I just received this via my school district's email, so what should I do?

[Dzimbowicz]

I responded to this fundie wacko by asking her not to send me any more religious material. BTW, she is using our school district's e-mail server to distribute it; and, there is a policy against such actions in our district. So what should I do? Or, what would you do?

- Should I complain to the principal (who is a reasonable person)?

- Should I inform her, and my principal, that I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU and my cousin is a civil rights attorney?

-Should I just remember that I am in Freeperville, SC and that these people do not know what they are doing, therefore let it go?



This is what was sent to me:
I received this from my mom today…felt led to share it. May God bless you and keep you this holiday season and every day of your New Year!


As most are running around here and there the next few weeks, this is a very good prayer to keep in mind....

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night, is a single mother who worked nine hours that day & is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry & spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly, is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles & blocking our shopping progress, are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts, not to just those who are close to us but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

[Racenut20]

1. I would ignore it until after Christmas.

If then, after the holiday, she sent me more I would share it with the primciple.

[Feathered Fish]

2. She is breaking the rules

to distribute her garbage - talk to the principal.

[Squatch]

3. Hit "delete"

[China_cat]

4. If it's the district's server

you should go directly to the school board with a copy of the complaint to the school district supervisor. This is district wide and your individual principal will probably not have the authority to do anything about it.

[Dzimbowicz]

9. The fundie just responded...

and apologized! I'm stunned.

[yellowdogintexas]

20. do you know for sure she is a fundie, or are you assuming it

because of the religious connotation of the email.

The fact that you received an apology indicates to me the sender is not a fundie, at least not by my definition, and just didn't think.
She may even be a very nice person.

[Dzimbowicz]

31. I know it for a fact

as she sends out such mailings quite regularly. She is always proud to announce to the entire school how many young people she has saved during certain events (retreats to the mountains or to the beach), how involved she is with the Fellowhip of Christian Athletes, etc.

[yellowdogintexas]

36. OK I stand corrected on that one,

and using employer system to send chain mail is usually frowned upon.
which is how I would go about my complaint.

I still like the thoughts behind the message.


and may we all be delivered from HIGH STRESS this season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


since I have a head cold today, I am being deliciously lazy.

how is that for a non sequiter?

[zbdent]

34. Was the reply to just you, or was it as widespread as the original post

If she was sincere, she would apologize that she was using the school property.

Otherwise, her propoganda has been spread, and she "gets her reward".

[Dzimbowicz]

39. Nope, just to me.

[zbdent]

40. I expected as much

There used to be an old saying (something to the effect of):

"Attack in private, apologize in public".

Even David Brock didn't bother with this. His "apology" to Anita Hill was a private message. That's one of the things that he should have done to redeem himself.

[SCDem]

5. Remember you are in SC!!!!

hehehe but also I would email her back as well as everyone else that she emailed this to which may include the principal and state that you do not wish to recieve unsoliticited email in the future.

That's what I have done to co-workers and relatives alike who have sent me fundie crap.

[China_cat]

16. I'm in SC too

and quite a few of the school districts have been sued so many times over shit like this that they are VERY sensitive to complaints.

[UdoKier]

6. It's not an offensive message.

As fundie messages go, it's pretty inoffensive.

I'd probably let that one slide with no reply.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. if not for the "heavenly father" which identifies it as a prayer

it is actually pretty good thoughts for the day.

rephrase with.

As you go through this season, etc. remember that things are not always what they seem and instead of "Heavenly Father" just insert

'Please bear in mind that"... which takes out all the religious significance and actually leaves you with some pretty good thoughts which could be useful to anyone at any time.

I have received this email before from good friends, and have heard it given as a devotional in sunday school class . I rather like it.

As religious sentiments go, I find it totally inoffensive.

Sender is not trying to convert recipients, not saying one way is right and all others are wrong (root source of most complaints about religious heavyhandedness in school systems anyway)..just expressing thoughts she undoubtedly received from someone else reminding us to not fly off the handle during a stressful time of the year.

Definitely I would not raise the roof over this, it is pretty innocuous.

[mslux]

Reply to the email

Thank her for the sentiment then explain why she should not be sending such email using the list. Your reply should be in the same loving spirit as her message, but firm in your objection.

[mslux]

7. Reply to the email

Thank her for the sentiment then explain why she should not be sending such email using the list. Your reply should be in the same loving spirit as her message, but firm in your objection.

[RetroLounge]

10. Better yet, REPLY ALL instead.

"Your reply should be in the same loving spirit as her message, but firm in your objection."

Agreed.

RL

[Squatch]

11. And alienate yourself from everybody?

There are better ways to go about shooting yourself in the foot.

