Matthew LaClair

I will not address your comments regarding your assumptions, because I don't think there is a point. You will think what you will. However, I would like to say something. If the students did not receive refunds, that is ABSOLUTELY wrong, and the Board of Education should reimburse the students for the price of the rooms. In fact, I spoke about this before. I do think someone in the school, students or parents should have done something about the trip much earlier. However, this is not the fault of the students, you, or any other parent who spent money on this trip and you all deserve your money back for the hotel cost. If members of the club or parents of the students involved in the trip raise a fuss about this, I will agree with them 100%. You and anyone else who spent money for the cost of the hotel deserve their money back from the Board of Education.

I have been informed about this post and would like to give some advice. If there are any parents with students in the Kearny school system or students themselves in the Kearny school system that seriously want to do something about the uniforms, please let me know. I will help in any way I can. There are organizations and individuals that would be willing to help. I know that there are many people that are against the school uniforms, but nothing is going to change unless somebody does something about it. I hope to speak with someone who will.

I have spoken on this topic before. Unfortunately, I cannot do anything about it because I do not have standing. I will not be in KHS next year. But your daughter can challenge it. You can challange it. I will help out in any way I can, but somebody next year has to take the initiative if anything is going to change.

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." I am sure that you know where this quote is from. There are some things in Christianity that I find beautiful. This quote is one of them. I think perhaps you should reconsider your post. I doubt you will apologize or even consider the above quote. If you are so sick that you will tell somebody that they need to pray for forgiveness, and then curse them off, then I feel sorry for you. Please, reconsider your words. If you do not, don’t worry. I have already forgiven you.

I am not claiming that my hypothetical belief is true. The point that I was trying to make was that just because somebody believes something, it is not necessarily true. Also, speaking of the existence of a first being, who or what created that being? I do not know the origins of the universe, but I can accept the fact that I do not know. The best we can do as a people is to use science to attempt to discover the answers to these questions. Currently, the Big Bang theory is the most logical and accepted among scientists, but it is not necessarily the absolute truth. The point is that to dismiss such theories as non-scientific in a public school classroom is inappropriate.

I am not going to cover the reasons why Noah's Ark could not have existed as described in the Bible, nor will I cover the reasons why dinosaurs did not exist when humans were alive. I am sure that somebody will do that. However, I would like to pose an idea. I could claim that an alien from a far away galaxy created a science project; this science project is our planet Earth. He made this Earth in seven days. There is now way to scientifically disprove it, but that does not make it right. It also does not give a public school teacher the right to tell students that it is true because he or she believes it.

I think you've worn this subject out. You've hashed and re-hashed this until we're all sick of it. Please go back to chasing ambulances and let us all try to forget about Paul and his crime-fighting, super-hero son. 71384[/snapback] I do not appreciate the chasing ambulances crack. It is untrue, cliched and based on nothing but biased conjecture. However, I have never been called a crime-fighting super-hero. I do not agree 100%, but I would just like to say thank you for such kindness.

Newton's third law states that "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Your accusation was so ridiculous that I felt there should be an equal and opposite ridiculous response. I usually make my arguments in a more intellectual manner, however I felt that your remark did not necessitate such a response.

To have the full experience, the sound on your computer must be on when you go to the link. Sorry I did not mention it before.

His religious and political bias? The following is a response to that comment. http://www.evo.hr/cat/

The machine does not work unless every person plays his or her tiny role as a cog in the wheel. Critical thinking does make things harder for a public school but, that is what a public school in a free country should teach and appreciate. No other current student in the school has come out publicly and supported my position. They have told me privately, but not publicly. You say moral is at an all time low, that teachers do not care about doing a good job, that they have lost their passion, that teachers are thinking retirement. If this is the case, then these teachers of which you speak are not true teachers. "How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think. " - Adolf Hitler

I hope that we have hockey this year. I really like to play, but not enough people have been signing up. Maybe we can have it this year.

I did not intend for my last post to seem mean or anything like that. It sounds like you may have that impression. I am sorry if it came out that way. I still am curious as to who told you these rumors.

I have never been spoken to by anyone about the need for me to sit quietly during the pledge and not do things like tap my pencil or hum out loud, and certainly not by the principal. It may have been a rumor that you heard, but I never make any noise during the pledge. If I did make disruptive noises during the pledge, then the teacher would have the right to tell me to stop. I am curious to know where you are getting this information, because it is simply not true.

