Here’s a bit of sunshine for those of you who think we in the media only write about bad news.
Chad Vegas, pastor, educator and rabble-rouser, will run for another term on the Kern High School District board of trustees.
I can just hear the separation-of-church-and-state folks retching over their Corn Flakes, but Vegas’ decision to run again is good news for a lot of reasons.
It’s good news for Vegas’ fellow board members, some of whom tell me the Vegas frequently vilified in the opinion page is not the man they work well with on education reform.
It’s good news for our high school students, particularly those struggling to meet basic academic standards and for whom college is not an option.
And it’s really good news for the local media, whose obsession with Vegas may be second only to The Canyons project and the Hillside Ordinance.
It’s good news that almost didn’t happen. Until recently, Vegas was convinced he would not run again, telling his 150 or so church members “my life would be far easier, my schedule less cluttered, my emotional energies stronger and my reputation far less under attack if I dropped out of politics all together.”
Then came the California Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage and Vegas was back in the battle. After considerable prayer and the ardent support of his family, he’s decided to run again and on the same “platform of moral responsibility” that got him elected the first time around.
“As much as I want to focus on just the education issues, the onslaught of garbage coming from the California legislature is going to require a pushback on morality issues,” he says.
Legislation passed just this week, he says, include only the most recent examples of the onslaught.
No kidding. On Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill that would establish May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. The bill, now awaiting the governor’s signature, seeks to honor the assassinated San Francisco supervisor with a special day during which, among other things, public schools would be encouraged to “conduct suitable commemorative exercises.”
Just who decides which “exercises” are “suitable,” I’m not sure, but I’m betting it won’t be the parents of the participating students.
Also on Tuesday, the Senate passed another astonishing bit of legislation that, should Schwarzenegger sign it, will no longer allow schools to fire teachers for belonging to the Communist Party and will allow Communists to use public school property for their meetings.
You know, just as long as they’re not plotting to overthrow the U.S. government or anything.
Even with the judicial high jinks, Vegas promises he will focus most of his time on education reform — just as he always has.
“The media gave excessive attention to In God We Trust, but very little to the fact we put in place freshman retention,” he says. “There’s been lot of press over my homosexual comments, but very little over the boot camps we started to help incoming freshmen get up to grade level.”
Fellow trustee Joel Heinrichs says Vegas can, at times, be divisive, but typically agrees with his fellow board members on most “education reform-type issues.”
“We do spend some amount of time on these social issues at the board meetings, but rarely, frankly, outside of them,” Heinrichs says.
Vegas makes no predictions on the outcome of the election, but says he felt led by God to run again. And if he loses?
JBS, a strategic lightning bolt would make less of a mess and would be more effective.
MaryLee seems to have a real problem with freedom. I, too, had heard that Vegas wouldn't run, and I'm saddened that his personal bigotry is what changed his mind back to inflicting his views on the rest of us. I'll work for his defeat--but given that a large minority in this county actually shares his delusion, it may be a close thing.
1) that Harvey Milk served honorably in the Navy during the Korean War, served honorably on the SF board of supervisors as the only openly gay person *ever* elected to *any* public office in this country, and was assassinated by a conservative Catholic while simply doing his job? So what *exactly* is it about honoring him that offends you? Be specific please--no broad brush strokes.
2) that California is the *only* state in the US which still has some form of anti-Communist Party rhetoric written into its statutes about state employees or school property, that the US Communist Party estimates their total current nationwide membership at a paltry 15,000 (or about 300 per state), and that it's not 1955 anymore? So why are you afraid of letting a party have the same rights as any other political or religious group? Please be specific--avoid empty scaremongering Cold War verbiage if possible.
Her editorial is a nice way of saying that if Chad Vegas stuck to education issues and left morality to individuals and families, he would be a more useful and productive trustee.
Yeah the high school district needs four more years of contentious leadership. It needs a board member who's doesn't care squat how the students are being educated as long as he can inject his personal beliefs into the schools curriculum.
Good News for the News Media! A bit of sunshine for religious fanatics!
I'm sure *YOUR* three sock-puppet accounts are rarin' to go, Buffoo/Wayfarer/Sojourner.
.
Her editorial is a nice way of saying that if Chad Vegas stuck to education issues and left morality to individuals and families, he would be a more useful and productive trustee.
But he wouldn't get to push his mythology on the rest of us, Pawn. *THAT'S* the most important part of the job to MaryLee. You'll notice *SHE* says nothing about reading scores, or facilities maintenance, or...
Vegas stopped short of saying that god actually spoke to him about the election.
