My Alma Mater Itawamba Agricultural High School Saddens Me
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Today, I want to talk about equal rights. I believe that this country, unlike any other country, stands for letting each one of us have the same basic rights and access to the same privileges as everyone else in the United States. At the heart of our country, it should not matter what color your skin is, who you fall in love with, what political beliefs you hold, or which religious beliefs you have. As long as how you live your life does no harm to others, then what you choose to do, or who you choose to be should not matter to the rest of us.
But then I see in the local news that my alma mater, Itawamba Agricultural High School, in Fulton, Mississippi, has told a lesbian student that she cannot bring her chosen date to her prom, and I realize that not all of us subscribe to the same notion of "equal rights" as my own family. In the world I live in, you cannot tell one student that she cannot attend a publicly sponsored event due to her sexual orientation! That is not being equal, and that is not giving someone the same rights and privileges as her fellow students.
To paraphrase the entire story, the student did not back down, and in fact the ACLU became involved to help her fight this discrimination. The school board decided, instead of allowing the student to attend the prom, to cancel the whole event "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events." Distractions that were caused by who? Oh yeah, the principal and the school board who decided to discriminate against one of their own students during the "educational process" that they were supposed to be providing to her. I suppose the statement means the outsiders who butted in to their bigotry, and put it on display for the world.
It's sad to find out that my hometown of Fulton is still unfortunately stuck several decades behind the rest of us. It's saddening that at least a couple of the people involved in this decision are people that I know very well, but are so far off on another plane of thought that we could not have a decent conversation.
I wonder why I can see the wrong in this instance when some of the people in charge at Itawamba Agricultural High School were in the same classrooms as I was growing up, listening to the same teachers, came away with something completely different? There's not anything special about me: I'm just another average white guy who has never had to face problems of equality, so I cannot identify with this particular student's issue.
To the world that is watching this story: Please note that everyone from this tiny little town of Fulton, who attended and even graduated from this tiny school, Itawamba Agricultural High does not agree with what has been put on display this week. There are good people in the area who know this decision was wrong. Eventually, yes even in a place that seems more bigoted than anywhere else in America, will make it through and provide equal rights for all of its citizens.
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B. Daniels is the lead review expert with Find Cheap Bargains. B. was more than likely the person responsible for the hands-on review of every product on the site. He also spends time searching for sale bargains when not conducting and writing the reviews.
Well said. Being from a small southern town myself, I can really appreciate your point of view.
I totally agree. I graduated from IAHS in 2005, and feel that everyone should be able to attend his/her senior prom. Based on what I read online, the girl’s girlfriend is a student there as well. With that being the case, they would each purchase their own individual tickets. So for them to tell her she can’t bring a girl as a date doesn’t make sense to me since they are both students there. It seems like the only real problem is that she’s wanting to wear a tux. And in my opinion that wouldn’t be anywhere as distracting as a low cut or slit up to there dress would be!
@Ashley, I absolutely agree, and it’s nice to hear from a fellow graduate on my site!
This high school’s website has been taken down. I wonder why?
Social Justice issues have never been my biggest cause. I don’t disagree; but, enjoying a place of privilege and watching the extremist “nutcases”, I just didn’t have the same level of passion. This is the second incident in a week that really has me pissed off.
Assuming that NONE of the attendees is supposed to be having sex AT the prom, is this even really about SEXUAL orientation? What’s the rationale for my “date” or “companion” being a different gender? What if a HS senior wanted his “date” to be his mother or some other married woman? (I’m not saying it’s not okay, just looking at the assumption that appears to be behind the school’s rule…somthing about sex, presumably.)
Which gets us to the tuxedo. It’s GOT to be less “distracting” than MANY other apparel choices, including some I’ve worn! When I was in high school (& today?!), I can assure you that the only way a lesbian in a tux would distract me from my main focus (HS girls) was if she were stealing them away from me! It would certainly NOT be about the tux and no more distracting than the competition from the guys. The whole distraction argument is just that: distraction (and obfuscation & prevarication!)
It is just ludicrous that two students couldn’t accompany each other to their own prom.
