Attempt to ban the book "Nickeled and Dimed" about woman surviving as waitress

[JPZenger]

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/index.ssf?/base/news-1/126672873013570.xml&coll=3

The above article is about an unsuccessful attempt to ban the book "Nickeled and Dimed" from a high school 11th grade AP class in Easton PA. It is an excellent book by a college professor who goes undercover to try to survive as a waitress in various parts of the US.

The book-banner claims it promotes socialism and is anti-Christian.

[mmonk]

1. I'm sure Jesus would agree.

Oh wait.....

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

24. Anti-Christian?

I've read the book (and it's really good) and I don't recall ANY reference to religion anywhere.

[mmonk]

32. It doesn't have to these days.

So why do they claim it is socialist and anti-Christian? It is a shame more people won't read this book. I have not read it but have heard it is good. Maybe I will pick it up.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

34. Read it. Absolutely.

You're never be rude to a hotel maid or to a retail worker again. EVER.

[Bigmack]

47. Never was rude.... but I now tip a lot more! nt

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

49. I find I'm far more patient with sub-standard service

Everybody is entitled to a shitty day, and after reading "Nickeled and Dimed," I really understand how often those shitty days can come when you're working on your feet like that.

And I'm now a compulsive over-tipper.

[poverlay]

101. Working as a waiter for the first ten years of your career has the same effect...n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

111. Yes it will!

[PSzymeczek]

74. I read it. It's wonderful.

Wish it weren't in storage with the rest of my life.

[Voice for Peace]

110. luckily your life isn't in storage, only stuff. life is always still with you, keeping you going on

[Maru Kitteh]

116. Please don't invalidate the feelings of others with Hallmark sentiments

When you suddenly have the simple comfort of sitting in your own chair and reading your favorite book stripped away from you like so much tissue in the wind - when your pictures of your grandma and your box of keepsakes and your other pair of slippers along with most of your other clothes are packed in a box with nothing more than a thin sheet of metal and a prayer to protect them from mice and thieves - your life is in storage.

It is traumatic and it's disorienting.

The financial disaster being visited upon this country is no less devastating than any natural disaster. Life savings are being swept away in the blink of an eye. Lives are left in ruins. Lives are taken.

It's a nice thing to let people know you care, but please don't try to tell people that the simple comforts of their lives are "only stuff."

[defendandprotect]

79. Evidently, "Christianity" and "Capitalism" are synonymous . . . ????

[mmonk]

115. Seems to be in "American Christianity". Their bibles

probably are redacted whenever Jesus is quoted.

[timtom]

126. For all those who would be disabused of the notion

that Christianity and nationalism or capitalism are to be conflated, let them read "Jesus for President" and "The Myth of a Christian Nation."

[juno jones]

106. It's a great book.

As someone who works in the service economy, it's well written and even I found some parts to be eye-opening.

It's a short, quick read, and as often as funny as it is grim. She is a genius. :)

[guitar man]

35. It makes supply side Jesus cry

that's all it takes for it to be "Anti Christian" :crazy:

[eppur_se_muova]

66. "Supply-side Jesus" is DUzy-worthy! :^D nt

[TroglodyteScholar]

72. Would be...

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Supply-side_Jesus

;)

[marshall]

119. The book was really popular in college campus a few years ago

<>

[TheMightyFavog]

44. The only reference I remember

Was someone telling her that one of the tactics she used in hard times was to join a church so that they could benefit from the charity of its members.

[kestrel91316]

84. It's NOT the bible, and worse yet, it points out major flaws in unfettered

free-market capitalism. therefore by definition it's anti-christian.

See, now wasn't that easy?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

90. Just back from my lobotomy.

I get it now. The conservative agende makes snese to me!

[Selena Harris]

102. Was there ANY reference to ACORN?

THAT oughtta constitute "grounds" for banning by these illiterate,repulsive excuses for humanity.

[Selena Harris]

103. Anti-WalMart?

She also writes about the poor wages and working conditions of her stint as a WalMart worker. Pretty eye opening. So much for saving more and living better.

Maybe THAT'S the school's REAL objection, seeing as how they might be vying for WalMart "scholarships" for their school system or teachers.

