# No Tennesee Williams for you!!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 2, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693 "2004-12-02T14:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/1 "2004-12-02T14:28:52Z")
If I didn’t laugh I’d cry. [http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/10306144.htm](http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/10306144.htm) "If the bill became law, public school textbooks could not present homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle, college theater groups would not be able to perform plays like the Tennessee Williams classic “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” where homosexuality is a theme, and public school libraries could not display books that include lesbianism like Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.” Allen said the method of weeding out objectionable material and programs was still to be determined. His bill, prefiled for action in the 2005 session, targets any state-supported materials or programs that “sanction, **recognize** , foster or promote” homosexuality or other such activities that violate Alabama law. \*\*“Public policies should prevent children from learning about these things,” \*\* Allen said." 'Cause if we put our fingers in our ears and go LA LA LA, that nasty homosexuality will go away. I doubt even Alabama would pass such a thing. But how sad someone should try. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/2 "2004-12-02T14:31:58Z")
Well, isn’t that the point behind public education? To prevent children from learning? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/3 "2004-12-02T15:15:42Z")
. . . So I guess the all-drag lip-synch production of _Valley of the Dolls_ is out for class play, then, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/4 "2004-12-02T15:26:07Z")
> [@](#): > > His bill, prefiled for action in the 2005 session, targets any state-supported materials or programs that “sanction, recognize, foster or promote” homosexuality or other such activities that violate Alabama law. Which, if passed, will include the laws of the state of Alabama. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/5 "2004-12-02T15:47:51Z")
Does homosexuality violate Alabama law? Didn’t we just have a SCOTUS decision about those kind of laws? This country is regressing so quickly you can see it before your eyes. Within a few years all science will be condemned as “magic” and all machines as “witchcraft.” We’re moving into a new American dark age. Alabama is truly the asshole in the buttcrack of America. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/6 "2004-12-02T15:54:31Z")
Now that we have discussed the purpose of public education, all-drag musicals, the statutory code of Alabama, and the fall of Rome I Mean America, may I just say that perhaps it is time to eliminate so-called public education and allow parents to decide for themselves how their children should be educated. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/7 "2004-12-02T15:56:09Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Now that we have discussed the purpose of public education, all-drag musicals, the statutory code of Alabama, and the fall of Rome I Mean America, may I just say that perhaps it is time to eliminate so-called public education and allow parents to decide for themselves how their children should be educated. You can say it, but we’ll all ignore you since we’ve heard you spout your nonsense a billion times before. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/8 "2004-12-02T16:01:13Z")
The dreaded Conservatives introduced a law like this in the UK in 1988. It was called [Section 28](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28) (note that back then, Ian McKellan looked more like Frodo than Gandalf). It was repealed in 2003. To look at the US these days is indeed in some respects to look back in time. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/9 "2004-12-02T16:10:27Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Now that we have discussed the purpose of public education, all-drag musicals, the statutory code of Alabama, and the fall of Rome I Mean America, may I just say that perhaps it is time to eliminate so-called public education and allow parents to decide for themselves how their children should be educated. Because children have _rights_, **Lib** , that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/10 "2004-12-02T16:16:00Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > The dreaded Conservatives introduced a law like this in the UK in 1988. It was called [Section 28](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28) (note that back then, Ian McKellan looked more like Frodo than Gandalf). It was repealed in 2003. Ugh, I remember this coming up in some debates when I was working in the 2001 UK election and not knowing what the heck it was. After having it explained to me, I was able to hold my head up and say that at least the US didn’t have laws like that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/11 "2004-12-02T16:16:45Z")
Including the right to find out stuff for themselves if they wanted to, not having it stuffed down their throats by the liberal education establishment against the general opinion in the area? Is that right included? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/12 "2004-12-02T16:25:37Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Including the right to find out stuff for themselves if they wanted to, not \*\*having it stuffed down their throats \*\* by the liberal education establishment against the general opinion in the area? Is that right included? You’re going to have to explain how “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” (in college, no less) stuffs homosexuality down people’s throats. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/13 "2004-12-02T16:30:50Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Including the right to find out stuff for themselves if they wanted to, not having it stuffed down their throats by the liberal education establishment against the general opinion in the area? Is that right included? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/14 "2004-12-02T16:33:05Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Including the right to find out stuff for themselves if they wanted to, not having it stuffed down their throats by the liberal education establishment against the general opinion in the area? Is that right included? Every time some ignorance-loving idiot throws something like this into the debate, I imagine them hunkering in a dark cave and whispering, “Factsssss…nasty factssss…we hates them, preciousssss…” ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/15 "2004-12-02T16:59:39Z")
I’m all for the banning of _The Color Purple_. Quite possibly the worst piece of crap I’ve ever had to read in school (and I just had to read one of the _Left Behind_ books.) Generally, though, these people are idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/16 "2004-12-02T17:04:41Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I’m all for the banning of _The Color Purple_. Quite possibly the worst piece of crap I’ve ever had to read in school (and I just had to read one of the _Left Behind_ books.) > > Generally, though, these people are idiots. You had to read a _Left Behind_ book for school? Why? Was it a punishment? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/17 "2004-12-02T17:11:54Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > You had to read a _Left Behind_ book for school? Why? Was it a punishment? Sorry. Sloppy in my terms. I had to read _The Color Purple_ junior year in high school. I had to read _Armageddon_ just now, senior year of college, as part of my End Times Prophecy class. I’ve decided that, if you got rid of the bad theology, you’d have a bad knockoff of a Tom Clancy novel. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/18 "2004-12-02T17:28:52Z")
Actually, I agree with Rep. Allen. On two points: > [@AsshatAllen](#): > > “We have a culture that’s in deep trouble,” said Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, at a news conference Tuesday. No shit, Sherlock. > [@AsshatAllen](#): > > “I’m using this to show our citizens that we have serious problems,” Allen said. And you are succeeding admirably. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/19 "2004-12-02T17:41:28Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Including the right to find out stuff for themselves if they wanted to, not having it stuffed down their throats by the liberal education establishment against the general opinion in the area? Is that right included? Because, as we all know, allowing children to opt out of subjects they don’t like is _exactly_ what we ought to do to fix public education. “Okay, class, today we’re going to learn about _grammar_. If you wish to participate, read chapters 21-24 for homework; otherwise, just play some Xbox or something.” Moron. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693/20 "2004-12-02T17:47:40Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > . . . So I guess the all-drag lip-synch production of _Valley of the Dolls_ is out for class play, then, huh? No, that’ll be just fine, because Ted Casablanca’s no fag and I’m just the gal who can prove it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-tennesee-williams-for-you/277693.md?page=2)