That's encouraging.
At least Vegas isn't claiming he's visited by god in burning bushes or by visions on waffles telling him to do bad things on his behalf.
He says he was motivated to abandon his previously announced political retirement to seek reelection by the supreme court decision supporting the constitution which the court believes allows same sex marriage.
He says god wants him to run again but if he loses the election, it's because god wants him to lose.
So, in the absence of direct communication with the big guy, I guess he just presumes what god wants, or not.
That about sums up the general premise of mainstream religious belief.
People can just decide for themselves what god feels and it automatically becomes truth.
The fact that Vegas is bent upon hanging onto his tiny slice of local political pie is in itself not such a terrible thing for Kern society, his candidacy will provide much fodder for irate bloggers both pro and con with which to help occupy countless hours of otherwise boring days ranting about his foolishness.
Much amusement will be enjoyed combatting Vegas' efforts and that of his supporters to insert god in schools and government and fight the insidious scourge of homosexuality undermining the morals of the nation.
After I wrote that comment I thought to myself, "that's kinda low of you to write that". However, my dislike of the guy forced me to hit the submit button.
It's remarkable that in our democracy, the rights of just about any political party including Nazis are recognized while the Communist party is demonized.
I'm not a communist, but I don't fear a relative handful of communists in this country any more than the few fascist Nazis, neither of whom pose a measurable threat to our democratic republic.
Ooooh, Pax, you're scaring me: a link to hatefilled anti-gay reportage, mention of commie "naughtiness" (from what, 75 years ago?), vague radical agendas, "heaven storming the gates of hell"...and the pasty, godly pudge called Chad Vegas will deliver us from all of this evil?
FTA: "Vegas was convinced he would not run again, telling his 150 or so church members “my life would be far easier, my schedule less cluttered, my emotional energies stronger and my reputation far less under attack if I dropped out of politics all together.” "
Or he could, you know, quit acting like an ass and start acting like a professional.
" “As much as I want to focus on just the education issues, the onslaught of garbage coming from the California legislature is going to require a pushback on morality issues,” he says. "
Sweet Jesus on a stick! Since when does the secular position of High School trustee require "a pushback on moral issues"? Why can't he concern himself with the education of the students and leave their morality to their parents? I wonder what his reaction would be if some teacher were to start teaching his kids "morality" (especially things he doesn't believe in).
"No kidding. On Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill that would establish May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. The bill, now awaiting the governor’s signature, seeks to honor the assassinated San Francisco supervisor with a special day during which, among other things, public schools would be encouraged to “conduct suitable commemorative exercises.”
Just who decides which “exercises” are “suitable,” I’m not sure, but I’m betting it won’t be the parents of the participating students."
Ah, she makes the ironic point for me. Thank you, Ms. Shrider. Your completely unintentional self-contradiction shows just how foolish your arguments truly are.
"Also on Tuesday, the Senate passed another astonishing bit of legislation that, should Schwarzenegger sign it, will no longer allow schools to fire teachers for belonging to the Communist Party and will allow Communists to use public school property for their meetings."
And what makes this "astonishing" to Ms. Shrider? I would agree, it is astonishing. I'm quite surprised this un-Constitutional rule was still on the books, decades after it should have been stricken down by the courts.
Saberhagen, Milk wasn't the mayor, he was a board of supervisors member--I think you're thinking of George Moscone, the mayor who was gunned down with Milk by the same kook. But still, your point is well-taken.
Moscone was married with four kids, so I think he was straight. Oh, and here's something that will curl Marylee's hair: SF has already honored Moscone and Milk by naming one elementary school after each of them. OMG, the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Elementary is busy turning all those vulnerable kids into gays! I think I smell next week's column already...
This was just another really lame column from somebody who really is just not that informed. The comments about Harvey Milk are both insensitive and thoughtless. The tragedy that occurred in San Francisco when Dan White did not get his way, and then killed the City's two most popular political figures, still reverberates today even if our clumsy columnist has no clue about it. She couldn't stop there though, and just had to insert some possible communist agenda by the teachers in this state with a bill that could be passed by that Republican turn-coat Benedict Schwarzenegger.
Paxchristie is at least honest in stating what this Vegas-Shrider column is all about:
"I will tell you what it is about this that bothers folks like Marylee and myself: it's the homosexuality, stupid."
All the endless talk of threatened family values is horse-patootie spin to disguise the blatant hatred and fear of homosexuality that people like Chad Vegas, Marylee Shrider, Ken Mettler and Inga Barks have.
If God created us all, He has to own homosexuality, too.
