Madness in the mid-west
The following Letters to the Editor were published in the Morris Sun Tribune on Wednesday 27th April 2005.
Peter Pan is real problem
Bewildered by all the fuss, I asked my Guru if children should go see the upcoming production of Cootie Shots at UMM. She said I was barking up the wrong treehouse. It was the Morris Area High School’s upcoming production of Peter Pan that I should be worried about. After all, Peter wore tights and sold his home to Michael Jackson. Captain Hook and his crew had pet cooties living in their hair. Tinkerbell, the fairy? Protecting the Lost Boys? Heaven forbid! Do we have our heads in the sand or what? We must not let godless notions such as diversity, tolerance and imagination unravel the moral fiber of our children.
James G. Moore, Morris
Let children learn acceptance
You have to be kidding me. Are we not living in 2005? I thought we were. All of the parents and school officials in my opinion that are withdrawing tickets and not allowing these children to attend (the University of Minnesota, Morris Children’s Theater production, “Cootie Shots�) are doing them a terrible injustice.
Please people, open up your narrow minds. Break the cycle and allow your children to love and accept all human beings. What most of you don’t realize yet is that some of you are raising a gay child right now. But they in some way at this young age already know something is different and special about them. Yes, I did say special. We are all different and all special.
I am the mother of a gay son. He is graduating with a double major from (UMM) in May. He is kind-hearted, talented, giving and very loved by his family. The world is a better place because he is in it. What kind of message are you sending to these kids who already know they may be different from you as far as their sexuality is concerned? And then we sit back and wonder why the suicide rate is so high among the gay youth population. Be careful of your actions and your words because your child listening to you right now just might be gay and you don’t know it yet. Please step into 2005 and let your children be loving and accepting human beings. It is just my opinion — we all have one. Thanks for letting me express mine.
Julie Anderson, Grand Rapids, Minn.
Teacher: Cootie Shots has merit
I attended the free April 20 parent preview of Cootie Shots. I enjoyed it very much. The show promoted the idea that although people have different types of abilities, interests and backgrounds and families, all people should be treated kindly and with respect. The show had a strong anti-bullying message. I am a junior high teacher, and I know that oftentimes a school’s attempts to stop bullying do not work. I wish more kids had seen this version of Cootie Shots. I think it had high potential to get through to bullies and to give hope to bullied kids. It would have been a great play for all students, kindergarten through 12th grade, to see.
Jane Jost, Morris
I don’t agree with the following letter. I’d have had more respect for this ‘emailing mom’ if she’d written a letter to the editor and brought her concerns to the community. She didn’t, I suspect because then others would have had the opportunity to challenge her assertions.
A public policy decision, made behind closed doors, is not something that deserves praise.
Hats off to Morris mom’s email
Having lived in Morris for the first 20 years of my life, upon seeing the article in the April 20 edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune paper, titled “Schools cancel tickets for ‘Cootie Shots’ play,” I knew I needed to write the editor. It does my heart good to know there are still some areas where families can and will say enough is enough! My hats off to the mom who took the action and e-mailed the other schools. It appears most schools agreed with you; it only takes one parent to get the ball rolling. I hope everyone takes note of it. It’s time for the tail to stop wagging the dog; well done Morris!
Mel Foss, Norwood/Young America
July 5th, 2005 at 3:22 pm
W/R/T Hats off in Mourning
Dear Pete:
Yes, I agree. Sadly, Mel Foss is a smalltime self-appointed minder of the moral structure of the US, something he does from his lofty position as a weekly columnist for the Norwood/Young America Times (circ. ~2400). Unfortunately, he represents most of what is repugnant in American Christianity today: self-righteous, bigoted, judgemental, and just plain unpleasant. I’ve read his column periodically and he loves wrapping his little local prejudices selective Bible quotations as if that made them more palatable. Mel exemplifies the statement “You can tell a Christian, but you cannot tell him much!”
A lot of my friends are gay. One of my kids is a lesbian. She’s getting her Ph.D, on full scholarship, no less. Her partner, who already has her Ph.D., is doing very well in her chosen profession (”Good, good, you married a doctor!” ). I am as proud of her as I am of the other two kids. Life is short and people should find whoever they can to bond with that makes them happier and fills their lives with love. The plumbing doesn’t matter.
Mel’s attitude, both as stated here and in his columns, that she and anyone like her deserves whatever they get because they’re a moral blight on the face of ‘Murrka is both un-American and un-Christian. While he has a right to his opinions and to state them, I am also reminded that the problem with free speech is that you have to put up with a lot of c***.