[DrWeird]

22. Loving spirit?

"Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares."

Loving spirit my ass.

[buczak]

8. chain mail.

It sounds like me that is just a chain e-mail letter. Most organization including business and schools have policies again chain e-mail.

The policy against chain mail is not for any political or religious reason, but because it can clot up mail servers and pass viruses.
Chain mail and spam are a problem everywhere and they waste time
and money.

I suggest that you send a nice note back to her informing her that's it's against policy to send chain email (if you can find the reference to the policy somewhere great).

If she keeps doing it, carbon copy your principal.

[tanyev]

12. Reply all.

Dear so and so,
I would like to remind you that I asked you not to send me any more religious email, especially from the school district's server. Thank you.

If she whines, act horrified and apologize profusely for "accidentally" hitting Reply All.

[Nite Owl]

13. While she shouldn't be using

a public school server for a religious message the message is quite good. If only these people would be able to see that who they vote for are the very people fighting that message. It's really totally a non Repuke message.

[mdhunter]

14. I'd informally discuss it with the principal

The content of the message isn't totally objectionable, it's not outright proselytizing. It is, however, probably an inappropriate message to be using school resources to send.

If this is a rare occurrence, and this person's first time, I'd casually mention that you think it might not be appropriate to the principal. No need to make a huge deal out it, just make sure you let the administration know. Document that you alerted the administration that you were uncomfortable, so that if this happens repeatedly, and seems tolerated, you're equipped to assert that it's happened before.

I think by just talking it over with the administration, and not getting too angry about it (and don't "complain" but, rather, be assertive and positive) they'll be more likely to chat with the offender.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. A small but very effective

thermonuclear device thrown through her window might get the job done and send a message to any of her buddies who may be thinking of godspamming in the future.

Seriously, I would absolutely let the school district, the principal, and maybe even a local paper know about this. I am sure its stealing.

[ET Awful]

17. Reply that . . .

Thanks to Bush . . .

That single mother will probably have to work 12 hours to earn the same pay by this time next year.

The 19 year old is probably more scared of being drafted and getting his ass blown off for an illegal war.

The "bum" that is a "slave to addictions" is a criminal and not a victim in the eyes of this administration and should be imprisoned, not rehabilitated.

The elderly couple might have even more time together if health care were readily available.

[yellowdogintexas]

24. and guess what, if you had responded to her with this note

you might have found out she tee totally agrees with you....you never can tell you know.

Up the street from me is a house that is decked out in total red lights every Christmas, and it is pretty and tasteful, except for the big red cross by the front door. I just don't like to associate the cross with Christmas, a particular pet peeve of mine. Stars and angels etc are much better IMHO. Besides, it just made me think "Another over the top religious person lives there"

Anyway, to my surprise and delight, in September, a nice big Kerry Edwards sign popped up in the lawn of this same house.

Now, I silently salute this house everytime I drive by it, RED LIGHTS or no and laugh at myself for assuming too much!!!!

You never can tell.....and I do love life's little surprises!!!!! Sometimes they keep me sane!!!!!

[RPM]

28. word

i feel you

[alwynsw]

18. Half full or half empty?

By all means, respond to the sender with a polite, yet firm reminder of the rules regarding the use of the mail server.

Also, ignore the actual message because you're incensed that the email identifies a non-specific, except for gender, deity. It appears that the prime message of this email is exactly what progressives and dems preach (pardon the term) on a daily basis: understanding, acceptance, and empathy for our fellow human beings.

Regardless of your beliefs, the sender's beliefs, or the beliefs of the rest of the world, the heart of this message conveys an attitude toward and acceptance of others that we should all be proud to exhibit.

[Menshevik]

21. reply

letting her know why the "college student" is worried about his loans (thanks to Bush) and the "scary looking bum" is out on the street and can't find a job in the bushco economy

[Debbi801]

23. I'm Jewish, so forgive me if I'm wrong, but...

Isn't tolerance a big fundie ideal? Where is the tolerance in talking about:

• The jerk who cut us off


• The pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly


• The scary looking bum


• The old couple walking annoyingly slow

Very strange prayer if you ask me. :-)

Debbi

[yellowdogintexas]

29. the prayer is to remind us not to judge the

jerk
young man
bum
old couple
as we could not know why they are the way they are without knowing their "back story"

The message is to not judge, to not assume, and to ask our Higher Power for the wisdom to be charitable toward those in whose shoes we have not walked.

[Debbi801]

49. Okay. Now I understand. I still find it bizarre, though.

[RPM]

25. reply with this version...

As most are running around here and there the next few weeks, this is a very good prayer to keep in mind....

