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Bill O'Reilly v. the First Graders

On Friday my son took a field trip with his first grade class to throw flower petals at his teacher as she exited City Hall in San Francisco, a newlywed. The class took a city bus down, surprised her and her bride, then had pizza. My son described the adventure as mostly boring, waiting around on the steps of City Hall with handfuls of flower petals. But he was very happy for his teacher, who he has quickly grown to love. When asked about the event, he gave a six-year-old's answer about people loving and caring for each other. He then moved on to Legos and more important things.

What my son (and I) didn't understand is that what he took part in was, according to Bill O'Reilly, "A new outrage in San Francisco," and that "opponents of gay marriage are up in arms, but the school administrators say it's no big deal." Ah, a teaching moment. Yes, kids, monsters are real. You'll know them because they'll be the ones taking up "arms" against an elementary school.

A story on the event, which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday, has attracted more than 1,400 comments, many of them censored by the Chron—I assume because they contain threats and curse words—as well as homophobic diatribes more suitable for publication, like O'Reilly's. I’d like to thank Mayor Newsom (who performed the wedding) for standing up for the issue of gay marriage, even as I beg his pardon for complicating matters by allowing my kid to play a small, meaningful part in a legal and beautiful celebration.

I also want to be clear to the monsters and bigots out there that you're not scary. Hateful, yes, but you don’t scare us.

—Eddie Scher

Comments

Good for you. Good for the kids. Poo on Billo.

Your link broke or something. Try this:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/11/MNFG13F1VG.DTL

Posted by: Tim J. on 10/14/08 at 7:37 PM Respond

A shame I am 53, I want to be adopted by you... thanks for speaking out... your son will be very, very proud of you one day!

Posted by: Daniel in Sacto on 10/14/08 at 11:02 PM Respond

Your son is probably young enough that he won't remember much about that day, but I'm sure you will find many more opportunities to teach him about love, acceptance and standing up for what is right. Good for you and he is a lucky little boy.

Posted by: Linda G in Phoenix on 10/15/08 at 5:25 AM Respond

This is a very politically inspired attempt by O'Reilly to remind redneck [even the educated, country club variety] voters that if liberals gain national dominance, a wave of 'San Fransisco values' will start pouring east.
I'm glad your son was able to be part of this show of support for the loving relationship of an early mentor. Still, seems like the coverage of this might galvanize support for the same sex ban in California. I hope it can equally shore up support for a defeat of the ban.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 10/15/08 at 5:56 AM Respond

Look folks, can't you push the gay marriage thing in between presidential elections? Seems to me, that when you push it, then the religious wack jobs get all excited about voting and make their way to the polls. Well...how about this year you just lay low and keep it under wraps. We can;t afford to loose this one. OK???

Posted by: kirkbrew on 10/15/08 at 6:46 AM Respond

Garry Tredeau is walking on the edge. Has anyone looked into Jane Pauley's years at Indiana University.

Posted by: Hoosier on 10/15/08 at 6:55 AM Respond

Hoosier - What? Like Ryan White? I mean...being from Indiana, you know who that was...don't you?

Indiana...the ONLY place I hear the word "n*****r" and the only place where people say stuff as stupid as this guy. I'm SO glad I left that back-woods-hill-jack-dump.

Posted by: kirkbrew on 10/15/08 at 7:22 AM Respond

Hoosier daddy?

Posted by: Paul Miller on 10/15/08 at 7:35 AM Respond

This comment is directed at the guy that said people with AIDS should suffer and die. Do you deliberately leave ignorant comments or are you in fact a lamp missing a light bulb. You worldview must consist of a Wal-Mart, beer and a guilty conscience; that's why you go to church on Sunday to fill the void that is your mind.

Posted by: Michael on 10/15/08 at 7:59 AM Respond

Our school is planning to take the 5th grade class to the next Gay pride parade, and the 7th grade class to the Adult Video Award presentations next year.

Posted by: Santa Ana on 10/15/08 at 8:04 AM Respond

Santa Ana - You can't think 'gay' without thinking 'gay sex', can you? That shows a relatively high level of fascination with homosexual intercourse. Anything you'd like to share with the class?

Posted by: Paul Miller on 10/15/08 at 8:13 AM Respond

Paul Miller!

You are Cracking me up!

Thanks!

Posted by: capt on 10/15/08 at 9:11 AM Respond

Hey, Capt. My husband and I just got back from a vacation to Portland, OR where friends live. Rejuvenated by ethical and progressive culture, I'm ready to rumble with these morons. Woo-hoo!
We haven't had an exchange in months - hope all is well.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 10/15/08 at 9:27 AM Respond

I'm shocked by the attack. We're serious. We think it will be a positive experience for these young students.

Posted by: Santa Ana on 10/15/08 at 9:53 AM Respond

Oh please - and if a class went to a straight person's wedding they would have all thought about their sex life? Kids go to adult celebrations and see it for what it is: a celebration, a party. And like the kid's mom said, it was mostly boring but he loves his teacher and was happy to cheer her on. Isn't that worth teaching?

Posted by: Amala on 10/15/08 at 2:59 PM Respond

This could ONLY happen in S.F. If it happened anywhere else, the parents would call the COPS..!!!

How could a normal parent think it was a good thing for the children to be indoctrinated into such an abnormal event..?

STOP trying to recruit kids into your sickness..Got IT..!!!

Bill

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 10/15/08 at 4:07 PM Respond

This board can now be closed. The leading mind of our times, Bill Nigh, has rendered us his opinion.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 10/15/08 at 4:26 PM Respond