ASU graduate student Jennifer Keeton is totally lacking in insight in the situation in which she finds herself in an adversarial relationship with her teachers at Augusta State University.
She's correct in stating she is entitled to her religious and moral beliefs regarding all aspects of life. She's also correct in rebelling against what she perceives as a "brainwashing" course that her teachers require of her in order to (potentially) permit her study to affect her beliefs.
ASU's suggestion that Keeton attend a gay pride parade was ludicrous; viewing the extremists in some gay pride parades might only serve to solidify her views.
Keeton says gays have "identity confusion," a label she might aptly apply to herself.
She wishes to preserve the integrity of her strongly held religious and moral views against homosexuality, and yet she wants to be a school counselor, a position in which she will be counseling a statistical percentage of gay and lesbian students.
As a student counselor, Keeton would place herself in an untenable position. The saying, "something's gotta give" would apply the moment she was faced with a homosexual student facing a personal dilemma involving sexual orientation. Telling troubled students they are purposely choosing their behavior would devastate them. Not explaining that the behavioral choice was the student's would compromise and be a denial of Keeton's strongly held religious and moral views.
Keeton should never be asked to deny her religious and moral beliefs; but, in fairness she should have the moral integrity to announce to those whom she insists have chosen homosexuality the exact date or period in her life when she was faced with the choice of sexual orientation and chose heterosexuality.
Gene Rickaby
Martinez
When did the pedophile choose to be a pedofile?
Last time I checked Keeton said she can separate her views from her counseling. But keep on criticizing and showing your Intolerance.
biological she was born with the right equipment for procreation with the opposite sex..you question is absurd and was poised by bork yesterday..its a trick question that has no logical premise to be asked..except it was designed by nature..its like asking the question have you quit beating your wife? there is no acceptable answer..if there is a gay gene natural selection would have elimnated that triat ions ago..its a choice..and if you all worry about someone morals..what about passing out condoms and advising on abortions in schools how is this not a conflict ..
Mr. Rickaby, you don't choose what comes natural. You don't choose to be heterosexual, just as you don't choose to be male, female, black, white, etc. Heterosexuality is what occurs naturally, otherwise the human race would have died long, long ago due to an inability to reproduce. If however, your life takes a different path, that is a choice.
Just as the gays choose their sexual relationship preferences, Ms. Keeton chose her religious preferences. For her, it's Christianity as explained by the Bible. It seems this would make her more qualified instead of less. If the gay is seeking counseling, obviously he/she is having trouble with a life choice. If secular choices are the only option, why bother to seek counseling? Isn't that the path that led to the counseling in the first place?
I'm not certain I understand your convoluted reasoning, Gene Rickaby.
southernguy stop generalizing. gays don't refer to it as "alternative lifestyle." You do.
"If secular choices are the only option, why bother to seek counseling?"
Are you serious?
Cliff, from reading the above, you wrote the book on "convoluted." Now go back to your dusting, or whatever it is you do at night.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is TRUTH. Secular counseling does not have the truth. The effects of homosexual practice can be taught in counseling. The effects of promiscuous sex - either homo or hetero - can also be taught. At puberty, kids need to know that promiscuous sex results in HIV/AIDS and STDs in many cases. The morality should be taught by the parents.
It comes from Adam and Eve. The natural order of things.
Bad letter...mostly good comments. She will be able to give wise counsel. I have never run into anyone who claim how much their non-Christian counsel has helped them but have heard of plenty that good Christian counsel has helped. Not living a Christian life is what gets people in the need of good counsel in a first place. Why do you think all the God-haters are the ones that are so angry and get so upset?
sexual preference is a choice. As a married woman, I choose to prefer my husband as my sexual partner. I may be attracted to other men, but that does not give me the right to have sex with them. I make the CHOICE to have a sexual relationship with my husband. Preferring something is one thing, choosing something is another. Maybe a person can't control what they prefer, but they CAN control the choice they will make in pursuing their desires.
"I may be attracted to other men, but that does not give me the right to have sex with them. I make the CHOICE to have a sexual relationship with my husband. Preferring something is one thing, choosing something is another. Maybe a person can't control what they prefer, but they CAN control the choice they will make in pursuing their desires."
then you're dishonest and immature. You made a committment with your husband. Your case has nothing to do being gay and everything to do with morality.
lynx, most of the people I know that are gay are in monogamous, long term relationships. I have a dear friend who just lost his partner to cancer. They were together for over 40 years. They each chose to be faithful to the person they committed their life too also.
"Preferring something is one thing, choosing something is another. "
If somebody prefers to have sex with someone other than their spouse, they have big issues, not to mention a terrible marriage.
I agree, that's morality, not sexual preference.
I personally don't care what Keeton's beliefs are. I don't even care that she becomes a counselor. But when she says she wants to be a public school counselor, that's where I have major objections.
What if a black teacher said "I don't want to teach white kids"? What if a Christian teacher said "I don't want to teach non-Christian kids"? What if a Protestant teacher said "I don't want to teach Catholic kids"?
We would all agree that person should not be working with children and most definitely not in a public school setting.
Keeton isn't any different.
When you agree to work at a school, you agree to do your best by all of the children there and treat them all fairly and without prejudice. If you can't do that, then go somewhere else.
Any counselor that would refuse to help a child not only is a terrible counselor, but a disgrace to their profession, not to mention a lousy human being. How anyone thinks it would be Christian or moral to turn their back on a child is just astounding to me.
Maybe somebody will answer this:
"Last time I checked Keeton said she can separate her views from her counseling. But keep on criticizing and showing your Intolerance."
Retard, that is not what she has demonstrated in the course of her study, and that is the evidence ASU will use to justify their actions. In her coursework she has repreatedly shown an intolerance for standard practices and the curriculum everyone else is expected to learn and abide by. She is not fit to be licensed in ASU's curriculum. Her's is clearly a religious calling and it is silly for her to think ASU should change or even endorse her religious beliefs.
retard, I explained to you how I chose my handle, I really would like an explanation as to why you chose such an offensive name.
It's offensive every time I reply to you. From now on I will reply to offensive name instead of your handle.
Momster, I think his/her other name is fiat_lux. Let there be light is CERTAINLY appropriate.
clemens - you know that the censors that be have left up every racial slur and even a sexual remark made the other night about teaching kindergarteners the 69 positions of sex, but appeared to have removed my original post pointing out how offensive that word is? Wow! You can be as racist or sexually inappropriate about children in your remarks as you want, but please do not point out that the word retard is an ugly word.
AC censors, I truly hope I have urinated you away from that last remark.
Has anyone thought she might choose to be a couselor at a Christian school so her beliefs would be what that system would desire?
Yes, I've complained that they are NOT equal opportunity censors.
Clemens: the original article states that she claimed she could separate her beliefs from professional counseling. She also denies some of the things that other students said about her. If ASU proves this to be untrue that's different but we don't have the luxury of those facts at the moment. So all the intolerant and hateful remarks on your part and others is just proof of your hypocrisy.
Momster: I responded on the other thread. If AC let's me change it I will but otherwise, deal with it. I'm not required to bend over backwards for your personal sensitivities to the English language.
offensive name - and with every time you strike your little keyboard, you dig your hole of intolerance deeper and deeper......
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