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the fundy whacko who sent me an e-mail earlier never learned about separation of church and state in history class and is a victim of a school system that has been chronically underfunded by republican politicians who espouse moral values, while teaching hate and keeping a couple of women on the side.

Help us to remember that the uppity, holier-than-thou "christian woman" who is judging the worth of a human being by his piercings, tattoos, and youth is the victim of a religion that has taught her xenophobic fears of anyone who is not like her and empasized such teachings by giving her a God who is an old white man with a beard and a Christ who is a young WASPy looking man, not the man who looks like the Arab of whom she lives in fear....

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to the ambivilance of modern society and the destruction of social services under the "starve the beast" doctrine of the Republican Party.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles & blocking our shopping progress, are moving so slowly because they must count every cent since their savings have been wiped out by rampant businessmen and their drug coverage has been yanked by greedy insurance companies. While they were lucky enough to be covered for the biopsy, they are blissfully unaware that she is dying of cancer due to the raping of the environment during her lifetime.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love, which of course can only exist between a man and womand and their profligate number of children. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear - open our hearts, not to just those who are close to us but to all humanity; except of course for jews, muslims, athiests and homosexual. Let us be slow to judge - unless Fox News or my pastor has already told us what to think - and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love when it is in my best interest.

[SCDem]

27. Now this shouldn't be sent but it did give me a pretty good laugh!

[RPM]

30. thx

it was fun to write - i wouldnt reply with it - it assumes too many things, but is kind of an amalgam of what i feel towards the large amorphous group of folks who send me that shit.

[CBHagman]

26. Just let this one go.

For starters, it's actually a plea for tolerance (Yeah, I'll get flamed for saying that, but consider what she's implying about being judgmental). It's rather Atticus Finch-like in its attitudes, though not its approach.

I agree with you in principle that no one should use the e-mail system for religious messages. I'd say you might want to confront her privately later on, but let this message pass.

[yellowdogintexas]

33. CBHagman, you and I can just be flamed together

see you in the fiery furnace.

[nicolemrw]

45. i thought it was touching

and i liked it.

though i agree it shouldn't be sent through the school e-mail.

[zbdent]

32. Reply that you are sorry you cut her off because

you are a single mother who worked nine hours that day & was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry & spend a few precious moments with your children

[ArkDem]

35. Viciousness like this MUST be responded to quickly.

DO NOT let them get away with this type of threatening behavior.

[yellowdogintexas]

37. sorry, don't see viciousness here, and believe me I have seen

plenty.

hope you are being sarcastic...

[ArkDem]

48. bingo

[nicolemrw]

38. i don't know the person who sent you this

and maybe she is a "fundie whacko". but theres no evidence of it in this e-mail.

you think anyone who believes in god is a fundie whacko?

[Dzimbowicz]

41. See my post #39

No, in my opinion every person who believes in god is not a fundie wacko. I do know for a fact that this person is.

I do firmly believe that people should keep their religious beliefs to themselves, especially in places such as public schools.

[nicolemrw]

43. i looked at 39

and all it said was that she appologized only to you. whats your point?

[nicolemrw]

44. ah. you mean 31

ok, so shes a fundie.

btw, i do agree with you that she shouldn't be sreading a religious viewpoint through the school e-mail. i was simply pointing out that this mail in particular was about as far from fundie whackoness (and since i'm a regular poster on a christian discussion board, i _know_ whackos) as you can get and still be religious.

[RPM]

42. Complain.

Regardless of what her message is or isn't, religiouslly, the message easily falls under personal use. I doubt that the school district policy smiles upon personal use of the email. While the district may look the other way, it probably has policy on the books that can be pointed to. A strong rebuke is in order for the sender as a reminder to all employees to keep personal use minimal and narrowly directed. i.e. the e-mail system isn't there to broadcast any message that is not strictly germane to the school business.

[tsakshaug]

46. reply to her & district technology director

Thank her for her blessings, but ask that this type of message not be sent out as bulk mailings which are not related to schools are against the schools AUP (acceptable use policy)-at least I would assume it would be. violates mine

[tjdee]

47. What's the big deal??

Oh my god, so it says "Heavenly Father" and closes with "Heavenly Father".

BOOGA BOOGA!!!!!!! This is hardly religious, IMO, and I have (unfortunately) been getting a bunch of holiday religious emails.
It's an email about tolerance, for chrrissakes!!

Are people being religious any time they mention the WORD God? Really?
When I hear someone say "God bless you" after I sneeze, or hear someone sing "God Bless America", I seldom think they're actually invoking the Godhead.

I'm sure like you said, she has no idea that someone is thinking about telling her that their cousin is a civil rights attorney. :eyes:

But--I HATE forwards. So if you're going to say anything, say something about the fact that school district servers aren't meant for personal/non school items.