Fat chance, WalMart have been out to undermine teacher's unions and public schools for years now.

Take a look at madfloridians many posts here at DU about the Imagine charter schools. WalMart is a BIG ,really big contributor to them,and to charter schools in general, much to the detriment of public schools.

[Betty Karlson]

105. To many people, soc and anti-chr are one and the same

Probably to do with Marx's derogatory assessment of Faith in the 19th century.

But these 'many people' go further. They equate 'not expressly Christian' with 'not Christian', and 'not Christian' with 'anti-Christian'. This helps to explain why certain so-called social conservatives want to upturn 230 years of constitution and turn the US into an evangelical theocracy. These people have come to believe that anything not expressly Christian equals anti-Christian sentiments.

The habit of not actually reading the Bible, and relying on rich televangelists to 'explain' that precious Book to them, goes a long way as well in explaining their anymosity toward any criticism of present-day capitalism.

Of course, the whole divine adminition against the worship of Mammon never crossed their minds.

[FedUp_Queer]

108. What the hell...

What the hell kind of country do we live in when just learning about people struggling is "socialism?" What part of "Blessed are the Poor" do people not get from the Beatitudes? Not to get into theological discussion, but just look at the simple language from the Gospel of Luke:

Blessed are you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.
Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Be glad in that day and rejoice: for behold, your reward is great in heaven, For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.
But woe to you that are rich: for you have your consolation.
Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets.

(I included all of the verses for context, but bolded the ones applicable here.)

Can anyone really imagine these people supporting a person who said "Bless are you poor..." and "Woe to you that are rich..." It's no wonder that non-Christians look at Christians and see little but hypocrisy. If this is what makes a person a socialist, then I, for one, want to be as big a pinko as they come.

[Enthusiast]

114. Modern Christianity

apparently no longer includes the Beatitudes. No surprise really. The entire emphasis appears to be some sort of contrived "end times" theology. Pathetic.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

131. They should keep the good stuff and throw out the bad stuff.

That would leave the Sermon on the Mount, judge not lest ye be judged, as you did it unto them so also you did it unto me, and the beatitudes.

They need to throw out the hateful stuff, but they use it to justify their attitudes.

[Enthusiast]

135. It's all about picking and choosing.

There is a passage for just about every situation, especially when taken out of context.

I agree with you. The Jesus part doesn't seem to have much influence any longer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. If I taught that class I would require that book

Guess I wouldn't be teaching in Easton, PA.

[JPZenger]

5. The School District stood up and kept the book

The School District set up a committee, reviewed the book, and approved keeping it.

[depakid]

8. The fact that they even had to do that is a sorry statement about the nature of American society

in the 21st Century.

[Flying Dream Blues]

91. My God, isn't it? Breathtaking. nt

[PSzymeczek]

75. Good for them. n/t

[ashling]

3. Might I suggest this book as an alternative:

Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences
- a collection of essays, one by Barbara Ehrenreich (forward by Bill Moyers)

a wonderful compendium

[mmonk]

4. Absolutely.

[ThomCat]

6. Another paranoid asshole who jumps in fear at the mere

hint of the word "socialism." Oh my! :eyes:

I wonder if he faints dead away every time a fire truck rolls by. I wonder if he can drive on public roads without shaking in constant fright. Oh that dreaded Socialism!

And, Oh, that small section about how invasive drug tests are, and how disproportionately common drug testing is for low level jobs. Yes, after reading about how poor people are being harassed with more and more drug tests, often at random, I can see how he would get the impression that people would all want to run out and start using drugs. That makes Perfect Sense! :P

This asshole has been watching far too much Faux Noise. It has rotted away his brain.

[hobbit709]

7. Drinking from the public water supply probably makes him scream.

[closeupready]

48. LOL

:rofl: Thanks for the laugh. :hi:

[Jackpine Radical]

80. Well (no pun intended), of course!

Black people could be using that same water supply, ya know.

[krabigirl]

43. Yep.

And honestly, wasn't it "conservatives" who wanted the government out of people's lives (i.e. wouldn't they by principle be opposed to drug testing?! lol)

[ThomCat]

46. Ah, but conservatives love double standards! You forgot.

They hate when government is in THEIR lives. But they love getting government to interfere with OTHER PEOPLE'S lives.

