What is your opinion.?

[tomgallagher]

I was told by a friend today that his son, a 3rd grader, heard a classmate sneeze and said "God bless you" to him and was told by his teacher that he wasn't allowed to say that. Have we come to this.

[bbot]

Sigh… ok, I am going to wade into this with my opinion.  I am personally nonreligious. My family attended Congregational church and I attended church and Sunday school throughout my youth.  For whatever reason, I guess the vaccination never took because for whatever reason I just never believed.  I am not an atheist. I am not agnostic. I am Bob.  Let's leave it at that. 

I am neither for nor against those that hold religious beliefs. My view is that each and every religious group has a common belief in some supreme being. The name/names may be different, but when you boil it all down the underlying concept is the same.  What you need to make you life work is something I have no business meddling with. So if I sneeze, feel free to say God, or Allah, or Ganesh, or Thor bless you.  I understand what you are saying and thank you.

That teacher would have served us all better if he or she had simply said nothing.  I personally have had my fill of hypersensitivity and micro-examining every phrase that is uttered today lest someone might find some way to be offended.  Don't we have something better to do?  Anyway, I am going to go and quickly jump into my bunker now and wait for incoming.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Take the easy way with people who are over thinking this, tell the child to use the German expression in response to a sneeze, gesundheit!  It's used in many countries who don't even usually speak German. 

[Laser Man]

the teacher is wrong - saying "God bless you" is covered by the First Ammendment freedom of speech.  So many people seem to think that the Constitution prohibits religious expression when it does not.  The Constitution prohibits the government from endorsing a religion or establishing a state religion so that all Americans can be free to practice the religion they prefer, including not believing at all. 

[Baldstu]

How pedantic thatteacher is gesundheit is english but a german word . Bless you i think comes from the days of the plague in England ie the nursery rymne

[Slyfive]

Has everyone forgotten that goodbye is a contraction of 'God be with ye'? Our language was formed, at least in part, with religion in mind, and is therefore impossible to speak without any reference to anything religious. I am fed up of political correctness gone awry, the child was being considerate and polite, not forcing their beliefs upon anyone. No matter what religion the child may have been, the intent was kind... it is this kindness which should be taught, not a xenophobic, warped sense of political correctness.

[Mikekoz13]

Take the easy way with people who are over thinking this, tell the child to use the German expression in response to a sneeze, gesundheit!  It's used in many countries who don't even usually speak German. 

I have to disagree with you on this one Saint. This is part of the problem.... many don't stand for what they believe in.... which plays right into the hands of political correctness. If my son came home and told me a teacher said that I would send him to school the next day with these words... "My Dad said if you don't like it to call him, otherwise mind your own business".

Disrespectful? Indeed.... but sometimes people need to be put in their place... especially when F'in with someone else's child.

[Paul the Headblader]

interesting topic.
I think we're "religious-free", so I'm not bothered about others beliefs.
I am an atheist, my family are christians, but we do not really talk about religion.

[Snakehandler]

I'll take all the, blessing, prayers, good thoughts, well wishes I can get. And thank you very much for them ! 😄

[Paul]

Students in my classes use the phrase all the time.  No teacher or administrator I am aware of has any problem with it.   In fact on 9/11 our principal had all the teachers open their classroom doors and encouraged the staff and students to sing along with the intercom as it played God Bless America. 

[buddha]

Sigh… ok, I am going to wade into this with my opinion.  I am personally nonreligious. My family attended Congregational church and I attended church and Sunday school throughout my youth.  For whatever reason, I guess the vaccination never took because for whatever reason I just never believed.  I am not an atheist. I am not agnostic. I am Bob.  Let's leave it at that. 

I am neither for nor against those that hold religious beliefs. My view is that each and every religious group has a common belief in some supreme being. The name/names may be different, but when you boil it all down the underlying concept is the same.  What you need to make you life work is something I have no business meddling with. So if I sneeze, feel free to say God, or Allah, or Ganesh, or Thor bless you.  I understand what you are saying and thank you.

That teacher would have served us all better if he or she had simply said nothing.  I personally have had my fill of hypersensitivity and micro-examining every phrase that is uttered today lest someone might find some way to be offended.  Don't we have something better to do?  Anyway, I am going to go and quickly jump into my bunker now and wait for incoming.

I don't think that you have to worry too much about getting in the bunker on this. Seems like most are in agreement with you. PC will contribute to the death of this country. As far as someone saying "God bless you" when I sneeze I'm about as far from perfect as it is possible to be, therefore I need all the help I can get.
I think this particular teacher needs to STFU and go back to Readin', Writin', and 'Rithmetic. Our nation would be better served by teachers who teach only the important stuff and keep their opinions to themselves.
Oh man, could I go on a rant about this one. 

[Dr-photo]

I typed loads and ranted on, then thought it better deleted. I don't think they should be teaching if that's their opinion. Religion seems to be passing the buck/ living in fear, and a good reason to murder and maim as far as I can see. I don't think there's anything wrong with a code of life, being considerate and thoughtful is essential. Buddhism is about as good as it gets from my view point. I think I can say I don't believe in a god, and the buck stops at me( it usually does).

[TheSlyBear]

There's room for all sorts and types in this world. If someone is going to wish me well, I don't care in what language, religion, or otherwise it's done in. I'll take it in the spirit in which it is given.

Why can't people just take things in the spirit in which they are meant?

[buddha]

Why can't people just take things in the spirit in which they are meant?

Because if we did half the legal profession would be out looking for work.