Full text of Megan Chase's column

Ms. Chase is very wise for her age. Her empathy and insight is something the so-called adults who censor her sadly lack.

Nice job, Megan.

Your school officials are idiots for trying to censor you and fire the newspaper advisor. Your newspaper staff was right to resign in protest, and The Star was right to editorialize in favor of student press freedom and to criticize your school officials.

They're just a bunch of smalltown bigots in the last dying gasp of puritanism.

Her column is full of assumptions and innuendos that shows her lack of maturity. For example, no real Christian would ever say someone homosexual will go to hell. Only God decides who perishes or has everlasting life, it would be blasphemy to speak or judge for God, "Judge not lest you be judged". Homosexuality is not sin anymore than hetrosexuality is, it is the act of fornication by either that is a sin, as are all actions that are against Gods will. Will age she will mature and learn, since she is young this should not cause her any grief, she is expressing knowledge of a youngster only.

Tom wrote:

Her column is full of assumptions and innuendos that shows her lack of maturity. For example, no real Christian would ever say someone homosexual will go to hell. Only God decides who perishes or has everlasting life, it would be blasphemy to speak or judge for God, "Judge not lest you be judged". Homosexuality is not sin anymore than hetrosexuality is, it is the act of fornication by either that is a sin, as are all actions that are against Gods will. Will age she will mature and learn, since she is young this should not cause her any grief, she is expressing knowledge of a youngster only.

And you think you are better. I think she did a good job on that artical. More than you could. In fact she is probley smarter than you ever will be. And a lot more people agree with her than you.

"It's not a disease, or something that you catch from someone else"

While you can't "catch it" from someone else, trying to make a homosexual lifestyle seem natural does lead others to accept this immoral lifestyle as being normal. That in itself is sinful.

Repent now wrote:

"It's not a disease, or something that you catch from someone else"
While you can't "catch it" from someone else, trying to make a homosexual lifestyle seem natural does lead others to accept this immoral lifestyle as being normal. That in itself is sinful.

And just, exactly, please, what is the homosexual lifestyle?

Dyssonance wrote:

<quoted text>
And just, exactly, please, what is the homosexual lifestyle?

Why, clearly, repent now is somewhat of a pervert, only thinking about sex ...

Tom wrote:

Her column is full of assumptions and innuendos that shows her lack of maturity. For example, no real Christian would ever say someone homosexual will go to hell. Only God decides who perishes or has everlasting life, it would be blasphemy to speak or judge for God, "Judge not lest you be judged". Homosexuality is not sin anymore than hetrosexuality is, it is the act of fornication by either that is a sin, as are all actions that are against Gods will. Will age she will mature and learn, since she is young this should not cause her any grief, she is expressing knowledge of a youngster only.

Perhaps no "real" Christian would say homosexuality automatically leads to hell, but I know many people who call themselves Christians who do so.

Megan.... beautiful! Wonderful! Please don't give up on journalism. You're article is insightful, wise, and compassionate. I see the horrible ravenges of homophobia every day in the school where I teach. I have twice been to the hospital to visit gay students who tried to kill themselves as a result of bullying at school. Thanks Megan for being the voice of so many who fear to simply be themselves!

It's an age-old tactic for religions to enforce their viewpoints on their flocks by saying they will be damned for "insert action here." For example, one way to persuade Jews to stop eating pork, which centuries ago was unclean compared to other meats, was to say "God will punish you" if they ate it. That didn't make the rabbis bad people, since they were doing it for the health of their constituents.
Of course, this approach has been abused in the past. The church is adamantly against homosexuality, and therefore says it is "against God's will." I don't believe God would create something out of error. However, it's much easier to convince your flock your viewpoint is correct when you're The Church saying God will damn you particlar actions, while you're just a "regular" human. Cults with kool aid have succeeded with far less.
Ask yourself: If your child is born and determines through whatever means that they are homosexual, are they a sin in your eyes? If so, your heterosexuality, the pregnancy, whatever led up to it - was your child your punishment? Are you angry at me now?
We're all on this planet together. We don't each have cameras peeking into bedrooms (or wherever <grin>). Sexuality is something that cannot be cured, whether "God will punish you" brainwashing or death threats or lack of employment is used as a weapon of conviction. Love, like, dislike, or hate your fellow human beings; but don't condemn lives whose destiny lies not in your hands.

Giesel wrote:

AIDS

only homosexuals can get aids??? is that what you are saying??? if it is, wow!!

Megan had good intentions. I applaud her high school journalistic attempts.

I can see why the principal might be concerned though. The article does talk quite a bit about teenage sexuality and suicide. Regardless of whether or not it was meant to be about tolerance, the message comes across wrong.

Yes, she does make a lot of generalizations. "I've heard some people say that they think there is a cure to being homosexual," she says. Sweeping statements like that will get you into trouble. That's why in the real world, sources are nice. Even when she supposedly quotes "facts" she fails to provide sources. "It is fact that as many as 7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are homosexual". REALLY? Where did this fact come from?

In fact, the only source she does quote is pflagupstatesc.org , which is the website for "Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Upstate South Carolina." Arguably, not the most credible, unbiased source. When citing national level facts, national sources might be nice. CNN, Reuters, ABC, CBS, whatever. But an advocacy group from one state is probably not the best choice.

Another point: this article on tolerance is, well, rather intolerant. I agree that she presents an EXTREMELY simple view of Christianity. But Megan doesn't want to tolerate people who have different opinions, she merely wants to state how UNFAIR it is to one minority.

