How many polar bears were killed in the writting of the post?

At least some of the kids are alright.

Isn't it great to have people teach kids to hate?

Thank god my son goes to Roosevelt instead ...

Boy oh boy, this was a missed opportunity. They had the guy right there in front of them, and all they could think of to say was "boo"? And then someone asked an incendiary question and the whole thing was over.

The GSA would've benefited from a more graceful protest. But now they'll be associated with rude behavior, while the real bad guy looks like a martyr who was just doing it for the children.

Boo.

"I don’t want to sound bad, but the majority of students at our school are against gay rights."

Too late... that's pretty bad. Nice to know that they're growing the next crop of bigots out in east King County.

Maybe they should invite David Duke next year.

If Mt Si met Capital Hill in a cage match I'd put my money on Mt Si. I would be rooting for Mt Si though.

Good for Mrs McCormick!! What would have happened to the civil rights movement if Dr. King had sat in the stadium and let the bigots speak.

I just read about this. and FYI my friend Kiyoshi Kuromiya was MLK's assistant and took care of the kids immediately after the assassination. He was a huge gay rights activist who unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago, but here is more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyoshi_Kuromiya in addition Coretta Scott King spoke out against discrimination against gay folks and was very much in favor of equal marriage. Tell Hutcherson that.

Re: "Boy oh boy..."

Given that no one at the school was notified ahead of time that Hutcherson was coming, at least they did something. As the article reads, they did more than, "boo." Bravo to those at Mt. Si who spoke up.

As for Mr. Hutcherson: what a disgraceful display of hubris that he thinks he can co-opt Dr. King's message of equality for all people in order to push his own hateful agenda.

Thank goodness there are some kids and teachers out there who are willing to take a stand. What kind of close-minded dumbass administrator approved bringing a nationally recognized bigot into a MLK assembly?!

Shame on this lack of leadership! I'm glad my kids go somewhere else.

Thanks for shedding light on Mt. Si. I had know idea Snoqualmie was a little center of bigots. I wonder what caused this to happen?

I agree with the comment above about the administration's lack of insight...anyone know the email for the principal of this school? How can he actually think Hutcherson's message is "appropriate" for a public high school!?...i'd love to see this guys record.

Wow... Do you realize how many of you sound like complete idiots right now?

1) You weren't there. You aren't a part of that community. You have no right to judge. Report, yes. Judge? No. Because, though a strong proponent of gay rights, I was there and know how much more there is to the whole issue. You guys don't know shit.

2) Calling us little bigots? Ex-fucking-scuse me? You don't KNOW us. You don't KNOW a single damned one of us. So don't pretend like you do. Don't you dare. Yes, the school is predominantly conservative, but (even if conservative automatically meant "ignorant"), that is far from a reflection of the entire student body.

3) And those of you "glad [your] kids don't go to Mt. Si"? What a great attitude. You'd rather avoid controversy than face it? You'd rather ignore ignorance and go about your day? What kind of hypocrisy is that? Don't complain and then turn a blind eye. That's just fucking annoying.

--------

Hutcherson was told to stay on the topic of Civil Rights in the 1960s and how they contributed to the turbulence of those times. He did just that.

There was no anti-gay message or agenda in what he said this morning. So stop acting as if there was. There is a time for that kind of behavior and today wasn't it. By booing him--when 70% of high schools students knew nothing about him beyond what he said in the speech--Potratz made the GSA look bad.

As did McCormick. Though her point was valid, and far more substantial than simple heckling, it did nothing but to cast GSA in a bad light. It was the metaphorical "first stone". The exact opposite of everything MLK stood for. He was about protest that revealed faults in the oppressors; not in himself. He was active but passive.

The activists in the assembly today were anything but.

Just another day in the life of our suburbs. We live in the city, where things like that happen less. The administration should feel a little heat under their toes for this one. Does anyone have his email address? It is shameful that we are in the beginning of 2008 and men like Hutcherson can still become spoke models for human rights. Help me!

Inviting Hutch to speak on equality is like inviting David Irving to speak on the Holocaust.

dear dumb fucking "mount si student":

I don't care if Hutch talked about the need to protect the habitat of baby pandas. The man is an ignorant, bigoted bully, and he has no business speaking in a public school. Your jackass principal should be fired for allowing him in the building.

A 17-year-old GSA member named Lindsey told Jonah she was happy that a disturbance was caused during Hutcherson’s presentation. “Is anyone going to listen to us if we write a nice letter to the principal?” she asked.

You've learned well, kid.

When you invite someone to speak you invite the whole person you can't divide the person from their actions and what they stand for.
To invite Hutcherson was a mistake.

@14 - "The exact opposite of everything MLK stood for. He was about protest that revealed faults in the oppressors; not in himself."
I think you out to read up a bit on MLK and Hutch. King was not about letting bigotry side, and Hutch is a bigot and an 'oppressor' regardless of what topics he sticks to during his speeches.

"He was active but passive."
Totally gay.

Perhaps they should have waited for a more appropriate time to protest Hutch...

Letter from Birmingham Jail — April 16, 1963

While jailed for leading anti-segregation protests in Birmingham, King wrote this letter arguing that individuals have the moral duty to disobey unjust laws.

We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly I have never yet engaged in a direct action movement that was "well timed," according to the timetable of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This "wait" has almost always meant "never." We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

Blacks have a right to be bigots, and you are racist if you don't give in. and they exercise their free speech, but Don Imus can't- don't question that either, it will make em mad and the looting will being

Wow! The support is great. Not all of us out in the valley are biggots, its hard to be outspoken in such a closed-minded enviorment and its nice to hear something positive about what we did.

Dear writer of the article, please take out the "I'm willing to be the bad guy because he's the bad guy", I do not remember saying that and it sort of makes me sound like an abrasive idiot.

Hmmm funny thing is:

if you go to his church's website,

http://www.abchurch.org/

notice on the opening page (wait for the slides to progress), there's a shot of TWO women together (one black, one white) holding a cute middle-tone "guess the race" baby, with the subtitle, "building intentional relationships."

Intentional?

Is Hutch in favor of interracial Lesbionic relatioships?

I'm just wonderin'...

Mount Si Student @ 14~

1) Judging is how you decide if something is right or wrong. Having Ken Hutcherson speak in a public school is almost never going to be "right." It is almost never right to give bigots a platform from which to speak. I say that because even if they stay "on topic," perhaps especially then, that allows them to be perceived as something other than they are. Allowing "Hutch" to be a speaker in this context presents him as a man fighting for equality, a man who seeks to make things better for everyone. Allowing him to speak at a Martin Luther King Day event ties him to civil rights, to Martin Luther King, and to many more things. And while I might not be a coprophiliac, I do know shit.

