Martinez and the Magicians Horse

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

I do have a very strong interest in fighting for the civil rights of atheists. Maybe you noticed.

[sherminator505 10]

I can't argue with that, although I do have to wonder why an athiest would want to join an organization whose beliefs run counter to his/her own. Can you enlighten me on that point?

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

What beliefs are you referring to? The BSA doesn't have any theological tenets apart from trivial lip-service to some sort of vague theism as far as I know. If the BSA decided to start excluding Jews tomorrow, apart from that specific exclusion, would that make the entire BSA program (otherwise completely unchanged) somehow counter to Jewish beliefs all of a sudden?

[skeptic 1000]

Yes Sherm, you could join the team; you just would not be allowed to swim. Help with timing, shallow water exercises, and so on. Nothing says someone cannot do things out of the water, or in shallow water, as a member of the team.

 

 

[evmori 11]

How is an atheist rights being violated by a public school chartering a BSA unit Merlyn?

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

By discriminating against them on the basis of their religion, (Deleted, OGE) (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

[evmori 11]

By discriminating against them on the basis of their religion, moron.

 

Moron???????????? Well, that is your style Merlyn. Attack at all cost!

 

If you are not required to join the BSA, how is that discriminating against them on the basis of their religion?

[OldGreyEagle 5]

See, now, this is the stuff that drives me crazy. Ed, you and Merlyn have gone over this ground multiple times. You know why Merlyn says a public school sponsoring a BSA unit is unconstitutional, I mean I hope you know why he says that, he says it often enough.

 

Merlyn, I do not understand why you let Ed get under your skin. If he asks the same question multiple times its to play you. To get a reaction from you and when you succumb he gets to say you do nothing but attack.

 

Now, we really should not have one poster calling the other one a "moron" but then again, a poster should not repeatedly ask the same question just to see if he can get a reaction from another. Which ever way I go with this, I can see why the other person would say I am favoring the other.

 

What do the reast of the moderators think? I guess I could put this in the Moderators Lounge, but perhaps it would be a good idea to have the community see our opinions. Do we let the boys continue to squabble and get in the way of a discussion? Do we close the discussion because two can't behave? Do we do something to the two who can't behave? I am out of answers and am tired of complaints from forum members asking me/us to control either one of these guys

 

Let me know guys

[OldGreyEagle 5]

See, now, this is the stuff that drives me crazy. Ed, you and Merlyn have gone over this ground multiple times. You know why Merlyn says a public school sponsoring a BSA unit is unconstitutional, I mean I hope you know why he says that, he says it often enough.

 

Merlyn, I do not understand why you let Ed get under your skin. If he asks the same question multiple times its to play you. To get a reaction from you and when you succumb he gets to say you do nothing but attack.

 

Now, we really should not have one poster calling the other one a "moron" but then again, a poster should not repeatedly ask the same question just to see if he can get a reaction from another. Which ever way I go with this, I can see why the other person would say I am favoring the other.

 

What do the reast of the moderators think? I guess I could put this in the Moderators Lounge, but perhaps it would be a good idea to have the community see our opinions. Do we let the boys continue to squabble and get in the way of a discussion? Do we close the discussion because two can't behave? Do we do something to the two who can't behave? I am out of answers and am tired of complaints from forum members asking me/us to control either one of these guys

 

Let me know guys

[evmori 11]

Do what you need to OGE.

 

If you ain't forced to join, nothing is violated.

 

Regardless of the reason, name calling is just plain wrong.

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

Ed, "moron" is not namecalling if you really are a moron.

[sherminator505 10]

"By discriminating against them on the basis of their religion, moron."

 

WHAT RELIGION???!!!

[Merlyn_LeRoy 72]

Refusing to allow someone to join a school-run club because they don't hold acceptable religious views is "religious discrimination."

[Beavah 205]

Yah, to respond to OGE's post, I think the "moron" comment and similar are where the line gets crossed, eh?

 

Asking a question, even repeatedly, doesn't bother me. You and I have done a few rounds like that, eh? Sometimes it's just because people's language and points of view are so different. In da other thread, I "got" what vol_scouter was sayin' right away, but it took a page and a half of Merlyn asking the same question before he discovered he didn't disagree with vol.

 

The personal "moron" stuff should be moderated.

 

B

 

[sherminator505 10]

But Merlyn, that is not what you said. You said that athiests were being discriminated against "ON THE BASIS OF THEIR RELIGION" (caps added for emphasis). Please explain.