Diverse belief systems must be respected in schools
Scott Maxwell’s column regarding funding of Islamic schools is right on (“Anti-gay Christian schools are welcome in Florida. But Muslim ones?” Oct. 29). Religions are belief systems, accepted by a group of people as a concept regarding life and one’s relation to it. Islamic beliefs have their system of beliefs and way of life. Atheism is viewed by the First Amendment as protected and atheists have the same rights as religious individuals. I myself see atheism as a belief system because, depending on whether one could even define a god, thoughts about a god are beliefs. Is funding atheistic schools OK? Of course.
Most all of the god-based beliefs have various ideas regarding behavior. I think teaching religion could be supported by public money if the schools that pursue that path acknowledge that they should be teaching their children that the beliefs they are spouting are what that school finds to be true, but there are other beliefs and all should be respected as beliefs. Presently, I doubt most schools of religion express that concept. To me, that is a problem. We can see that in this idea that some think certain religious groups should be omitted. Unless a group is actively teaching harm to those that have different views, they should be respected. If a person feels disrespected by a belief system, they should also be free to not follow those ideas.
The main concept that should be considered for schools of religion is that the children should understand that the world is made up of various beliefs, none of which is sealed in fact. Teaching religion as fact is a disservice to education and disrespect of peaceful thought.
Valerie First Winter Springs
Ingoglia should apologize to Seminole
Blaise Ingoglia owes Seminole County leadership an apology (“Florida’s CFO Ingoglia seems to back off on claims Seminole is overspending tax money,” Oct. 30). He owes the leaders of Seminole County an apology at a news conference, not a letter. I believe the disrespect spewed from Ingoglia was nasty. A letter simply doesn’t suffice. Unfortunately there is no monetary remedy that would dissuade further activity, but that might have been the only way to prevent further such grandstanding, hurtful behavior. A good public humiliation might go a long way.
Philip Styne Orlando
Both parties caused shutdown
The “Who’s at fault?” question is a red herring. Both parties caused this government shutdown.
The Senate requires a 60% majority vote to keep the government open, and the current Republican vs. Democrat balance brings them up short. That’s not usually a problem when loopholes require only a 50% vote, but here we are. Republicans can now either negotiate with Democrats or hope time wears them down. It’s one of the few areas where Democrats, who make up 48% of Congress, still have some leverage. But if Republicans “win” this game of chicken, Democrats won’t be heard from again until at least the 2026 election.
Democrats want a tiny voice for the 48% of Americans they represent, but it comes at a cost: They must watch federal workers and lower-income Americans suffer. This cake is really about power. Republicans demand it all; Democrats demand a few scraps.
It shouldn’t be like this in a government with 48%-52% representation. If right-wing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks health care should be included in a bill to reopen the government (she does), then she should be free to vote that way without fear of repercussions.
Imagine a system where every Congress member votes their conscience. Imagine a time when news organizations no longer use phrases like “working across the aisle” or “bipartisan” simply because that’s how government already operates. Imagine a nation that no longer treats Democrats and Republicans as if they’re bitter rivals facing off in the big homecoming football game.
Imagine. But it takes stronger voices than mine to make it so.
Kerry Smith Winter Springs
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