Welcome to Bizarro Amerika!

A Florida high school's "Teacher of the Year" has been suspended for an anti-gay post he wrote on his Facebook page last month.

Jerry Buell, a history teacher at Mount Dora High School in Mount Dora, Fla. wrote on his Facebook page that he "almost threw up" when he was having dinner and news came on of New York's decision to allow same-sex marriage showed up July 25.

"If they want to call it a union, go ahead," Buell wrote, according to ClickOrlando.com. "But don't insult a man and woman's marriage by throwing it in the same cesspool as same-sex whatever! God will not be mocked. When did this sin become acceptable???"

“And now they showed two guys kissing after their announcement."

I don't understand this reaction from these people. It doesn't make or break my marriage if anyone gets married. It doesn't ruin my dinner or my life if two men or two women exchange vows with each other.. and hell, it doesn't bother me if they kiss either... The outrage that some people feel on this issue is alien to me. Why would anyone care who someone loves and who they want to marry? If they are both consenting adults then why is it such an issue?

busybodies just want to tell people how to live because they themselves are too afraid to live. I get that, what I don't get is why do we let those kinds of people have any voice or power whatsoever?

The problem is that it is only an issue because he is AGAINST gay marriage. If he were for it, no one would have said much for fear of being called a *gasp* homophobe.

I read quite a few comments on it from both sides and one of the main arguments against him is that people are sure that either he has gay students, either in his class or in the school. Because he is not supportive of their lifestyle, how can he teach them.

I call bullshit.

What happens when the gay student of his comes to him and tells him he's being bullied? Will he advise him to find Jesus, man up and quit being a fucking sissy?

There's plenty of so-called Christian Academy's out there where this moron can spout his homophobic crap. Even then, someday he may or may not have to deal with the fact that his words could have saved a life. But didn't.

The rabid homophobes need to give it a rest.

The Mount Dora High School Teacher of the Year inadvertently started an international uproar after he remarked on Facebook that homosexuals make him want to vomit. Now, it seems that every guy nervous about his own sexuality has crawled from under a rock to defend Jerry Buell.

They argue that being gay runs counter to biblical teachings. They claim it is disgusting. They complain that the First Amendment guarantees Buell freedom of speech.

They miss the point. This is still America, and every bigot breathing gets to hate homosexuals as much as they want. That's a given.

This is not about sex in any form, including homosexuality. This is not about the Bible, and it's not about the Bill of Rights

This is simple: It is about basic respect between teachers and students, and nothing more.[/quote]

Brett Winters, the former class president and prom king who complained to the school district, said "hateful" remarks like Buell's fuel bullying and heap even more emotional pressure on students struggling to sort out their own sexuality. Things are tough enough in high school — students shouldn't have to wonder if a teacher will treat them unfairly because he is repulsed by people like them.

A Lake County teacher who made national headlines after making anti-gay comments on his Facebook page will be back in the classroom on Thursday.

Lake County School District Superintendent Susan Moxley reinstated Mount Dora High School social studies teacher Jerry Buell after his controversial anti-gay postings on Facebook.

"I'm excited about going back to school tomorrow," said Buell.

The school board decided Buell did not violate the district's code of conduct when he allegedly posted a comment on his Facebook wall saying that gay marriages made him want to throw up.

Buell missed the first three days of class because he was transferred to an administrative position during the investigation.

The district said the former Teacher of The Year posted on his personal Facebook that same sex unions are a "cesspool," which make him want to throw up.

Buell's comments angered several of his friends on the social network, including former and current students.

Mount Dora High School graduate filed a complaint with the district claiming Buell was "dangerous to gay students."

Moxley ruled Buell's posting did not violate the district's code of ethics, which states, "behavior that disrupts the orderly processes of the district is not allowed".

"Even when they leave the doors of the school, they're still bound by those code ethics," said Chris Patton, a spokesman for Lake County Public Schools.

Buell said he follows the U.S. Constitution, which he calls "the supreme law of the land".
"I was making a statement," said Buell. "Free speech, exercising my rights as a citizen of this country."

Moxley gave Buell a list of directives he needs to follow to return to work. It will not be made public for ten days.

The district is still investigating comments Buell made on a school web page and a class syllabus.

"I am a man of God and I try to be like Jesus every day. I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing!"

Jerry Buell might not have violated a Lake County Schools ethics policy, but according to his lawyer the school district believes he violated the constitutional provision of separation of church and state.