If they smoke some pot it's nobodies business, because they're just having a puff now and then to relax a little. No harm done. But if someone else smokes some pot, it's sure to be a gateway drug to heroin, meth and crack.

If they were a little bit high at work, it wouldn't impair their ability to do their job at all. Not in the Least! Hell, it would probably help them do their job because they'd be less stressed out by their asshole manager, right? But if someone else was a little bit high at work, well, they're totally stoners, and it shows that they can't possible handle any responsibility, and they should be fired immediately.

[Ken Burch]

81. Maybe that's it.

Bosses can't handle their employees smoking pot because slightly-buzzed workers aren't scared of them. Can't have the peasants losing their fear and forgetting their station, you know.

[Touchdown]

73. And that asshole isn't even a parent.

Adams does not have children in the school district, but said he felt entitled to file a complaint as a graduate and Pennsylvania taxpayer.

[AnneD]

117. That was the part that killed me....

Our school and teachers are under siege. The Greater Houston Business Alliances has bought off a spineless school board here in Houston and brought in a hatchet man that has passed a ruling that teachers are held accountable and can be fired for their students grades on the state test. They make it sound so reasonable until you realize-we have to take everyone-not just the cream of the crop students (like charters),we deal with parents who don't give a damn about school for themselves let alone their kids, we deal with kids with socioeconomic problems. These developers want to strip public school of our very meager resources to open charter schools to sell their gentrified homes and subdivisions. They want us vs them schools, not education for all.

Teachers in Houston have never felt worse or more set upon. So many are leaving the field over the next few years-FOR GOOD. They are tired of losing 22 days of teaching to a bubble test instead of educating kids to think. This war on education is spreading across the nation.....by folks that don't even have kids in school. They just want us to teach the slaves just enough to run the machines-not to develop the machines.

[Burma Jones]

9. One annoying Jackass gets way too much attention

His request was dealt with accordingly.

[Odin2005]

10. The stupid, it BURNS!!!

:banghead:

[BuelahWitch]

11. Stupid putz doesn't even have kids in the school district!

"...but said he felt entitled to file a complaint as a graduate and Pennsylvania taxpayer." x(

[TommyO]

25. He doesn't even live in the district

Lower Saucon Valley, where he lives, isn't part of the Easton Area School District.

[jwirr]

12. I read it several years ago and what it really promotes is truth. The

teacher doesn't want to know that there are people who are poorer that he/she.

[Echo In Light]

13. Good thing children tend to *want* to read what fascists hope to obscure/censor

[lonestarnot]

14. tee hee!

[efhmc]

94. So right. I remember when any book was banned back in my day.

(the 60's). Never knew about it or cared about reading it until then. Topic of Cancer was one. Thought the book was idiotic but read it when a copy was passed along to me.

[Vidar]

15. K&R.

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. kick and recommend

I once heard the other of the book, Barbara Ehrenreich speak. She is certainly on the left. But the point of the books was simply to point out the reality of how many people have to cope with very low paying service jobs.

[stephinrome]

17. what is an "AP class"? n/t

[Marr]

19. Advanced Placement.

Same subjects the other students are studying, but with a more difficult, or at least accelerated, syllabus. Sometimes the courses count toward college credit.

[raccoon]

18. Sounds like the book-banner can't handle the truth. nt

[Bill McBlueState]

20. nice quote by the school administrator

"We read books like this to spark debate, get kids thinking about what they actually believe in, and stand up and defend it," Director of Teaching and Learning Steve Furst said. "That's really what this is about, trying to reinforce our democratic principles."

[laughingliberal]

30. Now, now. We can't be teaching those kids to think critically.

How would Republicans get elected? :sarcasm:

[kestrel91316]

86. Critical thinking is satanic. I guess you didn't get the memo......

[wickerwoman]

55. Yep.

And that's what they fear more than anything on Earth because in any kind of real debate, they would lose.

I taught a few chapters of Nickel and Dimed to college freshmen when in first came out. We had a great discussion in class and everyone seemed to get the main message and support it, with some little quibbles about her argument about maids making us lazy. I gave them an assignment with an option to criticize Ehrenreich and nobody did.

