People just don't understand

It became obvious during the court case that many people just didn't understand what the case was about. Some couldn't get why a Southern Baptist would fight against the Baptist religion being encouraged in public schools. Others just completely misunderstood the separation of church and state (they felt it was to keep the state out of religion, but not religion out of the state. Others completely believe that the separation doesn't exist.

While in school, I put up with a lot of hatred from people in the community and my school. Those in the community typically grew up in Santa Fe, and couldn't see what was wrong with doing the same thing they'd been doing for generations.

As those of us grew up and became adults, our views on things changed. Over the years, I'd heard from many, many former students from SFHS - mostly from the classes of 1995 and 1996. Many of them attended the same church as me.

Overwhelmingly, the comments from them have been positive. Now that they've grown up and are out in the "real world," their views on things have changed. They now understand that this wasn't an anti-religion issue, but instead a pro-rights issue. I've received apologies from people who went above and beyond the call of duty to make my life hell.

This is especially true of those who have "escaped" from Santa Fe. Once they've been away from the one-sidedness of the town, they begin to see what the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Supreme Court say on the issue. And they understand why we had to fight the schools.

Every once in a great while (maybe a whole 5% of all the comments I've gotten), I hear from someone who still doesn't get it. In every case they still live in Santa Fe.

For example, here's one I received today*:

I just now read your blog about prayer in school, and what you did to fight it. I grew up in Santa Fe at the same time you did, reading what you wrote I felt literally sick at my stomach. No-one forced us to pray at school, just as no-one forced you to take the Bible from the Gideons, you chose to do it.
As my children grow up in this town, I realize what a large disservice you did to this community. I saw the pictures where you moved away from Sants Fe & I for one am glad as I's sure most of the class of 1996 is.

Isn't that just an example of how Jesus would want us to talk to and treat others?

It's people like that which caused me to move away from Santa Fe.

As some may know, my husband is Asian. From the time we got married, there were people who treated us horribly. At my husband's work, there were customers who would refuse to talk to him and would request another manager. Many times comments were overheard from those same people that they "want have to talk to no [insert racial comment about Vietnamese here]."

Having watched what happened to kids who were from mixed marriages (such as my friend whose father was Hawaiian be called an "oreo" because kids thought she was half African American), there was no way I was going to raise kids in that backwards town.

Even though the town is growing, and more minorities are moving in, I'm not surprised to see that intolerance still reins.

* Please note: There is a disclaimer at the bottom of this page that states all comments sent to me through the contact form, guestbook, etc. become my property and that they can be reposted on this site. By submitting anything through this site or to my e-mail, you accept this policy.