February 10, 2005
By Mick Staton (Sugarland Run Supervisor)
It has come to my attention that Stone Bridge High School put on a play called “Postcards from Paradise.” In the second act of this play, a young boy is portrayed as confused about his sexuality and an openly gay boy encourages him to ‘explore’ these feelings. At the end of the act the two boys kiss, and the ‘confused’ boy turns to the audience and addresses them by saying, “You can’t tell me there’s not a little bit of me in every one of you.”
This was an attempt at shock value, and by addressing the audience in this manner, it crosses the line of discussion into advocacy. Parents were not only offended at the shock value of this kiss, but also for the fact that it was implied that everyone in the audience was secretly hiding homosexual feelings. What also disturbs me is that this play was obviously approved by the faculty at Stone Bridge, which makes me question what other kinds of practices are being condoned in our public schools.
Tolerance for those who have different cultures, beliefs or practices is a cornerstone of freedom in our society, but just as we are dedicated to protecting those in the minority in this country, we cannot do so by trampling over the rights of the majority. When Christian views are forbidden because they are based in religion, but views in direct opposition to Christianity are allowed to be advocated in our public schools, I feel that a double standard has been created that treats people of faith like second class citizens.
We have banned the Ten Commandments in schools because they are a symbol of Christian religion. We do not even require children to say the pledge of allegiance for fear of offending someone’s beliefs. Why is it, then, that different groups are allowed to offend the beliefs of Christians with impunity?
Are the rights of the parent who does not want their child forced to say the pledge of allegiance more important than the rights of the parent who does not want their child exposed to the views that homosexuality is ‘just another lifestyle choice?’
We must not only protect our children physically, but we must also protect them from indoctrination. Our teachers are given a sacred trust to safeguard the inquisitive minds in their care. We cannot allow that trust to be subverted by groups who have their own agendas.
I urge Dr. Hatrick and the School Board to take action to address this situation.
[Originally published in Loudoun Connection, February 10, 2005]