2. How do you know we don't know a "single damned one of you?" Do you know every single damned slog poster? Maybe one of the posters above went to Si, or maybe one has relatives who attend your fine institution. You don't know anymore about these people than they know about you. Way to go behaving in the same manner you are so upset about.

3. I don't have kids, but I am glad that I didn't go to a school that would think hosting a prominently anti-gay bigot at any official event would be wise. Unless there was a debate, or if there was someone to present to opposing side of his stances, giving him the floor, giving him that credibility is wrong. People being glad their kids don't go to a school that would do this is not avoiding controversy, it's relief that their children aren't in a situation that poor. I'd like to point you towards your principal's quote in this piece:

The school’s policy on bringing in speakers, according to Taylor, is: “If what they’re about is hate, prejudice, and violence, they don’t belong here.” He saw no conflict between that policy and inviting Hutcherson.

“Hutch’s message was very appropriate for our kids,” Taylor said. Asked whether it was appropriate for the school’s gay students, Taylor replied: “Well, you’ll have to ask the students that.”

Obviously your principal felt safe saying that "Hutch's" message was appropriate for all students, until a specific group was brought up and then he says that the reporter should speak to those students specifically. Now, I don't know you, but I'm queer. To be specific, I'm bi. Also, I am a Christian, and of a more moderate stripe than most people in WA. I find Hutcherson speaking about civil rights to be at best ironic and at worst horribly offensive. Think about what it must be like for some poor queer kid sitting in those stands seeing this man who he has to listen to on weekends because he can't come out to his parents. That queer kid definitely would feel oppressed, hated, and prejudiced against while sitting listening to Hutcherson.

-------

Whatever Hutcherson said, he himself is a symbol. Anyone who is aware of who he is, what he believes in, and what he says in the news, from his pulpit, and from any soapbox he can claim as his own, would know that his speaking at an event honoring a civil rights warrior is patently offensive. This man travels the world making speech after speech declaring me and people like me to be abominations, to be hellbound, to be immoral, and worse.

Having that man get up and present himself as a role model for kids, to present himself as a man who fights, or fought, for equality, is disgusting.

Whatever Hutcherson wants to preach in his church is his business. That is between him, God, and the men, women, and children who attend that church. But the fact that Hutcherson brings those beliefs out into the rest of the world means he has brought his beliefs into a realm where it's my right to contradict him.

Have you read anything about how he continually tries to force Microsoft to give up its queerfriendly policies? How about how he went to a foreign country with other speakers who claim the holocaust was engineered by the "gays," where Hutcherson claimed to be a special envoy from the Whitehouse, and they all spoke at multiple religious gatherings.

Hutcherson was an extremely poor choice for this kind of event, and while I do think booing from the stands isn't very classy, if the GSA didn't have advance knowledge that Hutcherson was coming that's probably the best they could do. Beyond that even, the GSA students and staff probably couldn't have had an effective protest or demonstration because WA state laws forbid students from behaving in manners that administrators feel could disrupt the learning environment of other students. I trust you're also aware that students do not have Free Speech on Campus, or off campus for that matter, while they are in high school.

All that aside, they acted when they saw oppression, and that is entirely in the spirit of what Dr. King believed and did. See the quote posted above by Switzerblog, @ 21.

“I’m astonished this person was brought to the school to talk about equality,” McCormick said of Hutcherson. She added: “This is totally going to help me teach irony in my English class.”


It'll be a totally awesome way to teach irony, like having an english teacher who says totally.

Hutch Hutcherson (the watchman on the wall) is a piss poor choice for this event. The Mt. Si principal should be stoned.

Hey @13 and everyone else:

taylorr@svsd410.org

Randy Taylor
Principal, Mt. Si

email address from the Mt. Si website. Write him.
Creepy that a public school can invite a creep to speak to kids, isn't it?

The Snoqualmie Valley School District Board of Directors:

Rudy Edwards, District 1 - rvedwards002@yahoo.com
Caroline Loudenback, District 2 - clouden8@comcast.net
Kathryn Lerner, District 3 - kathryn_nw@comcast.net
Marci Busby, District 4 - mbusby2831@aol.com
Kristy Sullivan, District 5 - klhsullivan@hotmail.com

just saw the principal on TV (king 5, I think)

..what a weasel

Why are we trusting people like this with our children's educations?

Listed below is a link to a video from King 5's news segment...

http://www.king5.com/education/stories/NW_011708WAB_mount_si_speech_KC.32738465.html

@14 - yeah, hmm, let me think about it.

Nope, I've decided Mount Si still scr.w.d the pooch on that decision.

@ 14: How the fuck does sending your kid to a school "face the controversy"? Sending your kid to a school, an *educational* environment, that teaches beliefs completely contradictory to the kind of upbringing you want for him isn't facing the controversy; it's submitting to and condoning it.

Raising my kids the way I want, I'm showing, constructively, what kind of future and what kind of next generation I'm looking for. Isn't that the kind of "passive activism" you're so trumpeting?

Hell, how am I facing what I oppose by putting my KID in a school I don't like? That's piss-poor parenting if you're sending your kids to fight your political battles for you.

What if this speaker had spoken out against any other group of people, would he have been allowed to speak in a public school assembly? Just because he spoke out on his own personal experiences of inequality doesn't make him a role model if he didn't learn from it.
Kids are in political battles from the day they enter school and step out onto the playground. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can completely control the world around them. You teach your children to know right from wrong and that everyone deserves basic human respect.

Next week:

Hitler speaks about the economy. Don't worry, he'll stay on topic.

Calling us little bigots? Ex-fucking-scuse me? You don't KNOW us. You don't KNOW a single damned one of us. So don't pretend like you do. Don't you dare. Yes, the school is predominantly conservative, but (even if conservative automatically meant "ignorant"), that is far from a reflection of the entire student body.

I don’t want to sound bad, but the majority of students at our school are against gay rights.

@14. I'm probably just echoing some of the sentiments that have already been expressed, but:

(1) People felt free to assume that most (not all, obviously, since some in the GSA spoke out) of the students are "little bigots", because of the student who said "the majority of students in our school are against gay rights."

(2) Hutch is famous for his anti-gay views, as some have said. It is the only reason I know he exists, and I'm not even gay. It is not appropriate to invite him to speak at a school, even if many of the students were unaware of his anti-gay stances and he stayed on topic. Just as it would not be appropriate to invite David Duke to a school to speak on, I don't know, his learning disability, even if some people didn't know who he was and he stayed on topic.

