Originally Posted by mytmouse57

Types of violence change. But there's still, overall, far LESS of it now than their used to be. Read up on the union riots of the late 19th and early 20th century. Or the border wars in Kansas, or forced child labor... or any one of a number of things... such as Lizzy Borden gleefully chopping her family up with an axe. There always were and always will be a few loose nuts in the system.
Columbine and VA are still very much isolated incidents. Back in the 80s, the psycotic "fad" of the day was to shoot up a fast-food resturant.. such things come and go.
But statistically speaking, schools are no more dangerous now than they ever were. In fact, I'll wager they are a hell of a lot safer.

I wouldn't hold up Fred Phelps as an expample of anything but Fred Phelps. Even the vast majority of the most hard-core religious fundamentalists detest Mr. Phelps and his methods. He is ONE way over-the-top fanatic who gets too much media attention. And he LIVES for that attention.. and we keep giving it to him. Why? People LIKE a good freak show. It sells print and air time. He doesn't speak for anybody but himself.

This girl's actions didn't come from any "traditional family values".. if that's what you're trying to imply. As much as you might like it to be, this isn't the fault of "the religious right."

They came from her being a naive, snotty, jealous teenage girl who didn't stop to think. IT HAPPENS. She was called on it and appropriatley embarassed. I think she learned her lesson.

Let's just all move on, shall we?