fearlessly proclaiming the truth & the other truth! voice of the teknoshamanic institute
Are You That Opposed to "Opposed" ?
Published on November 18, 2005 By kingbee In Politics

 right in the middle of last year's crusade to keep christmas from being 'banned', an already ban-concious public was alarmed and outraged by news of a public school in cupertino, california 'banning' the constitution.

as it turned out, the school hadn't banned anything (a teacher who made the claim after being disciplined by his principal for repeatedly violating a directive entered into a settlement in which the school denied any wrongdoing). 

despite a flurry of furious articles condemning an initiative recently adopted by a majority of resident voters, neither has the city of san francisco.

unless they've done revised the dictionary, 'oppose' doesn't come close to meaning the same thing as 'ban'. 

here's the relevant portion of the legal text of proposition i as it appeared on the ballot: Link

Resolved, that the people of San Francisco oppose U.S. military recruiters using public school, college and university facilities to recruit young people into the armed forces. Furthermore, San Francisco should oppose the military’s “economic draft” by investigating means by which to fund and grantscholarships for college and job training to low-income students so they are noteconomically compelled to join the military. Resolved, that the people of San Francisco oppose U.S. military recruiters using public school, college and university facilities to recruit young people into the armed forces. Furthermore, San Francisco should oppose the military’s "economic draft" by investigating means by which to fund and grant scholarships for college and job training to low-income students so they are not economically compelled to join the military.

note the absence of the word 'ban' or any of its alternates.

here's the way the city of san francisco's ballot simplification committee explained the issue and the effects of prop i: Link

THE WAY IT IS NOW:  The San Francisco Unified School District operates the City's public schools.  The District receives federal money to pay part of its operating costs.  By accepting federal money, the District must permit U.S. military recruiters access to its schools.  Colleges and universities that receive federal funds are subject to similar requirements.

THE PROPOSAL:  Proposition I is a declaration of policy that the people of San Francisco oppose the federal government's use of public schools to recruit students for service in the military.

Proposition I is also a declaration that San Francisco should consider funding scholarships for higher education and job training that could provide an alternative to military service.

A “YES” VOTE MEANS:  If you vote “yes,” you want it to be City policy to oppose military recruiters’ access to public schools and to consider funding scholarships for education and training that could provide an alternative to military service.

A “NO” VOTE MEANS:  If you vote “no,” you do not want this to be City policy

it's not even thanksgiving and you're already expending perfectly good outrage to oppose an opposing?   i hate to offer unsolicited advice but...if you don't conserve (heh) your energy, you may peak too quickly.  in that event, this could be the year athiests succeed in banning such sacred heathen claptrap as candycanes and stockings fulla coal.


Comments (Page 3)
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on Nov 19, 2005
A number of the letters seemed to be shotgunned out to any of the students in the area who took the time to take the pre-SAT tests. The MIT letter... I don't have enough information to tell.
Nice to see that we agree on the actual resolution.
on Nov 20, 2005
Good for you Kingbee. It needed to be said!
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