It's time for Alabama to learn to be tolerant of others regardless of their beliefs, race or sexual orientation. Always the butt of jokes, the state of Alabama certainly isn't helping its image based on the newest bill proposed to the House of Representatives. Gerald Allen (Republican - what a shock) has proposed a bill that would ban books with homosexual themes or written by homosexual authors and textbooks that mention homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle in public schools. I am totally disgusted with this narrow mindset by Mr. Allen and any others who support this bill. Their argument is that books that have a homosexual theme have the potential to influence the children in school. Well, that certainly makes a whole lot of sense. I guess we need to ban dissection of animals in biology because somebody might be influenced to dissect people. I hope children aren't forced to read books like Hop On Pop. I can't imagine the physical pain a kindergartner or first grader might inflict on their poor unsuspecting dad.

By banning books with a homosexual theme, students are prohibited from reading (and performing) classics such as A Chorus Line and Angels in America. The poetry of Oscar Wilde would eventually become forgotten. But, where does it stop? Should Greek mythology be banned since it's well known that popular authors of Ancient Greece practiced homosexual activity? Should other bills be introduced to help "protect" the children? Maybe public schools shouldn't teach mythology at all. It would be terrible if they decided not to follow the ways of Christianity and began worshipping a pantheon of gods. Since when is thinking for yourself a bad thing?

I really hope this bill doesn't become law, but regardless of the outcome of this bill, I know Mr. Allen has lost at least one vote should he decide to run for re-election when his term has expired.