(BTW, the other tangentially-related story was the Catholic archdiocese in CO who thought they were being magnanimous by letting a pre-schooler and kindergartner finsh the school year at the parochial school; but prohibiting them from re-enrolling ever again, because their MOTHER’s were comitted, monogamous lesbian partners. If you want a behavior code to join whatever club you have, I endorse your right to enforce it; but NOT on people’s offspring for something the parents do or don’t. Are you NUTS?
I love how this school has stood their ground. I am so proud of this school and hope my kids can attend a school like this; one that actually has integrity and moral value. Shame on all of you who are making out the people who are right, to seem like they are doing something wrong. I don’t care which of the 3 acceptable religions you are from (Christian, Muslim, or Jewish); no one is above G-d, and G-d makes it very clear that homosexuality is not acceptable. This does not mean they have no right to exist; it simply means they will have to pay a high price if they choose this life style. And YES, it IS a CHOICE! Why anyone would choose to live like this is beyond me, but that’s why I love this great country; you get a choice!
All gays should keep their private life private; that’s all I ask.
I understand your point of view, and thank you for giving it! I like that it’s a free country, and we can all express our opinions the way we see fit, so long as they do not harm others. I still believe the law of the land stands, and you cannot discriminate against someone based on sexual orientation, especially when you are representing a publicly funded institution.
I grew up Missionary Baptist and Southern Baptist, so I know full well which activities are forbidden, and which are not in the Bible. In fact, the whole “co-mingling” aspect of the prom itself probably would not pass the test if you applied strict Biblical teaching to the entire subject. So, if you want to apply the Bible or G-d to the equation, based on those teachings, He probably would not be happy with the event itself.
Avi: You say that “This does not mean they have no right to exist; it simply means they will have to pay a high price if they choose this life style”.
I’m one of the “they” you are writing about, Avi: a homosexual. What if discrimination against me was eliminated from society, and there was no price to pay for, as you put it, choosing this lifestyle? Would this be wrong? Does God WANT me to pay a large price in life in punishment for my “choice”, and so, if you don’t actively contribute to that price, and instead tolerate a society that doesn’t discriminate, are you committing a sin?
Avi Lieberman: Your comments made me smile. Ignorance is such a bliss.
One only needs to *look* at you to get an answer to that.
R-
I am from Smithville, MS. I left the area so my children wouldn’t be raised around such bigotry. I returned a few years later for personal reasons and enrolled my child into first grade at a local elementary school. At the beginning of the school year, there was a parent teacher “get together” so everyone could meet. I attended with my sons father. We were singled out in front of the entire group (because we were “from away” as they called it.) by the teacher and told that they held prayer every morning before class and if we happened to be one of those “other religions”, our son could wait in the hallway till they were finished. I was mortified. I ended up removing him from school and homeschooling for the remainder of the year because his teacher apparently thought that screaming and name calling was an appropriate form of discipline. This part of the country has never had a concept of civil rights and cannot accept anyone different from themselves. Animals. I will never go back.
@S: Wow, and thanks for sharing. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at something like that, though. I had friends growing up who were singled out because they were of a different religion. Mostly, you would see it when everyone else was involved in a prayer, and they either left the room, or just sat there. Basically made them feel less than or left out, and it definitely wasn’t right.
Sounds like you did the right thing in removing him from school. Screaming, in my opinion, along with name calling, is not exactly an educational environment I want my kids associated with. Again, thanks for sharing your story.
Avi,
Did you “choose” to be straight? I didn’t. I was born with a natural attraction to women. I could not choose to be homosexual, because as early as I can remember (age 4 at least) I can remember noticing pretty girls. I had no choice I was born this way.
Therefore, why would I think anyone else would be any different? I don’t see how a person could have a choice. You are attracted to who you are attracted to. It’s just part of who you are, your genetic makeup, your DNA, etc.
I also graduated from IAHS, good while back, and I have to say I cannot agree with the school’s decision. A school should treat all students equally, regardless of their beliefs, as long as the student isn’t trying to cause anyone harm.
Ray
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