Sometimes in this crazy world we live in it is the youngest members of our societies who stand up and remind us what true human decency, integrity, bravery and compassion are.
Sometimes it is they who re-affirm our hopes for a brighter future. One of a world less fraught by division and hatred, bigotry and injustice.
A few years ago it was one lone little 10 year old lad, Will Phillips, who refused to stand and recite the Pledge, stating that as gay people in the USA were second class citizens he wasn't going to recite that empty phrase "With liberty and justice for all" any more. Undaunted by threats from school, community, right wing pressure groups and the usual hateful anonymous internet scum Will continued with his protest, winning the day and standing his ground.
And today that duty and responsibility has been admirably taken up by the students of Eastside Catholic High School in Seattle, Washington.
Over the summer break Vice Principle Mark Zmuda married his long term partner Dana Jergens, taking advantage of the fact Washington State recognized marriage equality and had joined the rational world.
Unfortunately for Mark he was the VP at a Catholic school, so while Washington state recognized marriage equality, the Archdiocese running the school he worked at did not. So on Tuesday they forced him to resign. The school made the usual mealy mouthed excuses for their blatant bigotry - Mark had signed a contract and his marriage constituted breach of the contract.
Unfortunately for the school Mark was a highly respected and loved educator and coach. He had spent his career caring for the students and nurturing their development. Pupils and parents alike were outraged at the decision, so those seeds of compassion and care Mark had sown grew and fruited.
Half the school decided not to take the announcement lying down, and staged a mass protest. Like good people they stood up and walked out.
http://www.patheos.com/...
If you want to be inspired, watch the video implanted in that article.
Typical of Mark he took this hammer blow with dignity and showed more respect and integrity than could be expected of most. Here is what he told the kids:
While students were protesting on the street, she said, Zmuda came to talk to them about what had happened. “He told us he had gotten fired because he is gay and married. He told us to grow up, get a job and find true love. He was crying and told us what we were doing meant a lot to him.”
Well those kids didn't stop there. They took to the interwebby and the message spread far and wide.
So did the protests. Other school's pupils joined the Eastside kids and staged their own protests in support.
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/...
Now there is a petition started to try to stir things up with the US Council of Catholic Bishops. Those pesky durned kids - using Pope Francis' own words on the Church's attitudes to gay believers and the stupidity of culture wars.....
http://www.change.org/...
Now while I admire their pluck, and support them all the way, I feel that they are perhaps tilting at windmills trying to get the Council, now all but a be-mitred wing of the GOP, to make any sort of change....or listen to a damn word Pope Frank is saying.
So, my suggestions to those kids are:
1) Get organized and get a petition put together of your schools pupils and parents, and those of your fellow supporters across all the other schools, and send it directly to good old Pope Frank at the Vatican. See that Council you are trying to petition is run by hateful old hypocrites and bigots like Cardinal Dolan and Bishop Tommy "The Exorcist" Paprocki. Cut out the middle men, because you are propbably just wasting your time and efforts. If you want to really kick the hornets nest, talk to the boss.....the man with the plan..... the Pope who aint a dope....Pope Frank
2) Continue those protests. Don't give in. Keep the buzz alive.
3) Take a page out of Will Phillips' book. Next time the teacher says its time to recite that hypocritical and nonsensical Pledge, sit the hell down and say NO! They can't make you say it, so don't.
4) And if, at the end of the day, nothing changes.....maybe you should have a long hard think about that Church you belong to eh? Your continued presence lends the bigots your tacit support. Perhaps empty pews and dusty hymnals is what it will take to force a change.
Thanks for reading this, and like me I hope you sign that petition and send these brave and decent kids your support and blessings. do what you can to encourage kids like these....they are our future.
Happy holidays folks.