Education Matters:

Fundamentalists scare me on this one. A full-page ad in the L.A. Times quotes the good book (Leviticus 20) to assure us that “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them committed an abomination.”

It’s an accurate quote, but it’s incomplete.

The very next words are, “they shall surely be put to death.”

Consecutive verses speak of adultery, incest (including in-laws), lying with beasts — all transgressors being surely put to death. My question is, who was supposed to execute all of these people? If it is God then He has surely dropped the ball on this one. If it is man that is expected to do all of this killing, then we have fallen behind in that task.

Is it then the suggestion of those who quote from the same verses that we begin executing these nonconformists? If the answer is, “No, that language is archaic,” then I would ask why it is quoted to prove a point.

Finally, I fear for the future of our educational establishment in this state and in many others that are being forced to cut back. Forced to cut back not just on the frills of what we do, but the basics as well, as our governor is proposing taking back a $4-billion commitment to our state’s education. Schools will feel that pinch, and so will our kids. Our priorities in how we spend our money scare me.

I’ve always liked being scared, Halloween and Hollywood style, but my more deep-seated fears are another story. They invade another part of my brain.

Still, in the wider context of things, those deeper fears are as transitory, and perhaps unwarranted, as the fleeting fears of our youth. Our economy will likely rise up from its ashes, our humanity will likely prevail above all things, and hopefully our sanity and a change in direction will return us to a steadier course on our nation’s path.

In the meantime my grandson is 2 years old today, and as much as I fear for his future, I celebrate his young life and his potential to make a difference in this crazy world. It does seem crazier than the world I grew up in, but my parents told me the same thing about 40 years ago. Happy birthday, little Shay, and may you banish the fears of your grandpa from your life and help to make a better world for yourself and for those who follow after you.

 DAN KIMBER is a teacher in the Glendale Unified School District, where he has taught for more than 30 years. He may be reached at DKimb8@ sbcglobal.net.