Say Anything Blog

Because, you see, the Dalai Lama is a religious leader as well as a political leader.  And we all know how liberals feel about the separation of church and state, right?

South Sound school district spokesmen said sending students to an event featuring the Dalai Lama on Monday provided a rare opportunity for them to see a Nobel Peace Prize winner and did not violate the concept of separation of church and state.

North Thurston spokeswoman Courtney Schrieve said teachers were using the Buddhist leader’s Seeds of Compassion curriculum to discourage harassing behavior.

“It’s teaching kids about compassion and anti-bullying,” she said. “It’s a chance of a lifetime for these kids to learn about the role that compassion and empathy have not only on the playground but off the playground.”

Olympia district spokesman Peter Rex said the message was nonsectarian, and lessons about empathy are something taught at school.

“There was no religious message in any materials I saw,” Rex said. “I’d say for students to have a chance to meet with and hear a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is an incredible opportunity.”

I actually don’t have any problems with the kids going to see the Dalai Lama.  As long as he’s not actively preaching or recruiting, why not?

My problem is the double standard.  I have a hard time believing this school would have sent kids out to see a Christian religious leader, even if that leader kept his/her presentation limited to secular themes about empathy, etc.