Princeton school bus driver fired for DWP

[Minnesota Raindog]

Driving While Pagan. I hope the Princeton school district gets their ass sued good for this crap. Of course, the lame local media will zero in on her husband's bizarre campaign for governor...

Girlfriend of 'vampyre' gubernatorial candidate is fired

The partner of the new gubernatorial candidate, Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey, says she's been unjustly fired from her job.

News traveled fast Friday when Sharkey announced he was a vampyre and he wants to be Minnesota's next governor. Just hours after the Friday news conference, Sharkey's girlfriend learned she was losing her job as a school bus driver.

On Saturday she tearfully read from the letter the Princeton School District gave her employer, Peterson Bus. The letter says, "It is our opinion that Ms. Carpenter does not serve as a role model, nor is suitable to provide transportation services for the Princeton School District, in light of recent media reports of her husband/friend to be a vampyre who is running for public office, and Ms. Carpenter informing other bus garage employees that she is a witch."

more:
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=116410

[northernsoul]

1. That's a blatantly illegal employment action

Ms. Carpenter can and should sue their socks off. I wish her luck.

[Minnesota Raindog]

2. Sorry, she's Sharkey's boyfriend, not husband n/t

[Demrock6]

3. Highly illegal

What about all this freedom of religion stuff being spewed by the right wing. Oh, free to be their religion, I get it.

Theocracy anyone?

Are they going to fire atheist next? Or divorced people? Anyone they don't seem to be a roll model?

[loveable liberal]

4. if non-profits can discriminate based on religion, why cant for- profits?

This is the real danger of Scalito. You can be descriminated against based on your beliefs now. We should DU that bus company's web site.

http://www.petersonbus.com/school_bus.php
edit=added link

[Zookeeper]

5. That's really outrageous!

First, since when is a school bus driver held up as a "role model?" No DWI's, good driving record and not a sexual predator would be reasonable requirements.

Second, I'm not surprised by the religious intolerance issue, since that's par for the course with RW Fundies. But, if she is in the closet about it, and wishes the kids "Merry Christmas," that is an amazingly ugly stretch on the part of the School Board. She's not allowed to choose something other than Christianity, even *on her own time*?!?

Third, the members of the Princeton School District should read "The Impaler's" website, particularly the Politics page. It's chock full o'refererences to his many Rethug buddies in politics, including Jeb and Smirk Bush. (BTW, I wonder if the friends named on his site are begging him to remove their names?). Maybe he is one of their own, afterall.

[koopie57]

7. I think this is a hard issue to make a decision on

My son came home and it was a big joke here about the vampire running for govenor and all that. Regarding the bus driver girlfriend, my first thought is let it go cuz she ain't hurting anyone and it is older folks getting all bent out of shape. But on the other hand, in a small town like Princeton, the little kids might really be terrified and you know how older kids can put wild ideas into their heads. I grew up in small town Minnesota and I think it probably wasn't a political correct decision but still the right way to go. I am glad I am not making the decision. Now, I turned the heat off it the house in case I get flamed

[Minnesota Raindog]

8. You want terrifying, wild ideas in your kids' heads?

Have them read the Old Testament. Or witness the bizarre Christian religious rituals like baptisms, communion (drinking blood and eating the body of Christ!), not eating animal flesh on Fridays, etc., etc., etc.

I guess civil rights and religious freedom is only for big-city folks and not small-town people.

[koopie57]

9. quite sarcastic I see

what is your point? People can't look at a situation today and think about the consequences and what is best despite certain politically correct rules put down by some. And baptism and communion are not bizarre Christian rites, and not choosing to eat meat on Friday or whenever certainly is not bizarre. I grew up in small town Minnesota and understand that type of lifestyle and now I am a big-city folk. I see there are two sides to this issue and I didn't see the need to go way over the top to make my point. It is a tough issue to some critical thinking people, which I sure you are when maybe discussing a different topic which is not so close to you for some reason.

And as a matter of fact, things are different in a small town when compared to a big city. That is why people choose to live in one or the other.

[Minnesota Raindog]

10. This is not about "political correctness" or "lifestyle"

This is about religious freedom, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. Like it or not, Wiccan is a religion--even in small towns--and is protected by the same Constitution that protects Christians and Jews and Muslims and every other religion.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm

As for religious rituals, what may be "normal" to you most certainly is "bizarre" to others. And as for things being "different in a small town," just because you live in a small town instead of the big city doesn't mean you relinquish your constitutional rights to those with religious beliefs different than yours, no matter how small-minded the people of your small town are. Religious freedom belongs to ALL Americans.

[kikiek]

15. I agree with you. As long as the rituals are "mainstream " they are

good! I won't even defend her on the basis of her work record, how long she has worked there, and what her Pagan beliefs are. They have no relevance. This is about freedom of religion and our right to choose if we believe what we believe in. No matter where we live in this country! This could be a big deal. Ultimately should encourage tolerance not force compliance.

[koopie57]

16. yes, I understand your point

and I understand that communion and baptism would seem bazarre in other parts of the world, and I believe that everyone has a right to their own religion (whatever they choose that to be) or lack thereof, but I was treating this discussion in terms of small town America.

And I also agree with you about not relinquishing your constitutional rights no matter where in America you live. I agree and understand with those points you brought up. I mean I VERY MUCH AGREE with those points.

But, IMHO, this is a very difficult situation for the school to be in. I do think they were wrong to fire her, but I was basically taking exception to the no wiggle room for thinking this through to a solution that took all the rights (and kids have rights too) into play. Would you consider giving her two weeks off with pay until this died down? Or have her drive only the high school kids? So, I do agree with you and understand your arguements, but I don't think it means not talking a situation over and finding a peaceful and fair solution. And maybe the only fair thing was to let her do her job like she was hired to do. I don't know, but it was a tough call I think.

[ISUGRADIA]

12. To you they are not bizarre, but the point was valid

A Christian moving into let's say an all Muslim town. "You know that Christian that moved in? he believes in drinking the blood and eating the body of his Christ!" To some, out of context and uninformed in the history of Christianity, that is going to sound bizarre.

Same thing with this company and the girlfriend, ignorance is triumphing.

[ISUGRADIA]

11. Either there is freedom of religion or there is not

and guilt by association is a rather sad way to operate. And illegal too.

What's the big deal? "you know how older kids can put wild ideas into their heads" you could say the same thing about how other minorities have been thought of in certain small towns too: Jews, Mormons, Gays, etc...anyone who's "different". I live in the big city exactly for the fact that minorities of whatever type are more welcome to lives their lives unhasseled.

[northernsoul]

13. You can't fire people for their religion, period.

The law (Title VII / Minnesota Human Rights Act) protects people from "fringe" religions just as much as it does Catholics and Lutherans. "Politically correct" has nothing to do with it, it's about obeying the law.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. To be fair

he's got the look DOWN.

[northernsoul]

14. love the turtleneck / blazer combo

it's so Will Ferrel playing Robert Goulet.

[Zookeeper]

17. It's "a look."

The pendant with the turtleneck is just so wrong, though. Wouldn't that work better over a hairy chest with his shirt unbuttoned to his navel?