--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" <do.rf...@...> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <LEnglish5@> wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "do.rflex" <do.rflex@> wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <LEnglish5@> wrote: [...] > > Ok, but recall that the objection was made locally by a former Fairfield > > resident, > > and NOT by ACLU or Americans United. > > > > My reading has been that neither has been able to bring a lawsuit on their > > own > > and has needed to have a local parent step in. > > > > E.G. Malnak vs Yogi was Malnak vs Yogi, not AUFSOCAS vs Yogi. > > > > The fact that > > 1) the puja is done outside school > > 2) TM is optional even during the quiet time > > 3) that no TM teacher is directly involved int eh school program > > 4) that no theory is taught during the school program > > 5) that the program is NOT funded by the school > > > > > > all seem to make it different than the Malnak vs Yogi case. > > > To me, that appears to be similar to the fundamentalist nutbag Christianists > who are attempting to sneak their anti-evolution creationist religion into > the public school system in the guise of intelligent design.
Well, that assumes that intelligent design and TM theory (as presented in terms of a relaxation program) are on a similar level. I don't think that that is the case. There's no way to justify intellligent design as being "scientific" but its certainly plausible to justify "quiet time" as being worthy. The question is: is TM a more worthy quiet time than something else, and the answer is: what does it matter? FOr the participants, TM quiet time costs no more than any other quiet time. The entire thing is funded by the DLF and any school participation is only to the level that they would have for sponsoring any other quiet time in that same school. > > Both approaches are hokey, transparent and blatantly dishonest. > > To you. THe TM organization touts TM as being a better quiet time than others, while admitting that other quiet times may be of value as well. The ID people may tout ID as an "alternative theory" but don't give any case of the argument against partaking in that theory int he first place. The only way you can make the situations analogous is to show where TM is WORSE for kids than simply sitting and reading a book. > > > Not to mention that they haven't been able to get a Malnak > > to bring suit yet, presumeably because the participation requires > > parental approval in the first place, unlike in the New Jersey situation> > > and in the case of the california school, the DLF stepped aside rather> > > than let someone take them to court because they objected.> > > They've learned, in other words. > > > The bottom line however is that, as the executive director, Barry Lynn of the > Americans United for Separation of Church and State said: > > "TM has always been rooted in the religion of Hinduism... There are no > imminent cases right now, but people, including conservative > Christian parents will say if Christianity can't be taught in the public > schools then Hinduism can't be either." > There are no imediate cases because no Malnak has stepped forward to be a spokesperson for "Americans United for Separation of Church and State". > ~NEWSWEEK - May 29, 2008: http://www.newsweek.com/id/139206 > > > This issue deserves to be fully addressed legally and brought to a conclusive > decision. Sure, but will they be able to in the context of how it is being presented? With no legal standing, no lawsuit can be brought. L.