I am not sure if any of you have seen the movie "Saved." There is one part in the movie where a girl screams at another girl saying "I am filled with Christ's love," and then proceeds to throw the Bible at her, literally. Your post just reminded me of that. I can only imagine the words that you used in the deleted section. What a great show of American patriotism.

As I made clear in my last post, the spelling error was not my main issue. Also, I was not aware that I made any spelling errors in my previous posts. If you can point them out to me, I would be grateful. I also did not know it took a long time for people to differentiate between the letter "c" and the letter "n". There is one thing I find hypocritical about your post. You said that I should go back to my other posts to check for spelling errors. If I did have any errors in my previous posts as you implied, would it not show that you are using much of your time "to go picking apart everything everyone else does?" Or perhaps you did not look at my previous posts at all, and you are making claims based on nothing but the fact that you want them to be true.

That it a terrible statement, and I am not just talking about the spelling error. A patriotic person in America protects the Constitution to the best of his or her responsibility. You do not need a badge to do so.

I won't do a thing, unless somebody does something that should be challenged.

I found this in The Star Ledger Friday, August 31. I am curious as to what people think about it. By Brian Newsome Colorado Springs, CO. - A 2006 Colorado high school graduate who mentioned Jesus Christ during a valedictorian speech and had her diploma withheld until she wrote an apologetic letter, has sued the district for allegedly violating her free speech. Erica Corder was chosen to conclude a commencement speech shared by 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, Colo., in May 2006. Although students' 30-second speeches were first rehearsed for the principal, she added evangelical comments when her turn came during the ceremony. ''We are all capable of standing firm and expressing our own beliefs, which is why I need to tell you about someone who loves you more than you could ever imagine. He died for you on a cross over 2,000 years ago, yet was resurrected and is living today in heaven. His name is Jesus Christ. If you don't already know him personally I encourage you to find out more about the sacrifice he made for you so that you now have the opportunity to live in eternity with him.'' Corder's diploma was withheld and she was ordered to meet with then-principal Mark Brewer to get it. He threatened to withhold the diploma until she apologized for the speech, according to the lawsuit and the family's statements to The Gazette. She did not apologize for the content, but did agree to write a letter of explanation for her actions. ''I'm sorry I didn't share my plans with Mr. Brewer or the other valedictorians ahead of time,'' she wrote. In the lawsuit, Corder contends her First Amendment rights of free speech were violated when the district ''refused to present her with her diploma unless she issued an apology for mentioning Jesus Christ in her graduation speech'' and also required speeches to be rehearsed. The suit also says her 14th Amendment rights to equal protection were violated, in part because district practices ''treat religious speech differently than nonreligious speech.'' Robin Adair, the district's spokeswoman, Superintendent Raymond Blanch, and Board President Jes Raintree did not return phone messages left Wednesday evening. Board Vice President Dee Dee Eaton deferred a call from The Gazette to Adair. Adair said:''The events that are the subject of the case occurred over a year ago, at which time a complete review of the situation was performed by the District. 'Since then, representatives of the District have met on several occasions with the parents and the former student.’ While we are disappointed that this matter has resulted in litigation, we are confident that all actions taken by school officials were constitutionally appropriate. As a result, we intend to vigorously defend the claims. ‘Beyond that, it is the District's policy not to comment on pending litigation.'' Corder, now 19 and a student at Wheaton College in Illinois, said Wednesday, ''The main reason I did this is just because I want to make sure the school understands what they did was wrong. ''Her father, Steven, said that the lawsuit was a last resort. Steven and Thea Corder had asked the district to retract the disciplinary actions against Erica and adopt policies to protect student speech and eliminate confusion. ''Really, our hope is that any valedictorian would know clearly that they can speak about what is important to them,'' Steven Corder said. ''It's really so that the Constitution can be turned to as the governing document in this type of situation. ''The Corders have retained Liberty Counsel, which specializes in cases involving religious freedom. It has offices in Washington, D.C., Florida and Virginia. The suit also seeks unspecified damages.

