Hey! Why bother now that we're in power?

[fshrink]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=585&e=3&u=/nm/20041202/sc_nm/life_stemcells_dc

[immoderate]

1. Who knew that Mel Gibson was such an expert?

--IMM

[robbedvoter]

6. He sure is, and that's why:

" F-- you! I don't mean f-- you; I mean "f-- you" in general. I don't have to answer any of these questions anymore. I'm a hell of a lot wealthier than I once was."
Mel Gibson at DVD sales convention for The Passion

[NoodleBoy]

2. huh?

how are we in power?

[fshrink]

3. Irony.

Talking from the woman's perspective.

[BurtWorm]

4. What a bizarre story.

How could any American school child have enough on the ball to quote this?:

"In the midst of all the misplaced outrage, is the story of the sad and disturbing success of a fraudulent social 'conscience' that devalues life in favor of demonstrably failed science, wasting billions of dollars in the process," she was quoted as saying.


What is a person who talks like that doing driving a bus? Why is it inappropriate for a bus driver to say whatever she wants, as long as it isn't purposely offensive? Maybe they want her to just keep her mouth shut and her eyes on the road?

I feel very conflicted about this story. I find her opinion way off-base, but I have no problem with her expressing it. I don't see what the problem is. I really don't.

[NoodleBoy]

5. teachers aren't even allowed to discuss politics in the classroom

I don't want my tax dollars going to a teacher who'd teach my children (I don't have any yet) their political views-- even if they were my own-- much less a school bus driver.

[BurtWorm]

7. Why don't we teach our children that people have different opinions

and are entitled to hold them, that way they might be able to recognize the difference between fact and opinion. We used to talk politics in school. I don't see how you can not in an election year.

[fshrink]

9. The more it goes the less we do!

This is an example of the new bushage (I wonder what that means in Japanese!) It is now OK for anybody to lecture kids about god and stuff. The anthem and all the rest is not enough. Just like the idiot said: we've got political capital and we intend to spend it". Sky's the limit.

[immoderate]

8. Teachers can talk politics.

Teachers at higher levels are protected by academic freedom. Teachers at formative levels should let the student carry the show, and encourage the students, perhaps by Socratic method, to explore all sides of an issue.

The important thing is to be fair.

I too, have mixed feelings about the bus driver. On the one hand she should have freedom of speech. On the other, she should stick to driving the bus while she's being paid to drive the bus.

--IMM

[NoodleBoy]

10. what I meant was, public school teachers generally don't seem to be

allowed to talk politics. I don't know if that's the way it is, it just seems-- I remember in High School, around the time of the 2000 election, no teacher would say anything about their politics, and the only time that any of them did was a couple (who were married and taught together) about the legality of the florida recount, after school hours.

[progressoid]

11. Not to disparage bus drivers but

doesn't that quote sounds a little too much like she was parroting some religious fanatic's rant? Heck, I know *teachers* that can't form sentences that complex let alone the person making minimum wage driving kids to and from school.