"This is a brand new issue — a brand new controversy," said Harry Mihet, senior litigation counsel for the conservative Liberty Counsel who represents Buell. "We need the time to investigate the school's claim and the school's position to decide whether or not the school is on the correct Constitutional footing."

Jerry Buell is an interesting case. I do share his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman, but that is as far as it goes. I do not share the hatred he showed by his statements, and I don't blindly support him because we share some beliefs. If he has been preaching his religion in the classroom, he should have been removed long ago. If he has treated any student with anything less than respect he should have been removed from the classroom. But when it came to his spewing his views on Facebook, the problem there was that he thought he had privacy. As much as some people want to deny it, if this had been someone spouting hatred against straight marriage it would have been ignored or laughed at. If it had been a gay teacher attacked because he didn't understand his Facebook settings we would be railing at the attackers and at Facebook for having such obfuscated privacy settings.

But this wasn't a fringe wingnut talking about straight marriage, or a gay teacher put in harms way because he didn't understand his Facebook settings, it was a fringe wingnut spouting against gay marriage, so he get international exposure (polarizing people who might have been able to at least peacefully coexist) and is pilloried. You might even say he's on the way to becoming a martyr if his career is damaged or ended because of his Facebook comments. That will not help the cause of gay marriage or gay rights in general.

The school may be showing the most wisdom of all, moving focus from gay bashing to separation of Church and State.

Wow. What an intelligent response! As I told you, we may or may not agree politically, but I knew there was intelligence and sincerity in your Twitter replies and that you would be able to honestly express your views here.

Thanks for joining us! (Just watch out for that ekg chick. She bites!  ;))

As long as she's had her shots, I'm sure we'll be fine. :^)

oy vey...really...

shitty because of what ?

next question....why do gays feel the desire to wed ?

you wanted to be treated as equal...

when the people you asking that from don't consider you equals...odd

don't consider you equals

He's a shitty teacher because a: He brings his personal beliefs into the classroom, and b: He excludes one group of people from the benefits of his knowledge.

You already answered your own question, lilEE:

and then you jumped right into the "why":

That's not a problem of the gays. That's a problem of the bigots. Those who...

that learning experience he offers

The "learning experience he offers" is the word of God. That is not allowed in our public schools.

You already answered your own question, lilEE:

and then you jumped right into the "why":

That's not a problem of the gays. That's a problem of the bigots. Those who...

i don't believe that was stated by him anywhere...

but certainly because of his beliefs it will have some bearing on his position of which direction the process of education should move but that goes without saying for everyone...muslim...jewish...

it's not selective and reserved for christians only...did i forget the atheist...

we all promote what we individually think and believe...looking for like minded people with which to share or knowledge and experiences...

and to think it is any different is insane...

there are many things that bibles can teach...it up to the individual themself to define what

they take away from scripture...whether its the hate....the love....

Do you dislike him because of his position on gays and thats all ?

but it is your (a gay) problem...you're the one in the minority...its not as big a problem for the bigots as it is for you !

equality on that level won't happen...the majority won't allow it and will fight with everything they have to see that it doesn't...

the social security system will collapse before the federal government condones same sex marriage...which...given enough time

should happen making marriage a worthless aggreement thereby allowing for same sex marriages...with very little benefit

Not explicitly stated, perhaps, but strongly implied. If you are going to teach in public schools you have to go by their rules. But Christianity is a way of life, so hopefully people, including students, will see that you are different, that you have something they want and need, by the way you live and teach, by who you are.

Everything you say above is true. If you sincerely believe something it will affect everything you do. But you still have to live within the rules of society, change the rules of the society you live in, or leave that society. Jesus and the 12 Apostles changed the rules. The Pilgrims left the society. George Washington and the continental army changed the rules. Martin Luther King changed the rules. Those are your choices.

If Jerry Bueller taught Christianity in his classroom, he broke the rules. Agree or disagree with them, they are the rules we have, and those are the options we have in dealing with them.

He has the right to hate gay marriage, and to spout off about it. What he doesn't have is the right to do is express that in the classroom or to treat students differently because he believes they are sinners. If Jesus refused to judge the adulteress, what right to we have to judge anyone?

