In court documents filed Monday, Jennifer Keeton’s attorneys appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit an earlier decision by U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall.
Hall ruled Friday that Augusta State University's requirement that Keeton, a grad student, read material about counseling gays and increase her exposure to that community after she objected to counseling homosexual clients was "academically legitimate.”
His decision enables university officials to expel Keeton if she does not follow the remediation plan, which professors designed to "address issues of multicultural competence and develop understanding and empathy."
Ms. Keeton must really not want to be a counselor. With all of the uproar she is creating, no school system will touch her with a ten-foot pole. I guess she can always sue them for discriminating against her by not hiring her, much like she wants to discriminate against gays. That would be sort of ironic, wouldn't it?
I also hope she wins her appeal, but I doubt she will. Our poor nation has probably already tipped past critical mass in its moral and social decline. The best hope for people like her (and like some of the rest of us) is going to be enclaves of mutual support and interdependence that have no involvement with the government beyond paying taxes, as punitive as that will be in and of itself.
When the government itself starts forcing immorality down it's citizens throats at the behest of small, manipulative and highly vocal special interest groups, we have hit the skids for real.
Unfortunately, even though the majority of Americans probably would rule in Miss Keeton's favor, simply as a First Amendment issue, people who do not represent us and do not share our values are ruling over us. And we are mostly in disbelief that this really is happening to us, that our nation is being transformed into a cesspool of licentiousness, debauched behavior, selfish self-interest and irresponsibility. The people who are bad and worthless citizens, the takers, are starting to overwhelm the good and productive citizens, the producers and contributors.
And we, the citizens of traditional values and morals, are like the frog in boiling water: we were not aware that things were heating up until we were already cooked. The same thing has happened time and time again over the last 100 years, and it's taken most of a century for some of the victim nations to begin to emerge from the godless tyranny and manufactured privation. That's three and four generations of a nation's people, and it's what we're heading into.
I don't worry about the Faith because it is far stronger than what hates it. I fear for the suffering to be endured by people I love at the hands of people who are ignorant, hateful and disgusting, but above all, haters of goodness, truth and God.
Most of all, I feel sorrow over all the souls that are being lost because they have been misled and lulled into choosing the path to destruction instead of the path to life. That is the greatest tragedy of all. Quite apart from the transcendent or spiritual aspect of that statement, what person with a conscience or in their right mind would choose Soviet Russia or Bulgaria or Romania of the 50s and 60s over the traditional, historic American way of life for all of our citizens?
What fools we have allowed ourselves to become. We stopped standing up for what is right and now we fall down before everything wrong.
Who are we to judge? She desires an education in counseling and so be it she may come across people with different beliefs as herself. She should know how to handle that situation without jeopardizing her faith. I pray the right decision is made and she continues her journey in college and become a wonderful counselor to all people no matter their sexuality. It really none of our business what people do. Counseling is not theology, she is not to pose her beliefs on anyone. I think this case is wasting money and time.
Okay, so since the moderator found my statement offensive, let me try it this way.
kareyclark, your post would have had more meaning if you had left your offensive comment out of it. "......once a homosexual always a homosexual".
Okay, was replacing the words acceptable, moderator?
This has nothing to do with religion or a "moral decline" of society, it is about being a professional. If I were a banker, I would not be able to turn down a homosexual for a loan based on their sexual preference. If I worked at Mcdonalds I couldn't withhold a Big Mac based on the customers sexual preferences. We all have to compromise our personal feelings sometimes in the name of professionalism. If she is unable to do this, then maybe she's going for the wrong degree.
Ok for the close minded bigots who have aired their flawed and uneducated opinions. Ms. Keeton knew when she enrolled in the program that there would be a portion of the course where she would have to train to handle all clients. She is attending a PUBLIC university for counseling the PUBLIC. This includes every race, creed, color, etc. If she went to a christian college I can almost 100% assure you that their counseling program also includes diversity training. That would also include homosexual clients. Maybe over my years in the church I missed the parts where God said love everyone unless you don't like who or what they are. 9 times out of 10 most of you who are screaming your religious beliefs are as hateful in your hearts as your tone is in your comments. I whole heartedly agree with the judges decision because if she wants the degree from this PUBLIC university in one of the most racist and hateful cities I have ever lived in and a career counseling the PUBLIC, then she will comply or go somewhere else. I love my country as messed up as it is. The true measure of Ms Keetons ability as a counselor would be her ability to deal with all clients not impose her beliefs as a way not to help people.
Give it up...you are wasting your time, or maybe you just want to be a victim just like the former Miss California.
@Dorion - IMO
This DOES have to do with religion. Her religion says to not accept homosexual behavior and/or activities. PERIOD.
Okay AC and offended reader, hoiw about this version. Was replacing the offensive words acceptable, moderator? Under the First Admendment, I have the right to tell it like it is:
I hope this appeal goes in Ms Keetons's favor. She should not be made to go against her beliefs and feelings. Think about it, once a sweet person always a sweet person. You are just wasting time and money to counsel someone who isn't going to change.
The jobs you listed do not compare to the job of a counselor. Apples to Oranges...IMO
Will this girl never go away?? You are wasting our tax dollars Ms. Keeton. Go and choose a different profession because like someone else mentioned, even if you go to a Christian school they will require diversity training as well. If they don't follow the established guidelines she will never be an accredited counselor.
thewaytolite, I seem to find your post hypocritical.
Your statement "Maybe over my years in the church I missed the parts where God said love everyone unless you don't like who or what they are.", which was made after this statement "Ok for the close minded bigots who have aired their flawed and uneducated opinions."
I don't find much love in you, for those close minded bigots. Is this any different from those bigots who you accuse of not loving gays?