Then in my student-teacher evaluations one student railed and railed about how I was part of the liberal elite trying to brainwash him by making him read all these "leftists".

I was like... you had tons of chances to say something in class or to criticize her in your essay. The *assignment* was to criticize her. But you sat in the corner and said nothing, sharpening your knives for your passive-aggressive little end of term evaluation when nothing could be done about it.

I'm sure this kid is now a good little GOP storm-trooper. Why stand up for your beliefs in a forum where you might be challenged? Whine about them to the authorities until the rules are changed in your favor.

[sinkingfeeling]

21. I'd bet $5 that Eric Adams is an admirer of O'Keefe. We wouldn't want any high school kids to

learn about being a minimum-wage earner, now would we?

[Javaman]

22. It's fastinating how these people only look out fo our own good when it involves the truth..

Yet, when jackassed hair brained bullshit like birthers or whatever, get a free pass.

[Gormy Cuss]

23. Yeah, it's the anti-Christian thing. Sure.

FWIW Ehrenreich does make a swipe at a church in one of her vignettes.

This guy sounds like a loyal FOX News viewer.

" Adams does not have children in the school district, but said he felt entitled to file a complaint as a graduate and Pennsylvania taxpayer....

But Adams said the book encourages readers to join groups such as ACORN, a group of community organizations that advocate for social reform on behalf of lower-income Americans. The group has come under fire in recent years for alleged voter registration fraud.

Adams said the book also promotes the living wage movement, which calls for city and state governments to increase the minimum wage above federally enacted levels..."

[Monk06]

26. It's not the book that he wants to ban, it's the author

http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/scienceenvironment/1849/barbara_ehrenreich%E2%80%99s_bright-sided_explores_the_dark_side_of_positive_thinking

Dimes for donuts the complainer, Eric Adams attended this years
CPAC and heard Glen Becks exhortation to the audience
to go back to their communities and become citizen
activists

Ehernrich is an award winning New York Times writer,
a feminist and very left wing. Three things the right
loves to hate.

Oh I forgot to include this little nut (acorn?) from the
article.

"But Adams said the book encourages readers to join groups
such as ACORN, a group of community organizations that
advocate for social reform on behalf of lower-income Americans."

Obviously a fan of CPAC and Breitbart's employee James O Keefe.
Hell Adams is from PA he probably knows O Keefe personally.

[ensho]

27. kick

nt

[Lorien]

42. Adams sounds like an anti-Christian

he obviously never read the sermon on the mount.

[misanthrope]

28. Ehrenreich isn't a professor...

...She's a political activist and writer.

[JPZenger]

36. I thought she was a professor before she wrote the book

Its been a while since I read the book, but I thought she wrote that she was a professor before she started her underground career as a waitress.

[Jim__]

29. Not only does it promote socialism and is anti-Christian ...

... it contains ideas. BURN IT!!!

[joeybee12]

31. What Would Jesus Tip?

:shrug:

[JHB]

33. Foot washes. n/t

[JPZenger]

37. 15% of a cheap meal is nothing

The 15% tip rule should be changed. It should be 30% for a cheap meal and 10% for an expensive meal.

[Extend a Hand]

57. more than 10% for an expensive meal

Turn over on tables is so low at expensive restaurants compared to cheaper places you can't justify reducing the tip.

I usually tip 20% with a round up for change and $2 per diner or 20% which ever is more for cheap meals. I was kind of surprised to read a recent study that found the average tip in America to be 16.4%.

[Cleita]

38. They hate people speaking the truth, don't they? n/t

[Lorien]

39. And if it actually DID promote socialism and was anti-Christian, so what?

Our government was set up as a combination of socialism and capitalism. Freedom of religion is a cherished American right, as is freedom of speech. Ayn Rand's books have been a part of the curriculum in many schools for decades. It's amazing how Fox news has taught so many Americans to behave in such an anti-American way.

[wickerwoman]

53. Excellent point.

I had to read Ayn Rand, they can read Barbara Ehrenreich and Howard Zinn. At least now I know what I'm talking about when I criticize Rand.

So glad this school board didn't allow one bully to create another class of "Know Nothings".

