CDRH- Clarington Durham Region Humanists
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CDRH- Clarington Durham Region Humanists |
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Media outlets Local Newspapers
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Letters to the Editor If you have contributed a "Letter to the Editor" to a newspaper or an online source and had it published send the link in and we will add it here. -------------------------- Thursday September 27th 2007 "Religious schools should be financed by parents" By John Manuel Progressive Conservative leader John Tory claims he wants to "include religious students in the public system." The public system has never excluded them. Their parents have done so by their own choice. I do not challenge parents' right to do so, but those who opt out of a public, secular system must continue to finance their own choices. General tax dollars must not be diverted to religious institutions of any kind except for those with clear "charitable" activities. It's only a matter of time before tax-deductible donations and other benefits to religious organizations are challenged. There's nothing "charitable" about the personal practice of one's religion, including weekly worship or the rearing of one's children. We're not against the survival of religious bodies as such, but we do object to paying for them. John Manuel Oshawa ----------------------------------------- Monday September 24th 2007 "Faith-based school funding a human rights violation" By Mark Witzel To the editor: Let's be clear, public funding for faith-based school systems is a human rights violation. In November 1999, the United Nations Human Rights Committee found Canada in violation of the equality provisions of that covenant by virtue of Ontario's discriminatory school system (see Waldman v. Canada). That discrimination remains without remedy to this day, a situation that in November 2005 led the same committee to censure Canada again for failing to "adopt steps in order to eliminate discrimination on the basis of religion in the funding of schools in Ontario." The same day, an Iranian human rights envoy brushed off a Canadian-sponsored UN resolution concerning human rights violations in Iran by wondering: "Being charged itself with human rights violations, is Ottawa competent enough to initiate a human rights resolution in the UN against another country?" The incident poignantly underscored the importance of living up to our human rights obligations. Please take some time to visit the website www.oneschoolsystem.org and get more facts. Mark Witzel Brooklin ------------------------------------------- Wednesday September 12th 2007 "Time to have one publicly funded education system" by Mark Robinson To the editor: The upcoming election has brought well-needed attention to the teaching of religious beliefs within our school system. It's a great opportunity for this topic to be discussed amongst people who, in the past, felt there's no place in the public for religious discussion. I support one school system and I feel children should be taught the true values of life rather than ideals from religion. As church enrolment drops it's a sign young people are opening their eyes and minds to real proof rather than beliefs of the past. Like many people, I do not believe in a god and I see the importance of understanding the true reality of life as an important educational tool. It's time people of faith understand religious ideas need to be checked at the door when it comes to education. Evolution is a fact and should be taught to every student. Religion can be discussed but we must treat it for what it is. I'm glad to see religion being discussed openly and people questioning their own truth and opening their minds. Mark Robinson Clarington Durham Region Humanists --------------------------
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