<p>It’s OK, Gilbert,…you don’t appear to understand my point. I can tell by your response. I agree that parents can raise their children any way they wish. I don’t have to condone their ways. Likewise, others don’t have to condone the ways I may agree with. I am not talking about condoning or agreeing. I am only talking about awareness, exposure, and tolerance, NOT agreeing and condoning. </p>
<p>You are bringing up that parents have a right to raise their kids with whatever belief systems they wish. Yes indeed. I agree. Curiously, the parents at that parochial school were fine with letting their kids be in a play that depicting characters whom their church may not accept. I don’t think they were giving up their church to do that. Even the administrator of their school allowed it. Apparently, by the mere fact that the parents are STILL having their kids participate in or see this play is an indication that yes, they are raising them as they wish. They appear to not want to censor the work but are still followers of their faith. By depicting characters in a fictional story, doesn’t put their faith at risk. They don’t have to agree with those whom they are depicting. My own child has worn a swatiska in a play in which she performed. It is a symbol of Nazism, a movement that annihilated six million of her faith. By depicting this character, she was not condoning or being swayed. She was exposed to others, not from her own “group”. She was in another play in which Jesus was celebrated and worshipped. That goes against her religion. But she was exposed to it. She was in another play that dealt with witchcraft. Certainly not her belief system. But she was exposed to it. None of these things put her own faith at risk. I think when one group doesn’t allow exposure to other points of view or other types of people, we all lose. </p>
<p>Again, I am not even getting into that particular hurch’s views on homosexuals (which you seemingly THINK I am trying to discuss or put down…I’m not). I do not wish to debate that issue. I am discussing being intolerant of any works of literature or art that depicts anything or anyone you don’t agree with. They can censor all they wish. Doesn’t make it right. This isn’t about their religion (for me). It is about the concept of censorship. Had this group been from my own religion, I would have STILL opposed the censorship of a play or book just because characters in it or ideas in it didn’t match my own. </p>
<p>As far as the parents at that school…they obviously didn’t go along with the censorship but they still belong, and follow (rightfully) their church. I wish the leaders of that church could see that their religion was not threatened by allowing works depicting others that are not from their faith or ideals. These parents obviously did not go along with closing their kids’ eyes to those outside their faith or own culture. Like you say, parents can raise their kids how they wish. These parents certainly did that and did not keep their kids from participation. The principal didn’t either until this person stepped in. I wonder why the school administrators allowed La Cage origingally if it is so awful to expose kids to this play?</p>