Randy Taylor, the principal at mt. si has an email: taylorr@svsd410.org, send him your thoughts and support Mrs. McCormick on this issue. He should be questioned and she should be supported, so voice your support of her and let him know that he needs to put more thought to this.

I'm curious as to who informed the media of this incident. Is the Hutch such the slut that he called the media himself?

I wonder if Mr. Taylor attends Hutcherson's church.

Good morning Sir,

I saw the story this morning on the news about the "issue" with the Reverend
and one of your staff. Let me begin by stating that I wholeheartedly agree with
your teacher's viewpoint that the Reverend's message is one of hypocrisy and
not one of tolerance as much as it is more of a "special interest" group. If he is
to "preach" to people (any people,not just impressionable students) about tolerance
and the injustice of of an intolerant society , then I believe it should be about
the injustices to ALL of society, and not just the one-sided interests of a person
that happens to have the ability and the means to influence so many under the
guise of tolerance.
Would you not agree that his views on homosexuality could create the very hatred
to gays and lesbians that he is seeking sympathy and understanding for the horrible
atrocities that he (and all African-Americans,including the ones that are gay and lesbian as well)
faced during the era to which he is speaking?
Are the black gays and lesbians not included in his point of view? And how is his beliefs
and/or his message and your teacher's issue with it any different than if your had a caucasian
homosexual racist come in and speak,I am sure no one would have an issue with one of your
staff had that been the case,hmm?

Regards,

Tom S. (Everett,Wa.)

I got a response from one of the school board memebers saying she feels the students and community are owed an apology for Hutcherson's appearance.

So, how many of you thought that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should have been prevented from speaking at Columbia University (which could just as easily have been a public university, so don't waste our time with the private/public argument)?

As I remember not many.

So only Stranger-approved speakers should be allowed?

@14:

As a former member of "that community" (I lived for about five years just outside Fall City), it's entirely possible I DO in fact know one or two Mt. Si students, although I admit I haven't had any contact with them for a number of years. But, unless some of the kids I knew when I did live there have completely renounced the beliefs of their parents in the intervening years, then unfortunately, I have to say their prejudices would make the average "conservative" member of your community look like a card-carrying Communist by comparison.

And while I'm sure your comments are heart-felt, they are at best, misinformed and ignorant (in the sense of "lacking in knowledge or understanding"), and at worst demonstrative of the sort of attitude that prevailed among many members of "the community" with whom I interacted, and which I suspect are still prevalent amongst a significant segment of the population, as evinced by the responses of some of the people quoted in the article.

Other commenters here have addressed some of the points you raise in much better terms than I would probably do, but I will say that, while it is true that SOME people who live in the valley don't hold racist, bigoted views, it is also quite unfortunately true that many do; and in my experience, most of those were also self-professed "Christians".

The simple fact that "70% of high schools students knew nothing about him [Hutcherson] beyond what he said in the speech" is telling in-and-of itself; given Hutch's mediaphilia, the widespread membership of his congregation, and his outspoken public persona, this is frankly, somewhat disturbing. In any case, even if true, he was still speaking to a more-or-less captive, impressionable audience, and what McCormick and the GSA students did, in my opinion, was to simply call him out, in public, for his hypocricy, which was not only justified, but apparently necessary, given the abject lack of knowledge about him, his beliefs, and his practices.

If nothing else, the student body, staff, faculty, and parents of Mt. Si are now aware of what Rev. Hutcherson REALLY represents; how they choose to respond to this incident will tell us a great deal about the current state of the prevailing attitudes of "that community".

@14 We're absolutely judging you, based on your actions. We approve of the small minority of students who protested injustice, and we strongly disapprove of the majority of students who either passively or actively approved of bringing an anti-gay bigot to speak.

I'm not exactly sure that Hutch would be a good person to speak out even on racial equality, since he peppers his speeches with bits about being a "righteous black man" with "powerful white people behind him." After all, doesn't that statement automatically belittle the achievements and abilities of black men?

tomcat98109:

The difference, fool, is that Columbia is a UNIVERSITY with ADULTS in it who have the option to go elsewhere. Mt. Si, on the other hand is for MINORS who don't have a choice, and that makes the difference.

COMMENT DELETED (Threatening)

We remove comments that are off topic, threatening, or commercial in nature, and we do not allow sock-puppetry (impersonating someone else)—or any kind of puppetry, for that matter. We never censor comments based on ideology.

COMMENT DELETED (Threatening)

We remove comments that are off topic, threatening, or commercial in nature, and we do not allow sock-puppetry (impersonating someone else)—or any kind of puppetry, for that matter. We never censor comments based on ideology.

COMMENT DELETED (Threatening)

We remove comments that are off topic, threatening, or commercial in nature, and we do not allow sock-puppetry (impersonating someone else)—or any kind of puppetry, for that matter. We never censor comments based on ideology.

I saw the report on KING last night. From what I saw of the principal, he looks like the type who employs a Wide Stance in public restroom stalls.

COMMENT DELETED (Threatening)

We remove comments that are off topic, threatening, or commercial in nature, and we do not allow sock-puppetry (impersonating someone else)—or any kind of puppetry, for that matter. We never censor comments based on ideology.

@43: That is a terrible comparison. Columbia University is not a public high school. Ahmadinejad's audience didn't consist of captive teenagers. Hutch's did.

tomcat98109 -- the other difference is that people attending Ahmadinejad's speech likely knew all about him and his beliefs and views on controversial issues (e.g., denying the Holocaust). I interpreted it as sort of "here's an interesting chance to get inside the head of this controversial individual", and therefore, a great opportunity for the Columbia students. There is some sort of implicit moral judgment in it (i.e., "it's not okay to deny that the Holocaust occurred, let's listen to this person to see why he thinks that").

Hutch's appearance obviously did not have that characteristic. An anti-gay bigot was brought to a school and, by being allowed to speak on such an important topic as race relations, was implicitly held up as a role model.

I left Mt Si after my freshman year because of crap like this. There were some cool people, but alot of redneck bigots. Well, at least they're now as enlightened at Mt Si as the rest of the country was 40 years ago. Maybe by 2048 they'll be where Seattle is today.

By the logic of the principal, they could have Fred Phelps speak, as long as he stayed on topic.

I left Mt Si after my freshman year because of crap like this. There were some cool people, but alot of redneck bigots. Well, at least they're now as enlightened at Mt Si as the rest of the country was 40 years ago. Maybe by 2048 they'll be where Seattle is today.

By the logic of the principal, they could have Fred Phelps speak, as long as he stayed on topic.

i go to mount si and i hate fags and librals and Dj Sauvage is a pussy gay lover

I love the argument about how "because he wasn't talking about his anti-gay agenda, it's okay".