Just think, this paper fired Leonel Martinez. He obviously didn't write hostile enough columns attacking the correct sub-groups.
Atticus Finch was a widower with two kids. The actor that played him, Gregory Peck, was married twice and fathered several children.
You don't get either one of those. Your choices are limited to the two hillbillies that Jon Voight and Ned Beatty encounter in "Deliverance," Boy George, or former MLB ump Dave Pallone. Barney Frank is not available (his image is back-ordered until 2012).
You don't hear much about a Mrs Jesus, either. What's up with that?
They edited her out of the New Testament. But it's a bit like the old Sherlock Holmes "what the dog did in the night" question. If Jesus *DIDN'T* have a wife, it would have been unusual for the times and would surely have been explained in some way in one of the Gospels. There is no such explanation to be found.
Marylee..I don't even know why you post things like this to the blogs...especially if you are a christian women..why would you set God/Jesus up to be ridiculed over and over in this fashion..Frankly it sickens me to even read this trash...and from a few people I felt a kindness towards..
If its just so the local atheists can have a party slamming something that is near and dear to alot of us who believe differently ya might wanna take a step back cause this crap is getting wayyyy OLD!!!
Haven't you witnessed them all gather in their feeding frenzy enough times and talk worse about God and his followers than what they themselves profess to be against???
I suggest you give it up..before you become part of the group that will be explaining all this someday..and for what?? for the sake of generating a blog response??
You need to realize some things are just a lost cause..since they choose not to believe and ..if there is a Satan ..(which I totally believe there is) he pretty much has them...Its time to let the good lord deal with it in his way... Its between them and God..So in the future it would be peechy keen if everyone kept it that way!
Sioux don't confuse all non believers with the few haters that troll these blogs. Quit a few of these non believers are actually, intelligent, thoughtful people who are open to new perspectives. Unfortunately some public figures like Marylee and Chad have become acceptable targets for people to express the hatred they carry in their hearts. There is really nothing you can do about them ,but ignore them, report violations when they go to far, or block and delete there comments from your personal blogs. There nonsense preventing any one else from discussing issues is what the devil hopes to accomplish by stirring them up. But the Lord is patient with all of us sinners awaiting our redemption and acceptance of life and love. So pray for them and me:) P.S. Florida and do not want to label believers as non believers either.
Sioux, Marylee is one of those media narsissists who have already figured out they're never going to run for public office, so their mouths can spew vomit whenever and on whomever they please. If you are religious, she'll exploit your emotional link to your religious faith to manipulate you. She doesn't care. Does Chad Vegas have children? She doesn't care if they catch hell at school from their peers when she exploits him and his family to push your emotional buttons. It's called "professional socio-pathology", meaning, she gets paid to inflict pain because she's good at it. But understand, a sociopath, by definition, ."...has no regard for the concerns of others - what-so-ever." She is a paid, professional troll. Your religious sentiments are forever and always her tools of persuasion. She's like the anti-Christ. She exploits, keeps a good digestion, and whistles in her bath.
I'm with Souix. I don't mock people who are not believers and I AM offended by some of the remarks made here. I don't mind a debate or discussion but there's a lot of talk that isn't debate..it's just insulting. I don't ask that anyone share my beliefs, I'd just appreciate a little respect for those who do believe.
Has Vegas brought up the "teaching alternative views of evolution" yet?
I think the rapidity with which the Frazier Park school got itself spanked over their little ID scam caused him to put his aspirations on the back burner. There's a large and well-organized opposition to that move which would cause him no end of grief.
Sioux, the reason Marylee sets herself up for something like this is because she's on the same intellectual level as Hillary Swank's mother in "Million Dollar Baby."
Random, reliable sources tell me that after Jesus pardoned the adultress, he went over to her place shortly after midnight and received a proper "thank you." Claudia Cardinale played the adultress in the 1976 film "Jesus of Nazareth." Now, if you had the chance, wouldn't you keep a bunch of friggin' Pharisees from stoning this babe?
Where does the Pope get off trying to tell Americans how to run *THEIR* lives?
They have schools everywhere, and I value input from all over as to how to keep the religious crazies' hands off the local school system. HM in particular is a source of excellent information.
.
Now, if you had the chance, wouldn't you keep a bunch of friggin' Pharisees from stoning this babe?
The odd question is who reported the incident? None of the Apostles was there. Surely the Pharisees didn't tell on themselves. Did Jesus himself write it down?
"Dear Palestine Forum: I never thought I'd be writing an epistle like this, but..."
RSS 2.0
