion.  But I don't think that gives you the right to voice it all the time and on everyone who happens to lose the lottery that day and winds up meeting you.  So long as the notions and/or work is private, then keep your opinion to yourself - or better yet why not go back to mom's basement and blog about it so your 1.5 readers will be able to luxuriate in the splendor of your wisdom and scathing critiques.


I know that there are Republicans out there who are not delusional Christian fundamentalists
Yeah, both of them.

I really hope the language of the bill isn't as vague as it seems.
I bet it's even worse, after all, for some reason these people don't think it's important to put people in office who know what they are doing.

Quote from: Beth Andrea on November 11, 2011, 10:34:12 PM
"I think TG people are of the devil." is not bullying.

"You f**king worthless POS! Goddaman TG perv! We should knock the sh!t right out of you, you goddamn WORM!"....*this* would be bullying.

And just how long do you think it would take to go from the first "it's ok to say that" statement to the next?

I'm sure the person saying "You f**king worthless POS! Goddaman TG perv! We should knock the sh!t right out of you, you goddamn WORM!" would defend their right by saying, "I was just exercising my right to express my moral convictions."

Quote from: Beth Andrea on November 12, 2011, 09:32:14 AMSpout of to me? Fine, I'm "turning the other cheek"...(my holster's there anway)

Draw on me? He'll be dead before his gun clears the holster.

Maybe we ought to hand out guns to the kids most prone to getting harassed and hassled in school. 


Oh, that's right, that didn't work out so well, did it?

This commentary made me happy - http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401901/november-09-2011/the-word---bully-pulpit.

Sorry I don't know how to embed video here yet.

This is disgusting!