Commentary: Today Enfield, CT made the list of most visited sites on Fark.com. An article from WTNH News Channel 8 's website discussing Enfield's debate of whether to hold its public high school graduation in a church ( whole separation between church and state issue there) received 980+ comments on site ranking it in the top 50 most read articles of the day. Why is this so interesting? Well, the Enfield debate isn't, but the mention of which on a globally viewed website is. Fark.com is an extremely popular website for nerds and other social outcasts, myself included, who like to waste valuable time surfing the web for weird and unusual news. Much in the same vein as The Eye, Fark is a community created website that relies on content submitted by its readers. According to Fark, it receives 2,000 plus submissions a day, which are then ranked by number of comments and page views- the top 50 of which are displayed next to humorous titles.
While Middletown made national news in the past for tragedies such as murders and the horrific Kleen Energy Plan Explosion (NY Times, CNN) ;which are no doubt important to be marked in history so that society can learn something one can hope, it is refreshing to see a CT location make news for just being silly. Although, obviously the whole Enfield graduation situation is not funny to some, who see it as a possible violation of his or her civil liberties; compared to the grand scheme of life it is. The nation faces an oil spill that may wipe out the whole ecological system of the east coast, such a debate over hurt feelings and stepped on toes is pretty funny to worry too much about.
I say put the school banner over the large cross over the alter if there is one, and get on with the ceremony. Most high school graduations are far too long, no one remembers what was said, pictures come out terrible anyway, its too hot and crowded to care where you are. Be thankful someone donated a space at no cost and move on. Debate civil liberties another day.
So if you are like me, AND drove out of your way today to fill your tank at a station that does not get its fuel from BP, AND have written to your congressman to send disaster relief and put pressure on BP, (yes, email counts too, which hopefully does not just got to an infinitely large junk mail folder), only THEN do you have my permission to check out Fark.com tonight.
If we all work together in some small ways, maybe we can get something major accomplished: like getting Middletown on Fark. Perhaps for article from the Middletown Press about the man who defecated on Main Street over the weekend. Article
4 comments:
We actually submitted that story to Fark, but I didn't see it get picked up.
Viktoria Sundqvist
Editor
The Middletown Press
Great!
My article was meant to be tongue in cheek, but I think Middletown should be able to laugh at itself once in a while too.
Cheers!
"The nation faces an oil spill that may wipe out the whole ecological system of the east coast, such a debate over hurt feelings and stepped on toes is pretty funny to worry too much about.
I say put the school banner over the large cross over the alter if there is one, and get on with the ceremony. Most high school graduations are far too long, no one remembers what was said, pictures come out terrible anyway, its too hot and crowded to care where you are. Be thankful someone donated a space at no cost and move on. Debate civil liberties another day."
I know you're being all tongue and cheek, but you have clearly missed the point on the issue. This graduation location was engineered from the start by over zealous Christian radicals who happen to be on the school board. The intent was to frame it just the way you interpreted it (i.e. No big deal. Lots of other more important things happening in the world). It is a calculated attempt to chip away at the very foundation this country was built upon. There is far more at play here than some "well meaning" school personnel. And for the record, the rental fee for use of the church for the two graduations was approximately $25,000. Hardly free. Rick Green of the Hartford Courant exposed this lunacy for what it is on Friday. Check it out. http://blogs.courant.com/rick_green/2010/06/enfield-fight-about-family-ins.html
What is clearly humorous is the fact you call out over zealous Christian radicals who are on the school board. As if the only people allowed to be elected on a school board are say liberal democrats. Being a moderate myself, I find the diversity in politics is exactly what this country was built on. I am not trying to defend anyone here, but I think thats exactly what she meant.
We have larger issues than where a high school is holding their graduation. And if the school board's choice was to spend 25,000 to have it at a church, then so be it. I say let the Enfield taxpayers revolt against their school board for paying that kind of money. Not the fact that is run by what you call Christian radicals. Last time I looked, America was a free country, and Christians were allowed to hold political offices. I don't understand how a graduation in Enfield chips away at my understanding that we the citizens of the USA have the right to choose religions. Just a thought from someone who does not see a problem, cause I don't live in Enfield!
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