This is in response to post #17 for Bryan. You seem to think that those Ann Coulter quotes were ok. Let me take the three and change around a few words. Let us assume that instead of Ann Coulter, the following things were said by Michael Moore. Deciding whether to run against George W. Bush as a Libertarian candidate: "I really want to hurt him. I want him to feel pain." "We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate conservatives, by making them realize that they can be killed too. Otherwise they will turn out to be outright traitors." "My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the Fox News Building." Do you find these comments offensive? Think it over and tell me what you think. This time Bryan, can we just have a conversation about this without sounding mean? I will be much more willing to discuss these topics with you if you are respectful.

Let's take a look at some of Ann Coulter's quotes. June 25, 1999 On Rep. Christopher Shays (D-CT) in deciding whether to run against him as a Libertarian candidate: "I really want to hurt him. I want him to feel pain." February 2002 "We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed too. Otherwise they will turn out to be outright traitors." August 21, 2002 "My only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building." Someone who wants people to be killed. Someone who wants a building to explode in New York City because of political feelings. Someone who wants to execute people to scare others from speaking out. Someone who wants a person to feel pain, and wants to be the cause of that pain. How sick does a person have to be to think that mass-murder is ok? How sick does a person have to be to think that execution is an acceptable action to keep others "in line?" How sick does a person have to be to wish a terror attack on people? How sick does a person have to be to want other people to feel pain because they disagree? I do not believe that a patriot, as you call yourself, wishes these kinds of things on people. She is a person who probably feels that it is ok to invade another country, kill it's leaders and covert it's people to Christianity. I believe that somebody who uses fear and murder as a tool to reach political goals is by definition, a terrorist. There is of course another way of looking at these comments. I have heard people say that she doesn't really mean what she is saying. She is just making jokes. Jokes? How are mass-murder, terror and pain supposed to be funny? Well, I have noticed an awakening in my brain and I am processing things clearly. However, I don't think that the awakening was the same kind as you were expecting. After reading your post and Ann Coulter's quotes, I am not sure about my taste for Kool-Aid, but I have certainly lost my appetite. Perhaps after reading my post, you will notice an awakening in your brain. Perhaps you will see that execution of fellow Americans is not funny. Perhaps you will see that terrorism is not funny. Or, perhaps everything that I am saying to you is fueling your anger toward people like me. Perhaps you feel that people like me, maybe even I personally, should be executed. I have learned throughout my life and especially in my Junior year in High School that people can be cruel. They can make fun of you, they can accuse you of doing things you have never done, they can shout at you, they can try to make your life miserable, they can even make threats on your life. There is one thing they cannot do. They cannot take away your humanity. You can only do that to yourself.

What an intelligent, well thought out response. I never understood the "oh yea, well... your dumb" kind of response that I have seen. Perhaps you should consider that there are better ways to make an argument, rather that childish attacks. I do not think poorly of you, but I think that perhaps you are angry and this is your way to release it. I hope you can understand why it makes posts like yours a waste. There seems to be no real substance in it, just personal attacks. Maybe you should try to backup your arguments with reason, and people may begin to think more of you, even if they disagree with you.

I think that there maybe some mis-communication. I believe that you think Strife is saying that I went to Mr. Paszkiewicz before taping the classes, but he is actually saying that I went to Mr. Paskiewicz and Mr. Somma after taping the classes, but way before the tapes and story became public knowledge. I hope that this clears it up.

I think that there maybe some mis-communication. I believe that you think Strife is saying that I went to Mr. Paszkiewicz before taping the classes, but he is actually saying that I went to Mr. Paskiewicz and Mr. Somma after taping the classes, but way before the tapes and story became public knowledge. I hope that this clears it up.

Great idea. Instead of telling your kids that there are different kinds of people, lets pretend that everybody is the same! That will solve the problem! Ok... now I am going to be serious. My intention of this comment is not to be mean, but I truly think that the idea of eliminating the differences in clothing will only send a message to kids that if they are uncomfortable with other people, they can change the rest of the world to suit them. I do not think that is a good message to send. Instead, why don't parents teach their kids that everybody is different? There are students that they are going to meet who they like, and they are going to meet other students who they can't stand. The job of the kid is to learn to accept the differences of their fellow students. At the simplist level, they should learn not to judge a person based solely on their clothing.