Hello The Mantecaresponse, You have the right to express your opinion, but you do not have the right to claim that you speak for or understand the emotions of "every pro-family citizen". I consider myself to be "pro-family", in the sense that my family and its well-being is the most important thing in the world to me. I think that, regardless of its particular make up, it is vital to a child's emotional growth and health to have a strong family unit. Families come in different versions other than the traditional mom/dad/children configuration that is most familiar to us. Whether a household consists of a child and a single parent (mom or dad) or two dads or two moms or sometimes even two grandparents, the most important factor is that the child be raised with love, values, and a sense of responsibility for his or her own actions and the resulting consequences. You do not speak for me on this issue of Harvey Milk Day. I don't believe my daughter needs rescuing from any "suitable commemorative exercises" that her school may choose to present. The key word here is "suitable". My daughter is in high school. Lessons appropriate for a high school student are too complex for a five year old. The "suitable commemorative exercises" may be more age-appropriate for those students who are junior high level and up, rather than introducing a multifaceted subject (gay rights) to primary children. But I take exception to your negative view of public education and the supposedly nefarious agendas you ascribe to public schools. When was the last time that you actually set foot in a classroom other than a parent-teacher conference day? I volunteered in the classrooms of each of my three children until they were in junior high and my concerns as a parent were always taken seriously and addressed. As with sex education, a parent has the option to have their child opt out of an activity that the family deems unsuitable. Jehovah Witnesses are not forced to say the Flag Salute, but only have to stand, out of respect. I have also seen school holiday activities modified to take into account their beliefs. So if you do not wish your child or grandchild to participate in any day that honors Harvey Milk, that is your right and you can be accommodated. But you do not have the right to prevent my child, or any other, from learning about the struggles and significance of an important figure in gay history. That is up to the individual parents. Sincerely, Karen

I agree, so let's not make laws that FORCE parents such as me to have my children give praise to such a person because he is homosexual.

I would like to know...how do you know what I am thinking? This is something that many have an issue with including the MB. I think you need to re-read this article again, maybe you'll get it right.

To me, I don't care if you have your child indoctrinated into the next space program. That's your decision, but you most certainly don't have the right to FORCE my child to learn about what I consider wrong and insignificant. Until the day comes where liberals (democrats) stay out of my business and family life, then I'm going to push hard.

Why pass a law?

To: TheMantecaResponse, I don't claim to know what you are thinking. I'm only responding to your own actual words. I have never stated a child should be FORCED to learn anything, only that the opportunity for learning and understanding should be there for a family to take advantage of, build upon for discussions at home, or instead choose to decline and decide to request that another activity be substituted for their particular child. As I most certainly do not belong in your business or family life, you, just as certainly, do not belong in mine. As you yourself stated, this bill leaves it up to individual school districts or schools to choose whether to incorporate commemorative activities into their curriculum or not. There is nothing compulsory here, so there is no "forcing" of any kind.It is important for me to recognize that you have the right to a differing opinion on this issue. I am hoping that you will extend this same courtesy to me. Sincerely, Karen

I highly agree with KarenPearsall on this matter. I find that your idiotic homophobic views on this situation are only pushing inequality in our city. Who are you to opress others on the way they live their lives, if you do not appreciate that way of life, then congratulations, if it is NOT affecting you then you should NOT be a part of it. I find that if you believe that this day should not be viewed, its just as if a racist would say "why dont you also tell everyone to stop the viewing of martin luther king jr day, for he is black, and since he was a great man who strove for change, like harvey Milk did, then why should we even view that holiday" Isnt that right? Your right wing religious views on the situation HIGHLY oversee the actuality behind this great man and what he did for the opressed and those not recieving equal rights. If you dont want your child to be a part of this, then dont send them to school on that day. You disgust me as a human being, how dare you sit there and tell people that the gay community is "perverse" and to "rescue" your children from this. People like you are the reason blacks had to work years to achieve rights, you are the new day segregators of society, equal rights will prevail, its the new change, get used to that fact sir. I dont see how this day affects you at all, if you do not want to be a part of such a brainwashing school society then why dont you move? I think you should take a second and realize YOU sir are those radical religious idiots who have nothing better to do but criticise and create havoc amongst people only trying to live THEIR lives, as FREE CITIZENS in this country.

youcandoit, since I have never seen a single comment from you saying anything positive or respectful or even minimally civil about anyone who disagrees with your opinions, your comments about Mr. Milk are like a hypochondriac complaining about feeling sick.

Completely predictable and with no basis in fact.

Well "youcandoit" how very sad it is that people like you create such an inequality in america. Hello new day segregator, look into the mirror, you're like the KKK for homosexuals.