Monday, July 1, 2013

Namaste!

Go forth and yoga, little ones.

20 comments:

  1. This should have never even wasted the court's time, but since it did, i am happy for all who won, which I think is pretty much everybody. Great news. And a special thanks to Dave Peck, who did this pro bono for the parents.

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    1. Will Dave Peck keep working pro bono while this is appealed??

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    2. Only if he's interested and qualified as an appelate lawyer.

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    3. Only if he's interested and qualified as an appelate lawyer.

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  2. How can anyone in their right mind think that yoga is not an extension of Buddha Hinduism. Why don't indoctrinate our kinds in meditation then they can all join the rest of the nuts in California. Democrats for life.

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    1. I kind of wonder why 3:09 lives here. You would do better in a southern state. And Buddism and Hinduism are 2 separate religions in case you didn't know.

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  3. I'd rather hang with meditators than crazy born-again bigots, who think that they have the exclusive hold on Truth. Rapture anyone?????

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    1. You mean the Islamic jihadists??

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    2. So you are saying that you have the exclusive on knowing the truth 3:14? It seems on the one hand you think 'born again bigots' should be more tolerant, while you yourself remain intolerant. Just saying-

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    3. Faulty logic - never said that. I'm 'intolerant' for questioning them or using the term "bigots"? I guess tolerance is all in the eye of the beholder.

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    4. What's the diff between Islamic jihadists and born-agains?

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  4. What a tremendous waste of time and money that was... Did these people really have no better way to spend their time? If, like 3:09, they hate California so much, they are free to move to Louisiana to have their kids learn all about creationism. At least that would be a fight worth fighting!

    But hey, at least they made the national news.
    http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/01/19235033-yoga-poses-no-risk-to-church-state-separation-says-judge?lite

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  5. It just so happens that the woman who brought this suit has her own Christian side-show. It was a self-promotion stunt.

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  6. 3:14
    And you wouldn't complain if Christians were more health conscious and had Jesuscize classes in public schools?

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  7. I support Yoga and a healthy lifestyle. I don't feel the Plaintiff should have to pay the school district's legal fees; defendant's lawyer was Pro Bono, but more importantly, the Christian parents had valid concerns about prayer being prohibited and Yoga being allowed. Prayer is a spiritual practice, as Is Yoga. Yoga is about integrating mind, body and spirit. I think that Plaintiff's attorney should have stressed the Jois Foundation's mission statement. That seems relevant, since they are sponsoring these programs, financially, and providing the instructors.

    No one needs to mock with comments about indoctrination and "mind control," but spiritual practice, in any religion is about learning to control one's thoughts and actions, through a "higher power," including power of Self, finding the guru within through meditation and spiritual practice. Recently, a Swami wrote an excellent Community Commentary in the Coast News, which clearly stated that Yoga cannot be separated from the spiritual, or the spirit. In fact, that's what Yoga is about, through practice, including exercise and self-examination, integrating the spiritual into everyday life, into all aspects of our psyche, and the physical.

    I find the Judge's ruling "troublesome," too, because he did seem to overlook the spiritual aspects of Yoga. The Jois Foundation would not have made a $500,000 grant to the EUSD were this not part of its spiritual mission. EUSD Superintendent Timothy Baird made some bad decisions, then tried to do some "damage control," after the fact. I don't feel it's necessary to villainize the Evangelical Christians, because they feel it's unfair prayer is not allowed, but Yoga is. Physical exercise is only one aspect of Yoga.

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    1. Mormons go on missions to other countries. Clearly it's part of their spiritual mission. Because of their efforts, there are areas in the world that have running water, medical clinics, better food supply, yet, they're not mormon. In my opinion, this lawsuit was an example of the "Christian" faith continuing to throw its weight around and trying to influence society towards a more fundamentalist view. We live in an open and tolerant society that provides for a wide range of options in how one want's top live ones life. This was an attempt at political bullying at its worst and yes, if the law requires them to pay the other sides costs, then so be it.

      - The Sculpin

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    2. Oh jeeze - I need to proofread! "how one want's to live", and "attempt at religious bullying"

      - The Sculpin

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    3. Will you say the same thing when Sheria law practiced in your school system?? No you won't, because those that oppose will be beheaded.

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  8. As a young child in the California public schools, I was subjected to ridicule, shame, laughing at me, all because I had a limp and no one knew why. When it came to physical education time, no one wanted me on their team because I was not very good. I was always picked last, and, then it was only because the team was forced to pick me. If there had been yoga in our schools back then, I could have done that. Perhaps my self-esteem would have been better. Instead I ate and got fat, which only made things worse. Now, many, many years later I learned, after a hip replacement, I had what is called spongy bone. That is why I limped. The teachers and parents I have talked to say their kids are more relaxed at school and home, and they like doing it. If parents don't tell them it is in any way religious, I don't believe they would even know. And, to me it is more of a spiritual practice than a religious practice. I realize many think they are the same, but to me they are separate. Yoga is good for pain, concentration, energy and so many other things. It's hard to imagine it being religious the way it is being taught in the Encinitas School district.

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  9. I think the lawsuit raised interesting questions. To me, the most important thing, is the health and happiness of the children. You made a compelling comment, 12:33. Thanks for sharing your personal experience. I didn't limp as a child, but I'm limping, now, so I can relate to your heartfelt story.

    I continue to feel that Yoga is part of a spiritual practice, and to me, that's not a bad thing.

    I also feel that "prayer" can be "secular," but I realize most people wouldn't agree with that. Higher power can be "within," and not necessarily related to the traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices. However, I also can relate to how the Evangelical Christians could feel that they cannot practice their faith traditions, and the Jois foundation, through Yoga in schools, not limited to physical exercise, by the way, can. I have compassion for the Christian families' positions, too, that they are being discriminated against in their spiritual practices, which are not allowed in Encinitas schools.

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