Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Did I really just see that? Solicitors for God at school??
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May 25, 2012 at 9:26 pm #603386
karenParticipantJust picked my child up at Denny and watched as every child that left on foot or bike was offered a “scripture book”. I drove around the block and they had every exit space covered, even on the Sealth side. I did call the school and they said that they were on public property and there was nothing that they could do about it.
That dosen’t seem right to me.
May 25, 2012 at 9:33 pm #759175
kootchmanMembercould have been worse, they could have been “Occupiers” .. gosh darn that public space and free speech thing. Were they speaking in tongues when they got home?
May 25, 2012 at 9:52 pm #759176
JanSParticipantI suppose you could teach your kids to just say “no, thanks”, and keep on walking. But, yes, public property…no different that Real Change being hawked outside a grocery store, I suppose. I am sorry that they think that a way to get more recruits is to pick on middle school kids…kinda low, if you ask me…
May 25, 2012 at 10:00 pm #759177
Ms. SparklesParticipantFree speech in a public place of all attendees choosing in one thing, covering all the exits of a place where the young and impressionable must pass through is like shooting fish in a barrel; I disapprove of this tactic….but then I disapprove of organized religion so maybe I’m just an ignorant heathen.
May 25, 2012 at 10:07 pm #759178
munchkin22MemberI’d be curious to know what religion was being hawked. The JW’s are pretty aggressive.
Anarchists would have been worse.
May 26, 2012 at 7:12 pm #759179
funkietooParticipantThis is the beauty, and challenge, of living in a society that allows free speech. We all have the right…which means we won’t necessarily agree with what others are offerring–yet, we need to accept it becaue otherwise, we all lose our right to free speech.
When I’m not interested in what someone is sharing, I just say ‘no thank you’ and keep moving. The ones that are the most difficult for me are the La Rouche supporters. I find their tactics very insulting and disrespectful. For instance, they put Hiltler mustaches on both Bush and Obama. As much as I did not like Bush, I still found it highly inappropriate…told them so, and kept moving. (did not tell them to remove their signs–only what I thought about it)
May 26, 2012 at 7:45 pm #759180
BornToBeBraveMemberI go to James Madison Middle School, and you are not alone. They did that on our school too. There is nothing the school can do about it as long as they are not on school property. I got pretty upset as well, me not being Christian. I have nothing against Christians whatsoever, I just think that they shouldn’t rub it in CHILDREN’S faces. But they stayed on the sidewalk and didn’t come on the property, so therefore the school cannot do anything.
May 26, 2012 at 8:08 pm #759181
munchkin22MemberWhat evidence was there that this group was Christian?
May 26, 2012 at 8:21 pm #759182
JanSParticipantI think people are assuming “christian” because they were handing out scriptures. Obviously, they weren’t Buddhist or Muslim…if it was scriptures being handed out.
May 26, 2012 at 8:35 pm #759183
karenParticipantI did not state that they were Christian. I heard the gentleman offering a “book of scripture so you can learn about God”. These were not pamphlets, they looked like the little
New Testament books that you see in hotels. But I didn’t take one so I don’t know. Surmise what you will.
I get that we all have the right to free speech, however I did not like that every child who left the grounds was targeted. Kids don’t necessarily have the skills or confidence to say no thank you.
I wonder how many of those orange books were found on the ground within a block of Denny/Sealth? Maybe the group that passed them out should take responsibility for going out and picking them up.
May 26, 2012 at 9:25 pm #759184
JanSParticipantthe other thing that I’d resent is someone assuming that any of these kids need to “learn about God”, according to what that person believes. That, of course, is just a personal pet peeve of mine…
May 26, 2012 at 9:34 pm #759185
munchkin22MemberKaren: entry # 7 said they were Christians.
I’m just seeking info, not trying to ruffle anyone’s feathers…
May 26, 2012 at 10:03 pm #759186
waterworldParticipantJan: I wouldn’t say it’s obvious that because “scriptures” were being handed out, you can rule out Muslims or Buddhists. Both religions have sacred texts. The Quran is as sacred to Muslims as the Bible is to Christians. Buddhists also have sacred texts, but I don’t know if they would use the term “scripture,” and it’s hard for me to imagine anyone handing them out on the sidewalk.
May 26, 2012 at 10:04 pm #759187
DBPMemberI’m totally with you on this, karen. Trying to proselytize middle schoolers is just wrong.
You might wanna use this as a learning opportunity — a chance to talk with your kid about sales pitches of all kinds, and how to deflect them.
Check?
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May 26, 2012 at 11:11 pm #759188
JanSParticipantwaterworld, I understand that…but…Muslims don’t necessarily hand out Korans calling it scriptures…and…well…Muslims would not be “recruiting”, , at least I don’t think they would. And I agree about Buddhists..
May 28, 2012 at 5:17 am #759189
HMC RichParticipantDBP, you crack me up. Just think if they used the old Nike Slogan. Just Do It. I suppose that slogan would work for a lot of groups. Hmmmmm.
May 28, 2012 at 5:21 am #759190
kootchmanMemberYea, proselytizing should only be confined to the classroom.
May 28, 2012 at 5:49 am #759191
tanyar23ParticipantI think they were pastafarians, possibly agnostics or atheists.
May 28, 2012 at 5:54 am #759192
miwsParticipant
[disclaimer]I’m going to presume that Poster #7, is indeed a student, and am making this disclaimer only to satisfy anyone that might call me out on my presumption.[/disclaimer]
BornToBeBrave, Being a Middle School Student, you must be around 15, or younger.
I must say that your post is very articulate, and you give us old fogies, (at least this one) hope for your Generation.
Mike
May 28, 2012 at 6:02 am #759193
HMC RichParticipantOr maybe the people handing out stuff were Red Lectroids from the Planet 10. Are they looking for an Oscillation Overthruster? Those Red Lectroid’s must love the Book of John. John Yaya, John Smallberries, and John Bigboote (thats Big Boo Tay) NOT big bootie.
May 28, 2012 at 7:55 am #759194
waterworldParticipantRich: You’re right — one of them was overheard saying “Laugh while you can, monkey-boy.”
May 30, 2012 at 10:24 pm #759195
skeeterParticipantI wouldn’t be at all upset if my middle school child came home with pamphlets from any religious, political, or charitable cause. If my child had an interest in the topic, the pamphlet would be a great opportunity to discuss the content of the distributed material. Sounds like a great formation activity to me.
And if my kid really wants to make his dad proud, she’ll challenge the heck out of all my beliefs in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
May 31, 2012 at 1:25 am #759196
JanSParticipantcalling it an educational moment? :)
May 31, 2012 at 5:17 pm #759197
dbseaMemberMy daughter came home from Madison with one of their pamphlets. Wish I’d kept it. No local info on it, just generic Jesus and God loves you and are the road to salvation etc. But I do not appreciate what I consider religious sales pitches made to my children without my consent. You want my respect then show a little yourself and ask first. I don’t believe any organization should be “soliciting” our kids without our OK. Public property or not. Still, a good experience in politely dealing with something like this and critically discussing it at home.
June 5, 2012 at 10:12 pm #759198
BornToBeBraveMemberMike (Post 19): Yes I am almost 15. And thanks. It contained the cycle of life, heaven, hell, ‘god loves you’ stuff like that. The teachers were upset too, and they carrying around trash bags and saying ‘if you don’t want it, then just throw it out.’
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