And yes, if we want to press the point, homosexuals are a minority. Even if we were to take Megan's statistic of "7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are homosexual", compared to the US population of 281,421,906 million, that accounts for less than 0.00000002558% of the US population.(source: quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/ ) Even if no one said a word to homosexual youngsters, I think perhaps they would feel that they are different from everyone else. That they are on the fringe of society. That they are not normal. Because, well, according to the facts, homosexuality is NOT the norm. Megan fails to account for that.

So, frankly speaking, the article itself is of low journalistic quality. I understand that this was an editorial, but it also should be accurate and well thought out. Megan's article was neither.

Giesel wrote:

AIDS

Ignorance.

And the problem is? How close minded and small the administration of this school is. This young lady presented common myths about her topic, statistics about her topic and her opinion of it. There is nothing offensive, no offensive language...NOTHING. I really have to wonder what the idea is with the administration.

Dennis_Daviess Co wrote:

<quoted text>
And you think you are better. I think she did a good job on that artical. More than you could. In fact she is probley smarter than you ever will be. And a lot more people agree with her than you.

He never said he thought he was better. He said the student lacked maturity, and she does. Her article frequently mentions what she doesn't "believe" to be facts, or what she doesn't think is "right" or "fair" about how people should live their lives. She has an opinion, but that does not necessarily make her right--no matter how many people might agree with her.

Umm, that would be 2.52% of the U.S. population. Maybe you added a few zeros?

And AIDS? What, are we back in the 80s now? Come on, people. Do you run away screaming if someone even has a gay accent? Scary.

Of course, it's funny how many people against homosexuality would believe their Church over any facts in the news.

I can see the concern wrote:

Megan had good intentions. I applaud her high school journalistic attempts.
I can see why the principal might be concerned though. The article does talk quite a bit about teenage sexuality and suicide. Regardless of whether or not it was meant to be about tolerance, the message comes across wrong.
Yes, she does make a lot of generalizations. "I've heard some people say that they think there is a cure to being homosexual," she says. Sweeping statements like that will get you into trouble. That's why in the real world, sources are nice. Even when she supposedly quotes "facts" she fails to provide sources. "It is fact that as many as 7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are homosexual". REALLY? Where did this fact come from?
In fact, the only source she does quote is pflagupstatesc.org , which is the website for "Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Upstate South Carolina." Arguably, not the most credible, unbiased source. When citing national level facts, national sources might be nice. CNN, Reuters, ABC, CBS, whatever. But an advocacy group from one state is probably not the best choice.
Another point: this article on tolerance is, well, rather intolerant. I agree that she presents an EXTREMELY simple view of Christianity. But Megan doesn't want to tolerate people who have different opinions, she merely wants to state how UNFAIR it is to one minority.
And yes, if we want to press the point, homosexuals are a minority. Even if we were to take Megan's statistic of "7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are homosexual", compared to the US population of 281,421,906 million, that accounts for less than 0.00000002558% of the US population.(source: quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/ ) Even if no one said a word to homosexual youngsters, I think perhaps they would feel that they are different from everyone else. That they are on the fringe of society. That they are not normal. Because, well, according to the facts, homosexuality is NOT the norm. Megan fails to account for that.
So, frankly speaking, the article itself is of low journalistic quality. I understand that this was an editorial, but it also should be accurate and well thought out. Megan's article was neither.

Good points. I think she writes well but you make good points about her generalizations and lack of real good sources.

The real issue here is the tolerance. There is a difference towards accepting the person but not the behavior. Being gay is wrong, plain and simple just as other behaviors are wrong.

Unfair God would send them to hell, not any different than sending anyone else unless they have a personal relatinship with Jesus. However, when we state that, we are being intolerant.

I can see the concern wrote:

Megan had good intentions. I applaud her high school journalistic attempts.
I can see why the principal might be concerned though. The article does talk quite a bit about teenage sexuality and suicide. Regardless of whether or not it was meant to be about tolerance, the message comes across wrong.
Yes, she does make a lot of generalizations. "I've heard some people say that they think there is a cure to being homosexual," she says. Sweeping statements like that will get you into trouble. That's why in the real world, sources are nice. Even when she supposedly quotes "facts" she fails to provide sources. "It is fact that as many as 7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are homosexual". REALLY? Where did this fact come from?
In fact, the only source she does quote is pflagupstatesc.org , which is the website for "Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) of Upstate South Carolina." Arguably, not the most credible, unbiased source. When citing national level facts, national sources might be nice. CNN, Reuters, ABC, CBS, whatever. But an advocacy group from one state is probably not the best choice.
Another point: this article on tolerance is, well, rather intolerant. I agree that she presents an EXTREMELY simple view of Christianity. But Megan doesn't want to tolerate people who have different opinions, she merely wants to state how UNFAIR it is to one minority.
And yes, if we want to press the point, homosexuals are a minority. Even if we were to take Megan's statistic of "7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are homosexual", compared to the US population of 281,421,906 million, that accounts for less than 0.00000002558% of the US population.(source: quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/ ) Even if no one said a word to homosexual youngsters, I think perhaps they would feel that they are different from everyone else. That they are on the fringe of society. That they are not normal. Because, well, according to the facts, homosexuality is NOT the norm. Megan fails to account for that.
So, frankly speaking, the article itself is of low journalistic quality. I understand that this was an editorial, but it also should be accurate and well thought out. Megan's article was neither.

DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT: The controversy here is that the teacher might be FIRED over this! Quality journalism or not....THAT is the outrage!

Giesel wrote:

AIDS

Oh yeah...because only homosexual people get aids, right? Ignorance....

Very good job Megan!!!!