Ok, my previous response should have been above this message:

True equality between majority and minority will never happen as long as human nature doesn't change. All we can do is strive to overcome our prejudices, our fear of those different than we are, our desire to be among a group of people like ourselves. We can make things as equal as possible, learn to see our similarities more than our differences. Maybe, someday, probably if we encounter extraterrestrial intelligence, we will learn that the different races of humankind on earth have far more in common with each other than we have differences.

And I don't know how long you've been watching how our government works, but with New York legalizing gay marriage it is only a matter of time until it becomes legalized nationally.

Update:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-25/features/os-jerry-buell-facebook-rally-20110825_1_church-and-state-ethics-policy-facebook-posts

1. He's not a "shitty teacher". He teaches History, and he does it well.

2. His Facebook post is irrelevant to me. He has the right as a citizen to have his own personal opinions.

3. When he brings his personal religion into the classroom (out of context of the class) and forces children (through his syllabus) to choose him as a teacher or not, he has crossed the legal line.

In the classroom, he is no longer Jerry Buell the person. He is a government representative and by that has no right to have any opinion on any religion whatsoever.... or no religion.

People keep forgetting that Government cannot hold a personal position. It's illegal. In his capacity as a public school teacher, he is "government".

That's simple. Nuff said.

FIRE HIM

I already posted that, Mike, but thanks for stressing it.

To be clear here...the issue has never been Buell's First Amendment rights, although as a teacher employed by a public school system his rights of expression are limited. It has never been about his Facebook posting, although a man who purports to be intelligent such as him (translated: he knew what he was posting would be seen by the world) would know his Facebook privacy settings.

The issue, plain and simple, is that he violated the trust and confidence of his students, gay and straight, by putting up a barrier to them receiving an education. He's not a college professor. Students can't drop out of his course because they don't agree with his personal opinions. Ironically, as a Social Studies teacher, his is a case of a social intercourse gone horribly wrong and a prime example of how bigotry is a behest upon our society. Just read Gryffn's posts and you'll understand.

And yes, because of this he's a shitty teacher.

a barrier...wow...

he empowered them...empowered them to affect their education...in a postive way

he provided an option to these students that would allow them to remove themselves from his teaching...

If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing!"

He empowered them by saying this?

Tell me...what about the gay kid worrying about bullying...how would he fare in Buell's class? How long would it take for Buell's hatred to force the kid to take his own life?

a barrier...wow...

he empowered them...empowered them to affect their education...in a postive way

he provided an option to these students that would allow them to remove themselves from his teaching...



and for that...being honest...you know have a reason to hate

Today a gay teenager killed himself. He lived in Michele Bachmann's district, whose school system is notoriously known for ignoring gay students. Do we want Florida schools like this? Because Mr. Buell does.

To betteroffhere;

You obviously don't understand the way separation of Church and State works. The second Jerry Buell put in his syllabus that he teaches God's truth he was in trouble. When he said he wouldn't change that pretty much guaranteed he couldn't teach in public schools. Separation of Church and State does not mean that you can't be a Christian and teach, it means that you can't be a Christian teacher and preach in the classroom. Jerry Buell pretty much broadcast that he would be using his classroom as his pulpit. You can't do that.

I have issues with the idea you can't have a Bible in your classroom - mainly because complaints only seem to occur when it is the Bible, not when it's the Qu'Ran or other religious teachings. But you very definitely can't preach in the classroom of a public school. If you are going to consider the classroom your mission field, you need to go teach in the mission field, or let your life do your preaching for you.

RIF

Maybe you should have Coach F sign in and try to argue your case, cuz you ain't doin' yourself any good at this rate (and, yes, ekg and I knew since day 1  ;D)

lymi

I'm not following the slippery slope argument...

Today a gay teenager killed himself was killed by homophobic gay bashing goons. He lived in Michele Bachmann's district, whose school system is notoriously known for ignoring gay students. Do we want Florida schools like this? Because Mr. Buell does.