It's like saying because Bush was reading "My Pet Goat" to children means he should be allowed within 100 feet of the general public.

Thanks Mark for those intelligent, insightful comments. But, I'm guessing you're having a little bit of trouble passing those WASL tests, eh? Not to worry, an extra year of schooling will probably do you a world of good, even if it does means pulling the swing shift at the video game assembly plant in the interim.

Just remember, the Marine Corps recruiters will always be back next year.

People are people.
The sooner everyone can respect everyone else, the closer we will be the worlds end.
Peace, isn't really possible, is it?

McCormick stood up for what she believed in. Hutcherson was invited, and did what he was given a right to do. Suppose the big issue is why administration would invite him instead anyone else, odd.. hmmmmmm...............
Let's learn from this, shall we?

Who is this Randy Taylor, he was let go from the Auburn school district and now at Snoqualmie. He does not even live in the district. He refuses to take responsiblity for his school and quickly passes the blame to others, no spine I suspect, possibly no. . . . If he was a man he would stand up and apologize to the community for his apparent lack of forsight and sensitivity. Maybe if we are lucky he will resign and go away! He is not a leader or a person students can look up to, I sadly say!

I am a senior at Mt.Si High School.

First, to the ill-informed student who was quoted as saying, “I don’t want to sound bad, but the majority of students at our school are against gay rights”, you’re an idiot and don’t represent or embody the opinions of the “majority”. Period.

I used to attend Bellevue High School before I transferred to Mt.Si and never before have I met such welcoming, giving and accepting kids like I’ve met at Mt.Si. If I had a choice between the stuck up, self-centered Bellevue High community and Mt.Si, I’d pick Mt.Si every time.

Before you go ranting about what a hick infested, KKK loving, anti-gay school Mt.Si is, take some time to consider some facts.

Furthermore, before you point fingers at one side or the other it’s important to consider BOTH sides.

As we all know, Mr.Hutcherson is an avid participant in the Anti gay rights movement. This stems from his devout belief in Christianity and his role as a minister. He also grew up in the south during the civil right's movement.

Don't you think that someone who grew up during that time, who faced the struggles of being African American and who was denied rights would be sensitive to another group of people who where essentially facing the same thing?

How can you preach equality if you don't practice it? Hypocritical? I think so.

We can all agree that Mr.Hutcherson might have not been the most appropriate speaker. That’s a given.

However, during the planning of the assembly, Mrs. McCormick was specifically asked if she was ok with Ken being the speaker. She said yes. Though her opinion wasn't the only one that counted to get him there, her opposition would have been instrumental to him not being chosen as the speaker.

All the students, differing opinions and all, sat quietly and respectfully through the assembly. Some kids knew who Ken was, some didn't. The gym was filled with extremely opposite views (from GSA members to hardcore Christians) but everyone listened without expressing their opinions because it was about MLK and his message, which does not specifically include gay rights. Mr.Hutcherson left his opinions at the door and simply gave us an anecdote about growing up black in the south. Completely pertaining to the theme of the assembly.

Did Ken bring up his thoughts about gay rights in the assembly? No.
But Mrs. McCormick did. She and other members of the staff verbally barraged
Mr. Hutcherson, someone who was only trying to share his experiences with his daughter’s school for them to better understand RACIAL struggle. Nothing more. It was appalling that the students were better behaved than the teachers. He had no intention of furthering his Anti-gay message and he made that clear when he didn’t respond to McCormick, showing that wasn’t what he was there for that.

Mrs. McCormick was completely justified in her question and even to have it be directed at Mr.Hutcherson, but it wasn’t the right time. At a rally or even a question and answer session after the assembly for those who would like to continue the discussion (which was not held). But to bring up a not discussed topic at the very end of a school assembly is only disrespectful.

This leads me to another question:
Where is the line between public decency and human respect, and oppression of opinion?

Sure everyone is entitled to their opinions and has the right to express them, but where do we draw the line when it’s just not the time and place?

Perhaps this could have all been avoided with Mr.Hutcherson not being chosen as the speaker, or Mrs. McCormick not exercising her right to free speech. But what’s done is done and everyone can learn a few things from this:

Firstly, those who don’t practice equality shouldn’t preach it.

Secondly, there is a time and place for public demonstration.

Thirdly, if we stop talking about things and stop standing up for what we believe in, nothing will ever change.

And lastly, even though gay rights wasn’t included in our assembly because it didn’t necessarily pertain to MLK day, I think from now on EVERYONE should be included under the equality heading, otherwise its just as hypocritical as an African American demanding racial equality and equality for everyone else but not a group of people who are just asking to love eachother.

P.S. Mt.Si is an amazing school to go to and so what if we’re controversial.

every body come to mount si on febuary 18 for the 12th annual gay bashing party

@43 and @52. Ahmadinejad was invited to Columbia so that his beliefs and politics could be challenged. He was not given an open platform to talk about his personal expereince and have his views left in the dark and students who responded with justified anger and directly challenged his positions were doing their duty and were not threatened with reprisals. That's not what happened at Mt. Si, where a crazy bigot not too philosophically far from where Ahmadinejad stands was given a silent endorsment of bigotry by the school and where those who challenged him were excoriated. So actually, if Hutch at Si were anything like Ahmadinejad at Columbia, things would have been much better.

Also, I hope people are writing to the school board about this. I did. You should.

Are we a hot bed of bigots out here in the suburbs? Golly GeeH I think it's ignorant of city folks to assume so. We are just people like you. I am the mother of a student at Mt Si High School and I am disgusted. I send my kid to school to learn english and math etc...As far as his teachers feelings on personal subjects frankly they can keep their opinions to themselves. Manners and tolerance are also things I would like my son to learn about. Yesterday he learned (from teachers!) that you can boo a guest and be totally obnoxious and nothing will be done about such crappy behavior. I understand that these issues are controversial and raw. However, the three teachers involved have done nothing to further equal rights and tolerance in our community. I can only speak for my son but he had no idea about Hutcherson's thoughts on alternative lifestyle. Mr. Hutcherson was asked to speak about his own experiences as a black man in the south and how that felt. This message speaks to everyone who has ever felt persecuted. It's a good message. I also feel very bad for Mr. Hutcherson's daughter who is a student at the school and witnessed the whole mess. To the gay straight alliance: sorry but you have set yourselves back by your actions. I don't want you in my kids school. I hope that you get that I'm not anti-alternative lifestyle. I think maybe you are with your intolerance and rudeness. Live and let live and shut your mouths. Respect EVERYONE and you will be respected. Peace

How come no one from North Bend knows how to use paragraph breaks?