This is so wrong. It is wrong because no one is giving any consideration to the beliefs of the student. It is unfair for us to trample on her civil rights while supporting an opposite view.
If she is opposed to an alternate lifestyle she should not have to change her beliefs in order to teach or work.
The Gay community want us to respect their rights and lifestyle, but we should not have to forego our own rights and lifestyles. This is what I find most offensive. Why should I have to change for you, I consider my beliefs and lifestyle to be just as important as yours.
The Gay community needs to back up and stop trying to force themselves on our lives.
Apples to Oranges? They're all jobs and they require a certian level of professionalism. In fact a counselor should be held to a higher level and if "her religion says to not accept homosexual behavior and/or activities. PERIOD." then maybe she should find a job that will prevent her from ever interacting with someone who's beliefs differ from hers.
My opinion is in fact not Hypocritical. All of the posts short of the one by Dorion made the for gone conclusion that decision of the judge leans towards some Decline in the morality and intergrity of everyones personal beliefs. The school never said that Ms Keeton had to change her beliefs. The remediation program was to help her become exposed to a more diverse portion of the people she would possibly be counselling. The majority of the post have stated nothing more than a narrow closed minded judgemental view. My statement had no hate or directed intent it was left open to more than just peoples sexual preference. You made that assumption that my statement implied that the closed minded bible thumping bigots only didnt love gays. All the talk about "the traditional, historic American way of life for all of our citizens" The standard of that historic American way of life in Augusta is to discriminate and austrisize anyone who are "The people who are bad and worthless citizens, the takers" Those views seem pretty Bigoted to me. What makes one person less worthly of counselling than another. Jesus walked among ALL men. So by the standards of counseling should Ms Keeton not be able to live up to the standards that both man and Jesus have already established? It is always nice from someone with a name like InChristLove to have a view that is so far from the beliefs of christ. Was the message to the church not to go to where the help is needed not avoid them at all cost? Maybe my view is clouded by the misconceptions of Gods love and Jesus' message.
Ms Keeton invested her time and money in a secular school and has to realize that the secularites are well entrenched there. If she wishes to get her degree from this school (ie.,make use of her investment), she's going to have to learn to deal with a situation she can't change. Part of growing up is to realize that some situations can't be changed and this is one of them. She needs to finish the course in a manner that will earn her a degree (if the professors will allow her to) and mark this down as a lesson learned.
I think this is all a tad ridiculous. If she wants to go into a psychological counseling field, it's absolutely necessary to have at least some degree of open mindedness. She refuses to deal with homosexual clients because their actions go against her beliefs? Did she never consider the possibility that, as a counselor, she would have to interact with people of many different viewpoints and moral values? As a counselor, its imperative to be unbiased, or at least not let personal biases orient her professional practices. She may well have to deal with drug addicts, alcoholics, pedophiles and the like, which all go against her core beliefs, but her job is not to judge her clients.
It's not about civil rights it's about professional standards. Just like a blind person won't be hired as a airplane pilot someone unwilling to seperate her religous beliefs shouldn't be allowed to counsel in public school setting or receive a degree that says she should be allowed to do such. If ASU were a Christian university that's one thing but it's not and she shouldn't be allowed to change the rules to fit her agenda. There are private, religious colleges where she could have earned her degree from that are more in line with her views. Not to mention everyone she counsels are not going to be Christians how affective could she be anyway? And once she receives a job will she be able to pick and choose who she counsels...I would hope not with my tax dollars.
So, what's the compromise???
She does not agree w/ their behavior.
BUT as a counselor, you come in contact with ppl of different backgrounds.
Honestly, now that I have read the comments and what-not, I have a better understanding of the topic.
Her view could be seen as narrow minded, yet, it could also be seen as courageous.
I personally do not agree with the actions of homosexuals, but I also do not agree with the actions of a dirnker, a smoker, a person who lies, or any other "negative" action.
IDK, IDK, IDK.
Nonetheless, this is an interesting case.
The tax payers are funding Augusta State, who is funding Ms. Keeton? Might be interesting to know.
The more you think about this issue(s), it might be because she is up against gay school staff and possible a gay judge. That being the case, she will have a tough time. I admire her courage. I'm really surprised that no one has said it's Bush's fault.
kareyclark, have you not read anything on this case? Her professors are not gay and her judge was a Christian. Do you also admire how thick headed she is??
Maybe you should brush up on the case a tad more - all the documents that she filed, along with the documents the school filed, as well as the judge's ruling is a matter of public record.
Aura68 how do you kinow they aren't gay? If not gay, they are nerds.
Aura68, define thick headed - I be willing to bet that Ms Keeton has more brains than you do. She would make a good leader; determination, courage, and smart. I have followed this case from day one. Bottom line is she is being railroaded by a bunch of goodie goodies.
kareyclark if she is being railroaded by goodie goodies doesnt that make her the bad guy?
If you want a shining example of thick headed l can promise you that you won't have to look far to find it and just for the record my IQ is above average.
Goodie, goodies - that's how you define a group of professors that are doing their best to make sure this girl does not do irrefutable harm to school children. Also, make up your mind either they are goodie, goodies or they are nerds. You referred to them as both in a matter of minutes.
No one is railroading this girl - she is not a victim. She is a spoiled brat that doesn't want to do the course work outlined for her. If you have followed the story so closely than you know she refused to take the writing class that was assigned as part of the remediation plan - I mean how could that possibly conflict with her religious views??
I suppose if I went to school to be a geography teacher and I insisted the whole time that my religious views told me that the earth was flat they should go ahead and give me my degree anyway. I mean that is the logic so many of you are using...
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