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Protect against Title IX and submit a comment by September 12, 2022.

The US Department of Education released their proposed changes to Title IX regulations that would dramatically change the future for women and girls in federally funded activities and programs. There are many negative impacts that will harm girls, women, and families.

A government portal has been set up for you to make a comment submission.  It is very straight-forward and easy to do.  In addition, this governmental body is required to read every submission, large and small – before they can finalize the new “Rule.”  So rest assured, your input will be read and considered.

TAKE A STAND TODAY

Danny Quinney

If you’re anything like me, and I know I am, you love Christmas.  It’s that magical time of the year where you get to go around using words like “Tis”, and “Twas”.  I especially love chasing my wife around with mistletoe.  Up until today, if you asked me what I wanted for Christmas I could have given you any number of answers.  Today, all I want for Christmas is to not hear Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” on the radio for at least a year.  I love Christmas, but I’m a little burned out of that song.

Before I get into the meat of my article (the word “meat” is a fancy way of saying “the point”), I wanted to share a little something personal. At the church I attend, I teach the fourteen and fifteen year olds.  Recently I was talking to the (not so) little urchins and one of them related a conversation he had with one of his friends.  His “friend” had given him a list of 100 reasons why Christianity in general and my religion in particular, is false.

This week in Warren, Michigan the Mayor, Jim Fouts, is being accused of “discriminating and engaging in unlawful censorship.”  Why?  Well if you guessed it had anything to do with a nativity scene, you would be correct.  Apparently a gentleman named Douglas Marshall, who is a member of Freedom from Religion Foundation, wants the mayor to put up the following sign next to the nativity displayed inside city hall:

“At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”  The other side reads: “STATE/CHURCH: Keep Them Separate.”

Oh yeah, that should level the playing field.  According to the US Census there are 9,969,727 people living in Michigan as of July 2009. According to the USA Today 78% of the residence of Michigan are Christian, roughly 5% are “other religions”, and 17% are unaffiliated.

78% is a bunch of people.

Now, there are two things I don’t understand.  First, does the group Freedom from Religion Foundation have meetings?  ‘Cause, if they do, they are pretty much defeating the purpose of not being a member of a church.  And second, do you have NOTHING better to do with your time?  Seriously, get a hobby.

I try to be a critical thinker. I sincerely try to see both points of view, but this one I just don’t get.

“I hope this doesn’t shatter your hopes and dreams,” I told my class.  I then told them there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy.  There isn’t.  I have kids and I can tell you someone doesn’t break into your house, steal their disembodied teeth and leave them money.  It doesn’t happen.  But if I was walking down the street, or say, walking through City Hall and saw a statue of the Tooth Fairy I wouldn’t wave my arms over my head and run screaming down the street, as if someone had gouged my eyes out.  If someone told me how happy the Tooth Fairy made them, and inspired them to be a better person, and asked me if I wanted to learn more about the Tooth Fairy and his plan for me, I would politely say, “I’m glad that makes you happy, but it really isn’t for me.”

If you equate God with the tooth fairy, and you were a rational thinking adult, why would you care if someone believed?  What’s it to you?

Seriously, take up golf.

According to the “USA Today” America is predominately a Christian nation.  If you believe Jesus to be the son of God or not, there is no denying he was a great man who changed the world.  Taking time to pause and member His birth doesn’t hurt anyone.

So…Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or if you’re atheist, have a nice day.