It's not that hard.

See!

Gee Luara,

For someone who claims to be "not anti-alternative lifestyle" you sure go to great lenghts to avoid using the words Gay, Lesbian or homosexual, choosing instead terminology commonly found amought rabidly anti-gay activists.

You don't want the GSA, made up of other students in the school, but think having a raving bigot like Hutcherson, and to talk about equality - no less, is just fan-freakin-tastic. Silly me, here I was thinking that the schools were for the students, not for allowing pro-discrimination activists to present themselves as authorities on equality.

The teachers had just as much right to boo and ask questions as Hutcherson had to speak, further they had a moral obligation to speak out against the misrepresentation of a controversial figure by their school. While I'm sure it does suck for Hutcherson's duaghter to see her father revealed for the embarassment that he is before the entire school, doesn't a good portion of the blame for that lie with her father? He's the one, who is incessently trying to get a name for himself as an leading anti-gay bigot with all his silly media stunts. He's also the one, who then sought to have his daughter's school present him as an advocate for equalitity. What I can help but wonder about is if there is any connection between Hutcherson and Principal Taylor. Does Taylor go to Hutcherson's church? Particioate in any of his anti-gay campaigns? Clearly Taylor was aware of Hutcherson's activities, and despite tha lacked the judgement to realize that maybe he wasn't the best person to speak on equality.

Jenni @ 61

It doesn't, or at least shouldn't, matter that Hutcherson didn't bring up his views on all things Queer. His appearance at the school sponsored, without any other opposing view point, sets him up as the accepted norm. Giving him the stage gives him credibility and authority.

He was there speaking about Civil Rights, his experiences with them and the fight to get them, correct? So, by being given the credibility and authority to speak on the issue of Civil Rights, the school is tacitly telling students this man is a person to trust on this issue.

OK, that's all well and good, if he really is a person to trust on the issue.

Ken Hutcherson wants to deny me my civil rights. He wants to keep me in the closet and out of the public. He wants to keep me from ever marrying a man. From ever adopting a child I love.

When he stands up and is shown on the news saying "Gay Rights are not a Civil Rights issue, they're a group of people seeking something that is wrong" all these students who saw him speak will see him on the news and remember that he was brought in to speak to them on Civil Rights. He was brought in because he was an authority. His opinion will matter to those students.

High School is a formative period in a person's life. It's when people first begin to form their own opinions, and they glean those opinions from the authority figures presented to them.

Ken Hutcherson should never have been at that assembly. There are many men and women who fought for Civil Rights living in Washington State, the school should have found one who isn't trying to deny another group's rights.

My last bit to you, is that there's never a wrong time to stand up for Right, to call something out as Wrong. Sure, if the teacher in question chose not to speak against Hutcherson coming before he was there, that was a mistake on her part. She should have spoken before he was there, or set it up to bring in someone else who would speak about Equality for everyone... but whether she should have acted sooner or not, she was right to act when she did.

Laura Lee @ 64,

I think you're entirely wrong. I'm just getting that out there, I don't want to be oblique or cautious with it.

It is not the school's job to teach your child manners. That's your job. You are the mother in this situation. If you think those teachers were behaving inappropriately, speak with your child and explain why you think so, maybe that will start a discussion.

Tolerance was not taught in that assembly. It could not have been. By having Hutcherson come to speak that assembly was set up to be a lesson in either silent persecution or standing up for what is right. Your son saw teachers and his peers stand up for what they believe in, for what they feel is right. He probably received a valuable lesson from it, that is if you've not already told him what they did was wrong.

Next, being queer is not a lifestyle. Being a soccer mom is a lifestyle, being a beer guzzling wrench slinger is a lifestyle, being a no-fun-study-all-the-time student is a lifestyle. Who you are physically, emotionally, spiritually attracted to is a part of who you are. It is not something that can be changed with a make over, a budget and time.

Whether or not you want a Gay Straight Alliance in your son's school does not matter. There will always be queer students in your son's school. There will more than likely be queer teachers there too.

Your idea of "live and let live and shut your mouths" is appalling, honestly. There were people who said the same things to people opposed to segregation. "Just let the southerners do what they will, it won't bother us up north" or "you standing up and saying something won't do anything other than make you a target too" or "they're just ignorant, sooner or later they'll die out."

Standing idly by while people spread hate is never the right thing to do.

Just because Hutcherson did not speak about his beliefs about how I live my life does not mean he should be allowed to speak. Would you allow a publicly self-professed KKK member who happened to serve in Vietnam to come to Mount Si and speak to the kids about the meaning of Veteran's Day? What if he kept his views about race quiet and just talked about his experiences as a Vet?

I hope your answer is "no!" but I don't know you, so I can't gage what your answer actually would be. Giving a person a stage endorses them with authority and credibility, even in topics they don't talk about on that particular stage.

Like I replied to Jenni, as soon as those kids saw Ken Hutcherson speaking that day, they would associate him with credibility and authority. Do we want to give a raving bigot that kind of sway with our kids? Yes, I do consider him a raving bigot because I've heard some of his sermons, I've read his quotes, and I've followed his actions. He wants to make me and people like me into second class citizens, and the fact that he builds much of his public persona on that idea makes him distinctly unqualified to be the speaker at any publicly funded event where he has a captive audience of children.

A debate format might have been acceptable, or at the least a format where there were multiple speakers, some of whom spoke against the Reverend's unspoken prejudices. Maybe.

I will soon go to Mt Si and will be proud to have a person like McCormick teaching there, yet disgraced to have a principal like Taylor. He is a weasel. Did you know he tried to stop the GSA and Day of Silence. He had Hutch there on purpose. They're probably best buddies.

To the gay straight alliance: sorry but you have set yourselves back by your actions. I don't want you in my kids school. I hope that you get that I'm not anti-alternative lifestyle.

@56 - I hope your post doesn't get deleted becuase I've been emailing it to friends for a laugh. The consensus is 3 years until you come out of the closet. Well, it's flattering how you're flirting with me mark, but I already have a boyfriend and I'm not into guys your age. :) Also, not sure what a "pussy gay lover" is; I'm just plain gay. but I do love gays. so I guess I'm a gay lover. but pussy has nothing to do with it.

Also, didn't mean to totally disrespect Mt. Si, I have lots of friends and family in the Valley, but you have to be choosy; It's still full of redneck hicks. Honestly, I can say that having grown up there because I still spend time a fair amout of time in the valley with my extended family.

