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Letters to the EditorsSpeaker clarifies her School Board meeting remarks
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2001 Editor: Re: Critic blasts school official's prayer, Feb. 14 Citrus Times: I was very surprised to see my comments taken out of context in the newspaper article about the Feb. 13 School Board meeting. I'm sure the way my comments were stated that it should generate responses to your paper. I left a message to staff writer Barbara Behrendt and editor Greg Hamilton regarding this. Ms. Behrendt called back, stating what she printed is what she heard. Therefore, I went to the School Board secretary, listened to the tape and have tried to write down what I said at the meeting, as I did not come with a prepared speech. Hopefully, you will do the moral and ethical thing and print it. "I didn't come prepared to speak, I'm dj Bryan, a Southerner, a Florida native, have been a single mother of two and am also employed by the school district. I took affront and have been taking affront by society as a whole, and newspapers as a whole, that they will take one person's opinion or viewpoint and shove it down my throat as that is what I want. "I am very proud of the School Board we have now, and the School Board in the past, of our employees, of our administrator -- who apparently, because she really felt the children wanted an activity, and they were the only ones who asked and she felt that the adults that were there would do what they were required to do, she gave permission and she has been run over the mill and I think it is totally inappropriate. As we can see from Mr. Schrader, there are adults that do not know how to act like adults; that are very rude, condescending, wears a Marine Corps jacket and does not even stand in respect for our country. "I think it's time the newspapers let it sit, and issues such as what Mr. Hand & Kelly have done for our students be the front page news. These extra photographers that come in here and get in the faces of these people, they're the ones that are creating dissension in our county, and among the people. It is not you all, it is not the administrators and I want to thank you all and thank the administrators and Mr. Fitzpatrick, because he's very much verbal. "I think, Mrs. Snyder, you have a right to your opinion, but this is the Bible belt and we do believe as you do believe, and I was taught that if I didn't believe in what was going on, I just stood in respect and was quiet and went along with what was done by the majority. I didn't try to shove my belief, and I'm not stating that you are, the newspapers are trying to say that you are trying to do this, down one's throat and I would appreciate the newspapers to stop it. Thank you." I truly believe that if you would quit providing Mr. Schrader the front page coverage (pictures and printing his obnoxious speech) and actually put what is being done at the meeting for our children, the people would be surprised and appreciative of the wonderful things taking place. I guess providing our children with the ability to get technical skills (Withlacoochee Technical Institute and the high schools working in partnership) and being able to have good-paying jobs is not newsworthy. Mr. Schrader, who speaks of the separation of church and state and speaks of the rights of the citizens of this country, but does not have the respect to at least stand during the pledge to the country (which gives him the right to spout off and not be jailed), is more newsworthy. The coverage you are giving him really annoys me because it's old, he is not a Citrus County resident, and he really has no interest in this county other than to get his 15 minutes of fame, which I think has run out.
School officials must serve everyone, not just ChristiansEditor: First, I have great respect for all religions, even though it is apparent I don't follow or believe in all of them. My religion, which I was born into, does not enter this matter because I do not wish to practice it. What matters to me is believing in "God," the one and only creator of all of us and everything around us. What avenue School Board member Patience Nave wishes to take to pray to him and worship him is her own business, as it should be. My problem with Nave and all Christians is not what you believe, but how you degrade all other religions and try to convert everyone else by telling them they will burn in hell if they don't follow your beliefs. Show me one other religion that does these things and uses these tactics. Nave was elected by people of many religions and beliefs, and she is here to serve all of us, not only Christians. She says she has drawn a line in the sand. Well, the people against her ways are drawing a line in the sand to make her consider others besides Christians. What Nave really should do is go to a seminary, become a minister and pray all she wants out loud to all of the people of one faith in her church. Public schools, the last I heard, host numerous faiths. Remember who elected you and they will not forget the next time around. This letter is from a World War II veteran whose heritage is Jewish and my lineage of people who fought for this country goes back to the Revolutionary War against England. Leave board member Carol Snyder alone; she is on the right track. I love and fought for this country and don't want people like Nave disrupting it.
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