Op-Ed articles are given more space than letters to the editor. Therefore, I had to limit what I wrote more than I would have liked to. The newspaper may also edit it to an even smaller comment if they do choose to publish it. With either eventuality possible, I am posting my letter in its submitted form here.
Ms. Keeping appears to have written the article from both a personal and professional motive and so have I.
Merril Radford - parent and pastor
While ostensibly championing the cause of ‘the public,’ the article accuses one group of people of ostracizing while it in the process ostracizes them. The EPSB invited feedback from the public on their proposed policy. The Logos parents are part of the public. Should not these parents and their children also find a ‘welcoming and safe’ place in the public school? If they hold to a perspective on gender identity and sexual orientation that differs from LGBTQ ideals, should they not be able to hold to those and discuss them openly and appropriately without suffering “harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discrimination?” (from draft policy)
What is the opposite of discrimination anyway? Being indiscriminate? It’s a red herring (even though established in policies and legislation). I hope my children will discriminate well in life: choosing friends; making purchases; voting. We all discriminate. How else will the students ‘develop into independent adults?’
The article chooses to focus on Christians while other faith-based schools also receive public funds. Some of them would also have difficulty with the affirmation of LGBTQ ideals on gender and sexuality. Maybe it’s simply more socially acceptable today to point the finger at Christians. Public funds for education come from taxes paid by these parents. They should be able to access those funds for their children.
Bullying is wrong. I’m fairly certain all schools have policies against it. But why is it wrong? Isn’t it just Darwinian—survival of the fittest? I believe we consider bullying wrong because of the Judeo-Christian values on which our country and original Charter were founded. While ‘public values’ may shift from one government to another and one court precedent to another, some believe there are healthier, more stable and enduring values. It is their inherent and Charter right to honestly, passionately and considerately hold to and communicate those values.