I just posted this story to Digg.com If you don't know about Digg, it's an online community that flags popular stories and can generate a ton of comments, press, and opinions. The more "diggs" a piece gets, the more attention it generates...the more people hear about it and take action

Be sure to swing by and get some people outside of Seattle commenting on Hutcherson's bigoted ways. Help draw attention to this important issue! Here's the link.

http://www.digg.com/educational/High_School_Teacher_stands_up_to_Ken_Hutcherson_s_Bigotry

I am the teacher referred to above. I was absolutely unaware that Ken Hutcherson had been invited to speak at the MLK assembly before it happened. Had I known beforehand, I would certainly have protested. I stood to ask Ken Hutcherson a question at the end of the assembly because I knew I couldn't live with myself if I let his bigotry (disguised as tolerance) pass unchallenged. I would, and will, do it again if need be. His message has no place in any school. As for timing, if an assembly on equality is not the place to raise the issue of gay rights, I don't know what is. Kit McCormick

wow. sorry I guess I did not make my point. I love GAY people. I think that Hutcherson was a really, really bad choice to speak on treating everyone equally as he chooses to not do so himself. I however, soccer mom that I am, was not in on the conspiracy to invite Hutcherson.

My one and only point was that yelling and booing anyone at a highschool assembly is not OK. Next kids will boo the GSA. Now it's fine to boo at something you don't agree with. It is sad that adults think it's OK to act like this in front of kids. Why did'nt the teachers involved go to Taylor and file a grevience? What about pulling Hutcherson aside after the assembly? I don't know the answer. Everyone thinks its OK to react like this so maybe I am wrong. I can't believe the guy that wrote it was fine that Hutcherson's daughter was humiated because that is what she gets for having such a ignorant father. So Hateful.

I wrote my first post because I think I have a unique perspective as the mother of a child who was in that assembly. I was upset because the teachers made such idots of themselves the kids think it's a joke. such serious, big life things reduced to a joke. My son said people were laughing and making fun of the GSA. I feel that this subject is very personal and I did not intend to offend with any anti gay verbage like "alternative lifestyle" just trying to be PC.

I went to a high school (Columbia River in Vancouver) that had many of the same issues that it seems like Mt. Si has. We didn't have a GSA then but had the same sort of willfully ignorant anti-liberal bullies who set the tone for the school. Those years were traumatic but at least we didn't have an administration that forced us to sit through an assembly by someone who makes his living as a homophobic self-promoter.

"Laura" should read Kit McCormick's comment @ 73. Why does "Laura" think that someone confronting injustice (in this case by asking a question, not by "yelling") it is the questioner that is the aggressor? "Laura" should do a little research into Hutcherson and see what kind of respect and politeness he gives to gay people. This man has made it his life's mission to fight against any and all protections for gay people: from gay marriage rights all the way down to anti-bullying laws. Take a gander:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Hutcherson

But anyway, good for you "Laura" mama for staying involved in your kids school...this is a good way for you to teach your kids about standing up for what is right even when it is uncomfortable. Believe me, in a high school if you are gay, it is rarely comfortable.

And good for you, GSA, but watch your backs. The bullies don't give up and it doesn't get better unless you fight...that is, until you go to your 20th reunion and see their saggy-assed flannel-wearing toothless tobacco-chewin older selves dragging around their fourth spouse. You get to win then.

To the person who wrote #14.

I'm Black, I'm Gay and I'm a Christian.

Thank you, your point is the most educational.

Kit @ 73
GOOD FOR YOU!

You just don't get it, do you, Luara?

"Why did'nt the teachers involved go to Taylor and file a grevience? What about pulling Hutcherson aside after the assembly? I don't know the answer."

Think about it. If the teachers used ONLY the methods of protest you suggest, would it have done a thing to change the official endorsement as an agent of tolerance that the school gave Hutcherson by inviting him to speak? No, the vast majority of students would never hear of it. They would see Hutcherson on the news spouting his anti-gay bigotry at one of his many media-whoring endeavors and they's be more inclined to accept what he said because he was that agent of tolerance, who spoke at their school, and no one objected . The fact is the teachers were presented with a "teachable moment" and used it. Good for them!

As for my comments about Hutcherson's daughter, you completely misconstrue them. I did not say that it was fine that she was humiliated, I merely pointed out that the good reverend with his media-whoring bigotry, shared some responsibility for that embarssement. Apparently you feel that no one should point out that Hutcherson is a bigot to spare his daughter embarassment-- certianly doesn't seem like the kind of position King would have endorsed.

I wonder if the people who think it was "rude" to protest Hutch being at the school, also think it was "rude" of MLK to lead the march out of Selma (all those people were blocking traffic and getting in everyone's way -- couldn't they just have some manners). Or of Gandhi and his hunger strikes -- they just cause so much commotion. Etc. Etc.

I really don't understand the emphasis on manners, when this man is a bigot who is encouraging the oppression of a group of people. See the MLK quote @21 for an explanation of why those fighting oppression should not be stifled by manners or "proper timing".

It's ALWAYS "fine to boo at something you don't agree with". Remaining silent simply gives the impression you tacitly support whatever objectionable speech or action is at-hand. Calling out injustice, prejudice and bigotry is NOT a "personal subject", it's a matter of taking a stand for what's right, and it's something more of us should be doing in our daily lives, even if it makes others a little uncomfortable to have to face. In my experience, it's generally the folks who don't want an opposing viewpoint to be aired who are the most vocal about things like maintaining decorum, not rocking the boat, or just keeping ones "opinions" to oneself.

The thing to take away from this, Laura, is not that "some teachers made idiots of themselves" or that "kids are laughing at them (and) the GSA", because that laughter comes as much from their own sense of discomfort and confusion as it does from their perception of moral superiority.

They can laugh until the Holsteins are back in the milking shed, but what they can't do now is ignore the source of their derision. Every snigger and snide remark they make simply reinforces, to themselves and to others around them, that they have been forced to confront their own prejudices and fears. And while it might not cause many of them to soberly examine those feelings and beliefs, it might cause a few to do so, and that self-questioning might eventually lead them to re-evaluate their position on the subject. It will also tell those who disagree with them quite clearly on which side of the issue they stand.

I stand corrected that McCormick didn't have prior knowledge of Hutch's visit.

I have no problem with her message and support it 100%

Hutcherson SHOULD NOT preach on equality if he doesn't practice it. Period.

The only point i had toward her was that yelling and booing anyone at a highschool assembly is not OK. Next kids will boo the GSA. Now it's fine to boo at something you don't agree with.

This is the whole reason why our school got letters about "appropriate" and "not appropriate" cheers at sporting events.

Jenni,
Better the kids boo the GSA and make their true feelings known. I doubt this equates to inappropriate cheers.