[Quantess]

56. Absolutely. A quote from someone in the district:

"We read books like this to spark debate, get kids thinking about what they actually believe in, and stand up and defend it"

[KonaKane]

64. I wouldn't want bigotted books of any kind in my kids' library

Bashing anyone's race, creed, ethnicity etc is not acceptable subject matter as far as I'm concerned, when it comes to filling out a school's library shelves. And no, I'm not Christian so I have no dog in this fight.

[Touchdown]

77. You'd have a point if this book was biggoted, but it isn't.

... so you don't.

[KonaKane]

85. I was responding to the "anti-Christian is OK" comment above.

So thank you so much for your kind attentions.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KonaKane]

93. So "Anti-Jew isn't bigotted - it's rational."?

Have fun with THAT.

[Name removed]

121. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Touchdown]

134. You need to prove to me

that being anti-religion is bigotry. You are no authority on what is or isn't bigotry just because you breathe.

[Touchdown]

132. Nope.

But if it makes you feel better to say that, I can't help you.

[kestrel91316]

88. Read the book before you go posting such drivvel here. Jesus.

[KonaKane]

97. "Drivel" has one "v". And I wasn't talking about this book in particular

Try actually reading the posts before you get yourself hiked up in righteous indignation. I was responding to the one that said they were OK with anti-Christian books in kid's libraries. I am not OK with books that bash peoples' religions in a kids library. Leave the closemindedness to adult libraries.

[Name removed]

122. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KonaKane]

130. I'm not Christian, Sherlock.

That was the first of your idiotic presumptions. The next one was that its not allowable to make a general point while discussing a particular topic (or even a particular book).

Enjoy that heapin' load of fail you've just dished up for yourself.

[Touchdown]

133. I didn't say it wasn't allowable.

Just transparent at your poisoning of the well.

Enjoy your fantasy that I heaped a load of fail. :rofl: You need that congratulatory "Oh! Slam!" moment in every post of yours, don't you. Kind of like a pro wrestler.

[mopinko]

40. i suspect it is the author that he is objecting to.

barbara ehrenreich has been pretty vocal lately about her battle with breast cancer, and how sick she is of people who tell her she needs to pray/think positive about it. i think there is a book about to come out.
not that she doesn't have an illustrious career as a trouble maker and pinko behind her.

[DemoTex]

59. I agree. It's probably the author - Barbara Ehrenreich - that chaps their ass.

She is a great progressive treasure. Nickled and Dimed has been out a long time and this is the first complaint of this type that I've seen about it.

I guess it was un-Christian the way she took on the anti-Christ, Walmart, and wrote about it. "Do unto them as they would do unto you," I always say. But it is impossible to fuck Walmart the manifold ways they can fuck you.

[krabigirl]

41. Ugh, jesus, save me from your followers!!!

[madmax]

45. Read it - good book

Should be read by young people, may be motivational.

[Bluebear]

50. +1 excellent book!

[quiet.american]

51. Unbelievable. That's an excellent book. nt

[DiverDave]

52. My mom took care of 4 kids

on a waitress salary.
I started working when I was 13, in the same place.
I traveled around, again working in restaurants...show me another job that FEEDS you.

raygun screwed us when we had to pay 10% of our gross sales for taxes,
nevermind some nights you wouldnt even make that
I had a check for a long time that was cut for $0.00.
Been there, done that, dont need to read about it.
But required reading for everyone not familiar with struggling to pay the bills, while you smile at the assholes that feel that you are their slave

[juno jones]

107. In the era of Raygun

I learned that no matter how bad it got, my restaurant job always guaranteed my meal.

I got out of waitressing and went into cooking just as the tip taxes took effect. The fact that some states still allow less than minimum wage for tipped employess is sickening.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

54. BWAHAHHAAAA!!!!!

Man, bookburners will do anything to control thought.

But I bet those shitty books by Hannity and BecKKK will be on the summer reading list.

[Liberal_in_LA]

58. I read it recently. it's a good book. Nothing socialist or religious... she just describes her

experience, trying to make on a waitress or retail person's salary for a few months.

[KonaKane]

60. Tipping drives tightfisted rightwingers just NUTS

If you doubt that, check out craigslist RnRs now and again when the subject comes up.