Michele Bachmann might wish the whole gay issue would go away but it looks like a group of assailants in her hometown improved upon her verbal homophobia by fatally gay-bashing 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews last week in Waterloo, Iowa—where the Republican candidate was raised. (And where serial killer John Wayne Gacy lived in the 1960s.) Andrews was officially pronounced dead Sunday afternoon after being taken off life support on Friday.

this entire post right here is uncalled for...

i hit a nerve somewhere with you didn't eye ?

i'm sure EKG would tell you for as long as i have been around...i would know who's gonna know what behind the scenes...

and i doubt she'd think i'd be foolish enough to think i could pull something over without someone knowing...

but you had to go there...and dig at the sametime...interesting...very interesting....

you pull the curtain back before the stage has been assembled...thats not nice...

if it wasn't festival weekend in oz...you wouldn't have the chance correct your error...

i'll run interference as long as i can...till say...4pm monday...do the right thing and make this and your quoted post disappear

or...

the statement in and of itself makes no claims...there was no direct claim made to a specific god...

he did not endorse one god over another...he mearly provided an example of what rules he governs his life by....

he did not say he intended to instruct students about god...he did not say his intentions were to use the school classroom

as his pulpit...

"I am a man of God and I try to be like Jesus every day. I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing!"

he did not endorse one god over another

he did not say he intended to instruct students about god

I teach God's truth

he did not say his intentions were to use the school classroom

I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed

so he may have said something i can't reasonably defend....which would piss me the fuck off...

after investing in this dialogue...

but...if you can show me where he said he was going to use his power as a teacher in his classroom to use it as a pulpit or recuitment center...

i'd say hell yeah...fire that fuck !!!!

Did you see this?  ;D, lilFooFa? It was a joke. If you had allowed the Coach F thing to continue, we would have gone along.... ;)

Actually... his syllabus did claim a specific deity. Jesus.

Directly from the syllabus - "I am a man of God and I try to be like Jesus every day. I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing!"

Meh...boh is playing lilMike. Since Buell didn't actually use the word "school" he did nothing wrong.

Actually... his syllabus did claim a specific deity. Jesus.

Directly from the syllabus - "I am a man of God and I try to be like Jesus every day. I teach God's truth, I make very few compromises. If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing!"

Evidently, that applied to the classroom as well, because he felt the need to include...

..."If you believe you may have a problem with that, get your schedule changed, 'cause I ain't changing!"

Yup!

exactly...

why should he have to change anything...he made no unlawful claims...

ha...

I was going to respond earlier today but decided it's best not to from work.

Look, I started out supporting Mr. Buells right to speak his bigoted mind. But I actually read the articles, read his statements and watched recordings of his interviews. Google Jerry Buell. Read the interviews, watch the interviews with Mr. Buell. His (now removed) school web page stated he tried to teach as if the district had hired Jesus Christ himself. That statement alone disqualifies him from teaching in public schools.

If you can read and listen to all of those reports and still not understand why Jerry Buell can't teach in U.S. public schools then we're done here, because I can't make it any clearer.

in a moment of clarity...

i see what you mean...

you've won me over...

for awhile there i thought we were discussing something different...

like just what was written on the schools website and the silly bus something ...

and whether that violated some legal preceeding...my mistake...

that will happen sometimes when you're playing four square with friends...

from one square connected to three seperate four square games...

He knows he's being looked at, he knows faggots want him fired, why give them the obvious ammo to make it so?

but you want more....don't ya...you wanted to be treated as equal...when the people you asking that from don't consider you equals...odd

but it is your (a gay) problem...you're the one in the minority...its not as big a problem for the bigots as it is for you !

equality on that level won't happen...the majority won't allow it and will fight with everything they have to see that it doesn't...

the social security system will collapse before the federal government condones same sex marriage...which...given enough time

should happen making marriage a worthless aggreement thereby allowing for same sex marriages...with very little benefit

I mean, you folk want it all don't you, you want to sit in the front of the bus, you want to sit anywhere in the diners, hell.. you have your own water fountains, so why do you need to use the 'white only' ones.. but no, you want to be treated as an equal by people who don't consider you an equal.. how odd.



color me stunned by Boh's reply..

so we just stop fighting the bigots? serioulsy? That's your answer? It will be too hard. too much work.. and really, it's going to  take a long time.. but hey, it's ok because there aren't very many people in this country who are refused the same rights that you an I have so no big deal..

what the fuck?

did I miss where you said you were playing someone else again?

how about this, the bible says women should be submissive.. so women will never convince 'men' that she is equal, that she can vote, that she can work, that she can say 'no' when she doesn't want sex, that she shouldn't be forced to give sex for work,promotions or equal treatment.. and it will take a really long time to change the minds of the men who have had their way since the dawn of man so honey, just sit back down and hush up.. but hey, before you do, how about you make some of that sweet sweet tea you make so well....

what the fuck?

did I miss where you said you were playing someone else again?