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Home · Articles · News · Rogue of the Week · Laidlaw employees
March 24th, 2004 WW Editorial Staff | Rogue of the Week
 

Laidlaw employees

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Regardless of your opinion on the gay-marriage question, we can all agree that no one should be trying to etch their own beliefs into someone else's kids' minds without permission. Actually, check that--judging by the roguish deeds of a few Laidlaw employees, it seems there are some who disagree.

On the afternoon of March 9, Collin Slaughter sat in the front of the Laidlaw bus carting the 12-year-old home from West Sylvan Middle School. Portland Public Schools pays Laidlaw $10 million a year to handle two-thirds of the district's bus routes, and this is one of the longest, going from West Slope all the way to North Portland.

Amid the tumult, one child asked Laidlaw bus driver Frank Martin--who is also a minister--what the Bible says about gay marriage. According to Collin's father, Jeff Slaughter, who got the story from his distraught son later, Martin delivered a whole sermon.

"He said gays are sick in the head, they're all going to burn in hell, and went on and on," says Slaughter, the owner of a pet-grooming business. "Collin said, 'Wait, I know good gay people.' The bus driver said, 'Do you know where the word good comes from? It comes from God, and gay people don't come from God.'"

But the roguery didn't end there. When Slaughter called Laidlaw to complain, he says manager Stuart Hedge dismissed his concerns and gave him an earful of Leviticus to boot. Hedge later told WW he didn't remember the conversation.

Slaughter was shocked: "We don't teach our children hate," he said. He finally got some help from PPS transportation director Brian Winchester, who called the Laidlaw bosses and told them to can the Bible talk.

"I made it very clear to the contractor and his drivers that we're going to encourage kids to talk to a parent or guardian about it." Winchester says. "I'd be ticked, too."

 
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03.24.2004 at 10:00 Reply
Gay FearI cannot understand why these fruits are afraid of Godliness. —dan maher

 

03.25.2004 at 10:00 Reply
LeviticusDr. Laura Schlessinger is a U.S. radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific Bible laws and how to follow them: 1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. 4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? 5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality? I don't agree. Can you settle this? 7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/ 20, or is there some wiggle room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? 9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)? I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. —anon

 

03.30.2004 at 10:00 Reply
Leviticus's PostNow I do understand why they are afraid.—dan maher

 

03.30.2004 at 10:00 Reply
Laidlaw EmployeesAS I read the first line in your article, I thought, hum I wonder if anyone in the Portland school system is teaching anything about homosexuality? Then I read the rest of the article and wondered who gave you folks the right to try and shape anyones thinking with your editorial. Then I wondered if it would be alright for a religious person to hate as much as the parent in the article hates the Laidlaw employees. And finally, when did we lose the freedom of speech in America the land of the free?—Leland Patterson

 

04.05.2004 at 09:00 Reply
Hello PeopleHasn't anyone ever heard of seperation of church and state? Maybe you should remove the rose tint from your glasses so your 20/20 vision can read the constituion clearly. Just a thought—UseYourHead

 

 
 

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