My apologies to my readers. This investigation into the Viki Knox issue is getting intense and is pitting everyone against everyone else.
As a matter of fact, one person indirectly threatened to report me to my "day job" for DEFENDING her right to speak!.That's funny because I've been fired from better jobs. Regardless, this is where having the "Thought Police" around is having an impact on everyone.
As a matter of fact, one person indirectly threatened to report me to my "day job" for DEFENDING her right to speak!.That's funny because I've been fired from better jobs. Regardless, this is where having the "Thought Police" around is having an impact on everyone.
Both sides are right, and both sides are wrong, and on multiple levels. You have the New Jersey gay alliance calling for her firing, while the ACLU is defending her right to speech. You have the straights fighting against the gays, and the gays fighting for same sex marriage. How it came to that? Beats the hell out of me, but it happened.
Everyone is at odds with each other except for one person, and that guy is laughing at all of the suckers battling it out because of him and his agenda simply because in my opinion, he harbors deep hatred for morals and virtue. I've read his twitter tweets. ALL of them! Either that, or it's a racial thing for Ms. Knox is a black woman who has been teaching for 20 years with an exceptional record from what I've read, or because of bigotry against her faith, most likely.
Anyway you cut it, and however this moves forward, one thing is for sure. This is going to cost somebodies (yeah, it's misspelled, but you get the drift) a whole bunch of money, and some lawyer will be raking in the cash.
"If you see something, say something." I thought that statement was for suspected terrorist activity, but then again looking at this case, if you take a counter homosexual opinion, that is a terrorist activity I guess. Sure some people may consider what Ms. Knox wrote to be wrong, but most people will probable say that she was right, but are afraid to say it. Why? The THOUGHT POLICE!
This case is a simple one. A neighbor saw a neighbor do something and reported it to the Commissar. This is an activity carried out in Communist nations, not free ones. It is reminiscent of Pavel Trofimovich Morozov (Russian: Па́вел Трофи́мович Моро́зов; November 14, 1918 – September 3, 1932), better known as Pavlik.
Pavlik was a Soviet youth praised by the Soviet press as a martyr. His story, dated to 1932, is that of a 13-year old boy who denounced his father for hiding food for his family to the authorities and then was killed by his family. His story was a subject of reading, songs, plays, a symphonic poem, a full-length opera and six biographies. The cult had a huge impact on the moral norms of generations of Russian children, and here we are repeating the Pavlik story again!
Is that really where we want to go? The Slippery Slope just before the cliff edge!
UPDATE
I have just finished reviewing the 'Bullying and harassment' policies posted on the Union School District web site and find that (unless I missed it in my speed reading), all policies are directed at student behavior, and in many of the examples by using school equipment. In reading their own policies, and negating anything I may have admittedly missed, I would really think that perhaps the school district should consider their "Final Solution" to this very carefully.
Now I'm not an attorney, therefore I can say what I say with honestly and integrity, but in my humble opinion, and I understand the School District's attempt at "diversity" (I'm sure others could call it "indoctrination of a political agenda to a captive audience") but is it at all possible, even in a most miniscule way, that by promoting the LGBT History Month and posting the Bulletin Board that perhaps that action by the District and Administration actually "BULLIED" Viki Knox? Obviously it offended her, and she believed that it harassed her enough that she felt the need to respond and post her views, which she did on her personal Facebook page. The question becomes "Did Ms. Knox, with the posting of the bulletin board advocating LGBT History Month believe that her employer, the Union School District, was harassing her, thereby making it an hostile work environment? After all, we are always told that it's the perceptions of the offended party that takes precedence aren't we?
What is "Sexual Harassment in a Hostile Work Environment?" Well, conduct has purpose or effect of (1) unreasonably interfering with work performance or (2) creating an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive environment. Posting a bulletin board with things one considered to be offensive seems to fit this category. What about Employer Liability? Well, the Employer is liable
if knew or should have known and failed to take appropriate corrective action. I would argue that even a blind man could see that promoting the gay agenda in school could be problematic. What about the students, and their parents? They apparently are left out of this equation and have no say either.
News accounts indicate that she received some "bullying and harassment" before but after being "outted" so to speak, she was horrifically bombarded with personal attacks by the THOUGHT POLICE and the wannabe crusaders out there. I know. I have seen it, defended her, reasoned with the kooks, but they want blood. I was even threatened by one loser with being ratted out to my employer, but as I told him I am careful with what I say, but if he can prove that I was somehow promoting hatred, to feel free and complain. That's how they define compassion. Something reminiscent of the Soviet Union where neighbor spied on neighbor and then ratted them out to the Commissar.
Superintendent (or his actual title) Chief School Administrator Dr. Patrick Martin should think this through before acting on a hot potato issue like this one. I for one do not envy this man, for regardless what decision he makes, it will be the wrong one for somebody and I'm sure he will get an ear full and maybe even face some threats of his own, which I discourage. The best I think he can do is sit down with whatever trusted advisors he has and ask "What will cost us the LEAST amount of damage?" The goal at this point and the keyword is MINIMIZE.
