<p>There’s a difference between an uneducated 10 year old not understanding why these other people are doing these “silly” things. It’s another for an adult who prides himself on his intelligence to be so prejudicial towards another religion. Seriously, if you didn’t understand you could have looked it up on google, I’m sure it’s there.</p>
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<p>First it involved the whole school as she was the valedictorian and the speech was relayed while she was standing on the podium. Secondly it’s no where positive when there is no positive rationale behind the action. It actually make child think that are things parent tell them to follow are blind belief or superstitions.</p>
<p>You want to teach children positive things about all religions and not superstitions.</p>
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<p>Thats right, and don’t you forget my D is at a school comparable to the Holy Grail of MIT, and didn’t need Harker to get there. </p>
<p>Psst…before you go there, her stats were good enough to get in as a “normal” admit.</p>
<p>If you read my really long post (sorry about that) on the last page, you would understand that it’s not just a superstition. Take the time to actually read what people are telling you. They have valid information.</p>
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<p>I don’t need the reason why she does what she did. I had a problem that she involved the whole school into a superstition that cause lot of children/parent unecessary burden. I don’t think parent can explain this superstition to their children in any positive way.</p>
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<p>If by going to HMSPY makes someone educated then we won’t be having the discussion. We have already come across example of Harvard graduates who won’t bake in the non-kosher oven. </p>
<p>I don’t think I can consider these people as educated. I can consider them literate.</p>
<p>I, for one, am looking forward to any follow up stories after the graduation event tonight. I can’t imagine hearing anything but positive things from anyone in attendance.</p>
<p>You could say that she committed herself to something that she is truly passionate about, no matter what the circumstance. Even when people don’t expect her to do so, she will go above and beyond to stay faithful to what she believes in. If that’s not positive for a child than I don’t know what is.</p>
<p>There are Jewish hospitals in Brooklyn NY that have elevators that stop on every floor. Many of the doctors (great doctors) are very religious observant Jews. They will only see emergency situation patients on Friday night and Saturday. They do not have office hours on Friday and instead observant orthodox Jews will go to the emergency room on Fridaay and Saturday. How do you feel about doctors, men of science, who have studied chemistry and biology that believe in God and adhere to their religion? Are they fools? Should they not be permitted to practice medicine because they believe in what can’t be seen? When people are sick…non religious people, they all seem to pray to God. One of my relatives who is in health care always marvels at those who find God in their time of need. Maybe people who are closer to death have received some message from God? Maybe they just realized they will be all alone with no place to rest peacefully if God is not in their life. Look up Maimaidies Hospital In Boro Park Brooklyn N.Y The Boro Park section is a strictly orthodox community comprised of people who look after one another and ensure not only the safety of their residents but the well being of their people…are these non educated bad people? I think our whole world could use more people who are faith based…it would be a kinder more respectful and probably less depressed world. Religion brings a sence of shared community to people, less isolation, and is grounded in values that are both moral and law abiding. If these principals are superstitious than call it what you like as long as you can understand that without religion or the laws of religion, which basic laws in society follow…do not murder…do not steal…etc…(the ten commandments) society as we know it would be a different place. Look at what is missing in countries that no longer practice religion…look at what is happening to how they value life and children. I would say they could use a little religion in their lives.</p>
<p>Just a question: Do you think that any religious act is a sign of idiocy, or is it just this one?</p>
<p>POIH, you keep calling those who follow a religion, any religion, “UNEDUCATED.” That would be like me calling YOU “uneducated” due to the fact you don’t follow any religion or believe in God. But I would not think to do that. I would respect your right to YOUR beliefs. </p>
<p>What comes across as “uneducated,” is not being able to understand and respect that those of other religions think differently than you. Nobody is forcing their religion on you. What’s wrong with a kid asking questions? I want my kids to be educated and to learn that others think and believe very differently than we do. In order for peace in the world, one needs to respect these different thoughts, customs, and beliefs. One doesn’t have to AGREE with them.</p>
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<p>Exactly. That is the message to explain to a young child. This teen stood up for her convictions. The other lesson to teach is that there are different religions and cultures in our country and around the world and they differ from how our family believes or practices or thinks but we need to respect one another’s differences.</p>
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<p>I like to think that a parent of a Harker grad might be a bit more opened minded instead of a closed minded putz.</p>
<p>I almost hate to ask, but what is a Harker grad?</p>
<p>POIH, while at Harker, did your D ever have to sing Christmas songs in Chorus class? Write a paper that dealt with other religions or cultures? Watch some kids eat Easter eggs in the lunchroom? Have friends who wore a mezuzah around their neck? Was your D allowed to ask questions? Was it so horrible for you to have to explain the things she was observing with others?</p>
<p>POIH - Based on your reasoning you could argue that atheism is also a superstition (again not that I agree with your definition) as you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist and your decision to not have a faith is not based in any factual empirical evidence. Therefore, let me pose this question to you. If an atheist decides to refrain from saying the pledge of allegiance at an assembly/graduation because the words of the pledge make reference to God and that action subsequently triggers the kids of those attending to asks their parents questions about why this man is not saying the pledge, etc. then isn’t it the same exact thing as what happened at this graduation? Someone refrained from doing something because of their beliefs and that apparently is a burden to society because it forces people to explain to their kids the reasoning behind the action.</p>
<p>teri, Harker is a private K-12 prep school in CA that POIH’s daughter attended. It is one of the “best” according to POIH, though he bemoaned when it didn’t get a high score on some HS ranking that was published…</p>
<h1>336…whartongrad…good analogy.</h1>
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<p>I call people who indulge in superstitions as UNEDUCATEd.</p>
<p>Give me one good valid reason for a Harvard graduate to not eat cookies from an oven becuase it’s an non-kosher oven.</p>
<p>If after having gone to an institute of higher learning he can’t think that an oven is an oven whether comes from Israel or Iraq then you can consider him educated.</p>
<p>For me a high school drop is much more educated if he knows that an oven is oven.</p>
<p>It’s like he believes that all other humans are of lesser existence than the one belonging to his group so he can eat from the oven belonging to these humans.</p>
<p>What a shallow thinking and you want me to believe such human beings are educated.</p>
<p>teriwtt, Harker is the Holy Grail of prep schools in the Bay area. So shocked that you haven’t seen POIH tout it time and time and time…okay you get it again. Ya know, if you go there, you are pretty much a shoe in for MIT? Have I mentioned…or POIH mentioned how wonderfull MIT is, for everything?</p>