SpongeBob SquarePants

The controversy surrounding, of all "people", SpongeBob SquarePants, has melted down into a fingerpointing, snickering assault on Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, who supposedly contended that SpongeBob was gay. Rather than investigate what was actually contained in materials headed for America's public schools, the media has turned the situation into a circus and has effectively taken the heat off of the "We Are Family" video, where it belongs. According to Wendy McElroy in an article at FOXNew.com, "The issue is: should the public school system be used to encourage sexual attitudes in children, especially attitudes to which their parents might object?"

My sentiments exactly! Admittedly, we homeschool, so this issue does not directly affect our children, but I do wonder why parents of children in the public school system are not up-in-arms over this. The nation's schools should not be a place for social conditioning, but rather a place of learning. Schools should teach kids HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Parents have a right (and in my opinion, a responsibility) to demand to know precisely what their children are learning, after all, isn't it their tax dollars that fund this educational venture? Ms. McElroy suggests, "If there is a media story in the SpongeBob furor, it is this: why has no one examined and provided a detailed analysis of the material surrounding the video. The story has clearly ignited national interest. Why has discussion been relegated to snickers and conjecture?"

As soon as parents raise their voices above the sound of snickering, the schools will take them seriously and respond accordingly: as an institution accountable to the American people.



ALSO:

A post at Thought of the Day echoes my feelings on the subject of our need, as human beings, to surround ourselves with "likeminded" people who agree with us in all areas. As a Christian, I find it disheartening when confronted with the shunning that can take place when people come across others of different views, as if somehow those people must be stupid or sinful if they don't follow a certain way of living and thinking, and I am speaking here of Christians relating to other Christians! Since we are all different, yet walking with God thru this life, I think it is about time we start appreciating our differences and seeing if we can learn something new from each other and I think we would all be better people for it.