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Thread.
Been in me for a bit (like 7 or 8 months or so).
Figured I would finally get it out and down.
So...........Much earlier this year, when Australia was on fire and we thought THAT was as bad as it could get (do you remember THOSE heady days?)
My wife and I had a thought
Been in me for a bit (like 7 or 8 months or so).
Figured I would finally get it out and down.
So...........Much earlier this year, when Australia was on fire and we thought THAT was as bad as it could get (do you remember THOSE heady days?)
My wife and I had a thought
We wanted to look at putting 1 or both of our boys into a local private Christian school (yes I'm a Christian, says so in the bio, kinda non-denominational, working through some of my own ethical bullshit, no not going into that publicly) and decided to check them out.
Disclaimer from me, I don't like the idea of religious schools (for my children, you do your thing) as mixing education with indoctrination is....not great.
I believe everyone would be better if they had to mix with people they disagree with, not just lived in a bubble.
I believe everyone would be better if they had to mix with people they disagree with, not just lived in a bubble.
Another disclaimer, aside from Nazi or anyone else that has a set of beliefs where they believe some people are not as humanly valuable as others.
I don't want to go too far off the tracks, so please assume I don't want people put in harmful places.
I don't want to go too far off the tracks, so please assume I don't want people put in harmful places.
So we went along to an open day, things seem pretty good. They are tiny, they do K-12, they use the International Baccalaureate and they seem to have a pretty decent little community going.
Yes, they are a religious school, so morning prayer is a thing, but I am ok so far.
Yes, they are a religious school, so morning prayer is a thing, but I am ok so far.
They run weekend services.
Let's go to a service or two, says I.
We go.
And...........
It's not great.
Like, super not great.
Remarks about Jair Bolsonaro going to a Christian event in Brazil and how good it is that Brazil has a Christian leader.
Let's go to a service or two, says I.
We go.
And...........
It's not great.
Like, super not great.
Remarks about Jair Bolsonaro going to a Christian event in Brazil and how good it is that Brazil has a Christian leader.
I clench.
My inner monologue is as follows:
Josh, ease up on them hammers, they may not know how bad he is, just....let this be, don't flip your chair and storm out.
Message is okay.
We decide to go again.
And this time.......it's even more super not great!
My inner monologue is as follows:
Josh, ease up on them hammers, they may not know how bad he is, just....let this be, don't flip your chair and storm out.
Message is okay.
We decide to go again.
And this time.......it's even more super not great!
The head of the school & church makes the remarks
"The left is trying to blame Scott Morrison for the fires, they're trying to take down President Trump!"
Lots of nodding and I give my wife a look that tells her "We leave or I am in danger of starting a fist-fight......
"The left is trying to blame Scott Morrison for the fires, they're trying to take down President Trump!"
Lots of nodding and I give my wife a look that tells her "We leave or I am in danger of starting a fist-fight......
(not with her, I would not raise my voice or hands at her)
...with someone because I am going to say some VERY pointed things that rely of evidence and a university education and believe me I am going to ENJOY it."
Yes, my wife and I have reached that point in our relationship.
...with someone because I am going to say some VERY pointed things that rely of evidence and a university education and believe me I am going to ENJOY it."
Yes, my wife and I have reached that point in our relationship.
So we left and have not been back and we have both agreed that this is not a school that is on the okay list.
And this, encounter marked me inside.
I sulked about it for quite some time and then had a chat with a buddy of mine that has been my friend for 19 years.
And this, encounter marked me inside.
I sulked about it for quite some time and then had a chat with a buddy of mine that has been my friend for 19 years.
We don't agree on everything, but his heart is in the right place, even when his head isn't.
I imagine he says similar things about me.
ANYWAYS...
I chatted to him about the situation and he told me that it could be that my litmus test based on politics was kinda unforgiving.
I imagine he says similar things about me.
ANYWAYS...
I chatted to him about the situation and he told me that it could be that my litmus test based on politics was kinda unforgiving.
Cue forwards another month or so and I have another chat to him and ask
"What litmus test would you recommend?"
(yes, I really stewed on it for a month, welcome to my mental and emotional processing abilities)
"A more redemptive one Josh."
I am still working this out.
"What litmus test would you recommend?"
(yes, I really stewed on it for a month, welcome to my mental and emotional processing abilities)
"A more redemptive one Josh."
I am still working this out.
I mean, I believe, like I said above that if someone believes that some people are less humanly valuable then that's something that needs to be addressed and by no means does anyone have the obligation of trying to fix people where those people don't think they are human.
But I'm not finished.
I am still thinking, still trying to work it out.
And have no real belief that I will completely work it out.
But then again, I suspect I am not supposed to.
I am still thinking, still trying to work it out.
And have no real belief that I will completely work it out.
But then again, I suspect I am not supposed to.