[yurbud]

61. it also premoats reedn witch is the devil's werk

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

62. I've read it

and the reason people don't like it is due to the ideas and questions it raises. Most of us are comfortably numb. If we don't have to face some of the underlying issues of life here in the US we'd rather not. Books like this one raise the awareness level and that's not easy to think about.
On edit- I forgot to say I enjoyed the hell out of it! :)

[donheld]

63. Good

It'll just make the kids more inclined to read it.

[baldguy]

65. What's anti-Christian is to treat workers as a disposable commodity.

It should be required reading.

[nolabear]

67. Apparently the meek won't inherit doodly-squat

and that's the way they want it. The book is great; I recommend it highly.

That reminds me; I want to start a thread about "Undercover Boss."

[BlancheSplanchnik]

98. do it!

I think Undercover Boss is a very interesting cultural comment.

I'd like to see the discussion on it here!

[ensho]

123. me too

nt

[Touchdown]

68. It's a fantastic book. No wonder he wants it banned.

I've read it twice, and her sequel "Bait and Switch" once.

[BrklynLiberal]

69. they are too stupid to be embarrassed by how stupid they are.

[Beacool]

70. How can a book about the struggles of living on a waitress' wages be considered anti-Christian???

:crazy:

[AllentownJake]

71. Great my area makes the news again

for having people dumber than shit.

[fascisthunter]

76. yes, because sentiment towards the plight of a woman is against their ... their what?!

let's call these posers what they are... they use religion, god, bible etc to peddle their fascist economic, political cult like mentality on free-minded people. I see no spirituality coming from right wing religions... NONE! Book burning is for extremists like the nazis who fear info so much, they feel the need to control it or destroy it. What does that tell you about the people trying to do so? It tells me they are fragile and not so sure of their POV as they claim.

so here it is... they are: mentally ill

that's all...

[defendandprotect]

78. I think that book is by Barbara Ehrenreich . . isn't it ... really good book ...

And she actually did go out and work for minimum wage --

[JEB]

82. Typical

Conservative response is to attack the messenger or ban the book rather than attempt to refute any points made in the book.

[omega minimo]

83. Bless them Lord, for they know not what they do...........

[Bozita]

89. Reading that book would make high-schoolers a whole lot more serious about their studies.

Want to improve test scores?

Just have them read that book!

[Blue Owl]

92. what bullshit

you tell us what to think, Mr. Book Banner...

:eyes:

[kevinbgoode]

95. So why doesn't that whiny-ass Eric Adams character

go get himself a job as a waiter for a year and write his own book?

[winyanstaz]

96. Its past time for the Christians to get their noses and hands off the school books....

and get the HELL out of politics. Either that or they need to LOSE that tax exempt status NOW.

[wellst0nev0ter]

99. Well, Time To Re-Read It And Weep

That book was written, like, ten years ago? And we're worse off than we were back then?

We really are a joke of a country.

[struggle4progress]

100. "Holy crap! My teachers want me to think! How the eff can I get out of this tight spot?"

[shellgame26]

104. read it a few years ago

Anyone who criticizes this book just feels threatened by its truth. Let them go ahead and try to ban/promote it.

[markbark]

112. Ah Pennsylvania....

Pittsburgh on one end, Philadelphia on the other and Alabama in between.

[AllentownJake]

118. This isn't in the Alabama region

It is in the exburb of New York and Philadelphia region.

This area is highly democratic, but we do have a lunatic fringe that manages to fucking talk, alot.

[leftrightwingnut]

113. Prepared to deal with the world?

"That's sort of the point of school, is to teach students different points of view," Roper said. "If you teach students only one point of view, then they may exit your school thinking exactly like you, and they will not be prepared to deal with the world."

Well said.

The book is non-fiction. How does anyone think that ignoring reality is good preparation for dealing with the real world?

[havocmom]

124. Think I will buy another copy of the book

and donate it to a library that doesn't have one.

New program for dealing with book banners. :evilgrin:

[timtom]

125. Actually, Christianity WAS socialist

before THE CHURCH got hold of it. Then it became feudal. And nationalistic. And racist. And...we all know the rest.