Comments on: Subway Protesters: Please call off the dogs

By: Homeschool Moments: Dishing Out BOF, Dealing with Prejudice

Homeschool Moments: Dishing Out BOF, Dealing with Prejudice — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:45:50 +0000

[...] still–all this over a sandwich story contest?3 As usual, Principled Discovery asks a penetrating question: Rights are something we can fight for…. When it is a matter of [...]

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:08:05 +0000

Now that is a funny thought. I figured it would circulate for awhile and then people would slowly hear that Subway had apologized. I was surprised to instantly begin getting notes to keep the boycott going…that the apology and promise of future inclusion wasn’t good enough.

By: Sebastian (a lady)

Sebastian (a lady) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:04:58 +0000

I didn’t actually get any of the agitated emails, although it did pop up on on forum I visit. I’m interested in seeing if the email is still being forwarded around in six months.

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:51:54 +0000

I agree that a lot of the difference here was the hope of success. And I don’t think a nationwide letter writing campaign is appropriate for TN or CA. And I don’t view writing a letter to Subway as whining. The people who bugged me were those equating this with homeschool liberties and were beginning to get quite aggressive toward those who did not join in.

The tone got very aggressive for some, and while the first round battle was won, I’m not entirely sure it helped the real issue any, namely that of the general public’s perception of homeschooling.

I think a more measured and calmer approach would have been more appropriate…and that isn’t criticizing everyone who wrote a letter.

By: Sebastian (a lady)

Sebastian (a lady) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:41:14 +0000

I think that the relatively larger furor over Subway vs say the TN DOE or the CA courts decision is a recognition that in the first case we (as customers) actually have the ability to have an impact while our ability to rein in the powers that be in the other two instances is dubious.
A petition or letter writing camgaign against a business may force it to change in order to maintain its market share. But how do you direct a petition or letter writing campaign against a court that has made a ruling that didn’t really even relate to the facts of the case before it. And how do I as a not TN resident bring any pressure to bear against an overarching state official?
Moreover, how do I do anything to protect homeschooling freedoms in CA or TN without making the situation worse?
Do I care if someone thinks that I’m whining because I wanted to inform a company that they’d unintentionally offended me as a customer? I don’t think that folks who’ve recently written screeds against homeschooling are going to somehow develop a lower opinion of my family’s educational choice.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:40:35 +0000

Our family began it’s home education journey 20 years ago. Four children have benefitted greatly by that parental decision. I didn’t bat an eye to focus in on this issue when I first started recieving (oh my goodness How Much !)the mass emailing call- to- arms. Sigh.

Maybe I am just old and grumpy, but life is rich beyond measure, and -way- to short besides, to invest anything into what Subway wants to do with their money. Actually, now that I am batting an eye, I only think it is great they are offering money ! Cool. If they want to benefit some public school with big bucks for equipment, great. Why should I have a problem with that ! I have great appreciation for Principled Discovery blog coming into my inbox. Breath of fresh air, thank you ! Ah ! enough appreciation to move and put my remarks about this issue here.

The richness of our family’s (home)learning life goes on ! I even say all this without having 2 cents to rub together in the past (and most of the past) of our family’s home education years.

Crips, it IS getting embarrassing, I agree ! What will state legislatures and the public think of the wailing masses of home educators across the U.S. ?

Maybe, if society went back to paper and pen……
calm reason and the outlook of “life is not about everything being fair” would prevail. A ‘thank you’ to my mother who taught me that outlook, it has served me well and kept me focused with my energy on issues big enough to address.

By: Life On The Planet

Life On The Planet — Sat, 31 May 2008 03:07:20 +0000

http://lifeontheplanet.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/the-great-subway-debate-of-2008-a-summary.html

Regarding the Great Subway Debate – Scratchy has spoken.

By: Life On The Planet

Life On The Planet — Sat, 31 May 2008 02:06:45 +0000

S’okay, Dana. I can’t speak for Sunniemom, but I get enough junk email as it is.

Phil – Is a “Meh” anything like a “Mais?”
‘Cause I have to say, this topic is screamin’ for a “Mais.”

(Re-inserting fingers into ears. “LA-LA-LA.”)

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:32:39 +0000

When I heard about this contest excluding homeschoolers, my first response was not even a “Meh.” I actually didn’t even care enough to “Meh.”

Then when I saw that other people were getting upset, I still couldn’t bring myself to care.

Now I’m absolutely excited about it because it’s like a clown show at the circus. Kinda fun to watch. What will happen next? Something hilarious, I hope.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:50:12 +0000

What does that actually mean anyway, that if you become a garbage man or a clinic worker or a beauty queen, it’s okay for people to revile you and everyone like you, to refuse you service, to libel you, and throw things at you in public?

It means that you get to crunch Cheetos in their hair and upload the video to YouTube!

And Sunniemom, I think you are exactly right. And it is important to think through that I think, at least if the defenses of those in the other comment thread are serious that the reason they don’t boycott General Mills is because they do offer their box tops program to organized homeschool groups.

And the messages stopped, so joining my lists likely won’t help you much. Sorry. I’ll put you in my address book and start forwarding you stuff that is forwarded to me, K? Except that likely won’t work well, because I will forget, not being the forwarding type. So I’ll just rant about it occasionally here, for the “benefit” of everyone.