Laura @74,
It’s good to love the Gays, else the Gay Mafia will get you. *tease* I wasn’t meaning to pick you out as a soccer mom, in particular, I was just trying to think of actual lifestyles. Other options would be Yuppies, Hippies, or Urbanites, hell Hipster is a good example of a lifestyle. And I never thought there was a conspiracy to invite Hutcherson to speak. To my understanding, Hutcherson’s daughter suggested bringing him in to speak and that suggestion was carried through the ranks of approval until it was decided to invite him. That means that at least two authorities had to approve it: the Teacher who advises the students who put on the assembly and the Principal. That is, assuming Mt. Si uses a similar hierarchy to the high school I attended. Those two people should have looked at Hutcherson and evaluated if he truly was a good speaker for such an event. That would require looking beyond the fact that he is a black man who lived through the civil rights fight and now pastors a large local church, and seeing how he actually lives his life. A simply Google of his name would have given them enough to decide not to bring him in to speak, or at least not to give him an uncontested stage.

As for how the teachers chose to act in front of students… I think we would agree for the most part. I do not think it is appropriate to boo someone on stage just because you don’t like them, you disagree with their positions, or for most reasons. That said, I have booed from the stands before. It’s a personal choice each time you see a speaker to decide if what they have to say, how they say it, and how that affects your life how you will react. Sometimes booing from the stands is appropriate. In this instance, I think it was. I would expect someone to boo any bigot who got up to speak at an MLK event. I would hope that someone would stand up for the right things in such a situation. If the bigot had been a racist, I’d hope someone would boo. I’d probably be booing myself. I don’t know if I would have booed Hutcherson, mainly because my family is from the south and I had manners drilled into my head early on, but just sitting here reading about him speaking at such an event makes me want to speak against it. Well, I’m positing online about it, so apparently I am speaking against it. Either way.

I don’t think the teachers made idiots of themselves, but I do think they, and many parents, are wasting this opportunity to teach these children. Why do they think it’s a joke? Why do they think they can tease and laugh at the GSA about this? That’s not right either. Your son, other kids who see this behavior should be speaking out against it. Teachers should be speaking against it. The principal should be speaking against it. This is a prime learning moment, someone should be using it to teach. Use this moment to talk to your son, find out what he thinks about this whole situation. Maybe have him read over these comments on the Slog and discuss them.

And a last note from me… don’t worry about being “PC.” As long as you’re not calling people faggots or spewing other hate speech, people will pick up your meaning. I use the word “queer” to describe the whole spectrum of “not straight” people. I have friends who can’t stand that word… but I feel like a fool saying “GBLTQTP people really need to do…” It’s too many letters for me to say with a straight face. If you want to say Gay People that’s fine, if you want to say “Queer folk” also fine… the tone you say it with, the feeling behind the words, usually matters more than the words themselves.

Jenni @ 81,

Booing the GSA will only end with those students having a sit down with an administrator... unless there's a reason to boo the GSA. I mean, if some punky little queer kid gets up and burns a picture of the pope while ranting about the evils of Christianity... yeah, booing him would be OK. Yes, an extreme example... but I hope you get my point.

That said, schools have been on a PC craze for years. I graduated in '04 and we had memos sent out telling us what kinds of cheering were acceptable. Hell, we had events canceled because a group of students were "inappropriately behaved" at a football game... they had signs that mocked the other team. That's all. Gah. Sorry, pet peeve of mine.

Like I said to Laura, booing is acceptable when you feel you must speak up. Another acceptable means to protest Hutcherson would be standing up in the stands and turning their backs to him. Quiet, but much more observable. Students need to learn when it is appropriate to boo, hiss, and make a scene and when it is not. Our society often tries to tell people it's never appropriate, and that's just not true.

Part of growing up is learning when to break the rules.

I read on a PI blog that Hutcherson has spoken at Mt. Si before, objections were made and there was an agreement he would not be asked to speak there again. Any of you Mt. Si insiders know if that is true?

As a Mt. Si insider, this is absolutely true. Hutcherson spoke at an assembly 3-4 years ago and a lot of teachers were pissed...not just McCormick. I know my LA teacher, spanish, and band teacher were upset. They also fully support McCormick with what's currently going on. I wish more teachers would

Does anyone get the feeling that when Hutch felt he couldn't kill whitey anymore, he decided to try and kill the gays instead?

I am a student at mt si high school as well. I am part of the GSA too. I FULLY support kit and think it was a perfect time to say her opinion. I was even one of the students who cheered for her. If you disagree with me then you should really google him. He is a total hypocrite and shouldntve had the right to speak at our school. GSA didnt say we wanted him at our school. If it was bad timing for mccormick to speak then when was she supposed to? And if hutcherson doesnt believe in gay rights then he shouldnt be the one to tell us about equallity. "if we could get rid of all gays as easily as terrorists, the world would be a better place." hutcherson said that. Pretty much he wants to put all gays into one place and bomb it. Seriously, what have gay people ever done to him? Okay im done. -the end-

I am a student at mt si high school as well. I am part of the GSA too. I FULLY support kit and think it was a perfect time to say her opinion. I was even one of the students who cheered for her. If you disagree with me then you should really google him. He is a total hypocrite and shouldntve had the right to speak at our school. GSA didnt say we wanted him at our school. If it was bad timing for mccormick to speak then when was she supposed to? And if hutcherson doesnt believe in gay rights then he shouldnt be the one to tell us about equallity. "if we could get rid of all gays as easily as terrorists, the world would be a better place." hutcherson said that. Pretty much he wants to put all gays into one place and bomb it. Seriously, what have gay people ever done to him? Okay im done. -the end-

I would rather teach my children to take a stand against injustice and bigotry when they see it, than to have good manners.

man i think this is horrible.. so what if if a guy is gay i think that is ok... i like that... who cares if people are gay it dosent mean they dont deserve the same civil rights as the "Normal People"... i wish that we could just all get along... i hate all the stupid redneck bigots at mt. si there they ones that need to have their civil rights taken away..
-Morgan Jordan

i like gay butt sex.... ive had 5 guys at one time hard core up the ass and it feels so good getting stretched... it even feels better than 2 girls at once so i have no problem with gay people bi people are my life... expecially at night when i get em from behind... ride em baby ride em

gays are gay and thats it no questions asked if you want to be gay you can go jump off a bridge and you can have gay sex with satan in hell thats the only place that we want you hutchensen is right, there is no place in this society for gay people and gay rights, its unnatural and immoral. why would you even impose a club at a school of the "GSA" when you know it will cause problems, so why dont the students at Mt. Si High start a club against gays and call it, "SP" for strait power and see how Mccormic and the leaders of the GSA react to it. You have just as much of a right to start a club against gays to counteract for their Pro-Gay-Club. If they react to it in a negative way, and tell you to stop the club, then it is they who do not live by the rights they are allowing gays to have.... gays are sick people who dont understand the laws of life, they are simply retards that need to be thrown in to the pits of hell for their urge to play snake. it up to you to counter act the GSA...

@93
Ewwwww-kaaaay. A little early in the evening for the crack pipe, ain't it?

@93... you're ideas on the "SP" club are a bit crazy. It sounds like you are trying to start a violence against gays club; which is wrong. What have gay people ever done to you? Has the GSA ever done anything to harm staight people?

I am Mount Si Student as well.

Hutcherson may be a political activist, but he never brought it up, and his speech was not meant to address ANY issue of the sort.
Rev. Hutcherson said that he became a Christian because of Martin Luther King Jr. That said MLK was not gay. He was a leader of a church, and followed what the bible has to say when it comes to getting married (that it’s between a man and a woman).
The thing is, racial equality and giving "extra" rights to people who are homosexual are two completely separate issues. Leave it to a Language Arts teacher to take two completely different subjects and make them look like the same thing.
The fact is that what McCormick did was out of line, disrespectful to our guest, unprofessional, and mostly just very rude. On a day where we were supposed to be remembering how Martin Luther King changed America for the better, she had to throw her own selfish monkeywrench.
This came to me as such a blatant insult to Martin Luther King and his memory. It was truly uncalled for, and made every feeling of pride I had in MLK feel cheap and worthless.
This of course led to debates throughout the day and people taking sides. By all means, form your opinions, but there were many people who were harassed in school because they were on the side of Hutcherson. So apparently I am allowed to stick up for what I believe in, ONLY IF it’s what you believe in? I believe that the issue at Mount Si, which is supposedly "No Place for Hate" is the fact that you aren't able to stand up for what you believe in, unless it is entirely politically correct and eye-pleasing to everyone.

Natalie,
Given your post appears word for word on the PI blog, was posted there at 1:59am and here at 2:22am and has those special buzz words "special rights", I have serious doubts about you being a Mt. Si student.

GSA IS SO GAY! GSA will never happen because everybody hates gays! i mean look at Morgan Jordan does he have any friends?? NOOOO because he's GAY and he comes from the KKK, i agree with the kkk leader up there in comment 93 instead of 'GSA' it should be 'SP' STRAIGHT POWER

The people who hate gays are a vocal, but shrinking minority. If you hate gays, or teach your children to hate gays, you're doomed to be more and more isolated and marginalized in this society. Much like racist folks are now.

By the way, the only people who truly believe that being gay is a chosen lifestyle are those that are actively suppressing homosexual tendencies. To them, they have "chosen" to not express their gayness, much as they could choose to dye their red hair blond; it is more acceptable. People who are born heterosexual do not have to choose to be that way any more than natural blonds have to choose their blondness. Ask yourself, when did I choose to not be gay? If the answer is never, that's because it's not a choice. If the answer is you did choose to be straight...well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but....

From wherever Natalie's comments come from:

The fact is that what McCormick did was out of line, disrespectful to our guest, unprofessional, and mostly just very rude. On a day where we were supposed to be remembering how Martin Luther King changed America for the better, she had to throw her own selfish monkeywrench.

She is right. Ms. McCormick, you are completely entitled to your opinion, however, your rudeness to an invited school guest (and it really doesn't matter whether you knew or not) is an example of unprofessional conduct. This could have been the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with students about true tolerance, not reduce it to comment board chat where the "tolerance" for dissenting opinions in non-existent. From one educator to another, shame on you for missing an opportunity for real change and worse, for continuing the conversation here.

If one of the teachers instead booed Mr.Hutcherson because he was black would we still commend them for standing up for what they believed in and voicing their opinion?

So only because she had a politically correct opinion its ok for her to say something?

Jenni, it's not about her opinion.

It's about the fact that he is a bigot. If you had a black supremest who wanted to take over the government and make white people a second class of citizens, say inverting American Slavery, someone should speak against him too.

This is one of those times where a person needs to learn when to break the rules. Is it proper to challenge someone based on their skin tone or sexuality? No. Is it proper to challenge someone based on hatred they spread? Yes.

Being black and being a bigot are different types of things. Opposing bigotry and opposing blackness are different things.

Standing up for what is right is always right.

You go Laura @64!

Natalie,

If you are a Mt. Si student, then you have not been paying attention in your LA classes. To Kill a Mockingbird, Antigone, Letter to a Birmingham Jail, Animal Farm..etc. The message of every single one of these texts is to make sure you stand up for what you believe...and the dangers of not doing it soon enough. Sad to see that you've missed that important lesson. Being polite has nothing to do with what McCormick did. She stood up for the rights of ALL of her students. I may not be a huge fan of all of the LA teachers at Mt. Si, but I certainly know that the actions of McCormick and Potratz fit right in with the curriculum. I applaud them both for sticking true to what they teach.

Well from my personal experience being gay is not such a bad thing. i think anal feels great. dont dis it until you have tried it. it is NARCORE.

i was born and raised to be a flaming dike. my mom was, and so am i, and so is my son. Hell, my whole family are flamers. Just because i wanted to be a dumbass and speak up, doesnt mean everyone can make fun of me. Rainbow Pride. White Power.

... naggers

Ms. McCormick???? Is that you at 106??? It sure doesn't sound like something you would say at all... I hope that your last comment was out of frustrated sarcasm... but not everybody will read it that way... I'm a little bit concerned if it wasn't...

And AJ at 100... Were you at the MLK assembly that day??? If you were then you would know that McCormick wasn't rude at all... she was in tears. I was sitting about 10 feet away from her. Also, the question she posed did inspire deep intellectual conversation at school. This type of discussion was held in 3 out of my 7 classes. Some of us choose to be vocal on message boards a well as in class, with friends, family, and complete strangers (I'm sure that some of us have... I haven't but I'm sure somebody out there has...)

whoever (mark) is ghost writing for Kit and Mitch and Morgan, you don't seem to know that Dykes are never flamers, but you seem to understand - even are obsessed by - anal. Hahaha! I think that says it all! but don't worry, that's what it's like being a young gay boy. Been there myself. You eventually think about other things too.

Of course #106 isn't McCormick.

anybody has a problem with my gay heritage and "faggot" lifestyle come say it to my face then we will see who is talking then. I may just feed you a chode and a throght full so fuck you all who oppose gays! GAY POWER

“Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”, this