Ok...I have to vent.

[Disney Dork]

((NOTE!: This is not meant to start a debate in any way, shape or form. I am simply voicing my frustration over a play possibly being canceled. It's life now rests on the palms of the school board who are to have a meeting this evening. What shall happen? Nobody knows...)

At our high school the drama club has been practicing a very 'downed' version of Rent. They took a LOT out of it in order to make it school appropriate and have been working to perfect it for quite a while now. Also, before they even went forward with it, they held a meeting with parents of those who are in a play and had them sign this paper giving their kids permission to be in it since, even though all the 'bad' parts were cut out, the fact still remains that there is a lot of gay/lesbian/transexual topics in it.

Despite this, however, there have VERY recently been complaints by some OTHER parents who say that such a play will "teach our children to be tollerant of a lifestyle we do not agree with". SO, you want your kids to grow up and be independent and responsible adults, but you don't want them to be accepting of people's differences. Instead, you want to teach your kids that descrimination is ok. You want to teach your kids that if a person doesn't agree with something they do, that person is automatically wrong. Nice.

I just...don't understand why some people are like this. It's ridicious and REALLY starting to get old. IT'S A PLAY. And I understand if you don't agree with the fact that some people are gay, lesbians, or transgenders. And I respect that. But then why can't YOU accept the 'decision' (if you could even call it that, because I honestly believe that people in the gay/lesbian area are born that way and don't choose it. Why on earth would someone choose to be something that recieves to much hatred?) made by those who are? And if you really do have that much of a problem with it, why did you sign that paper? And if your kid's not in the play, then how does it affect you any? If you don't want them to go, don't let them go! Your beliefs shouldn't affect everyone in the school. Just because you think it....doesn't mean everybody else does.

I'm just to sick of it. Uggggs.

Ok! VENT OVER!

I now return you to your normal, holiday shopping channel of merriment.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

 

[3mtn-kate]

i'm sorry that sucks

we had to deal with that for our play last year. we wanted to do a play that had a gay couple in it and our principal wouldn't let us do it.

the play we did ended up being awful and stupid so it was just a lose-lose situation.

i hope it works out though rent is amazing!!

 

[Tinkerbell424]

That's awful.
It's completely awful how some parents are teaching their children hate and discrimination.
It's sick.

The parents shouldnt have signed the paper if the play disgareed with their beliefs.

 

[imabrat]

It's disgusting that people would teach their children hate. There's a certain circle of Hell reserved for these people.

 

[::Snow_White::]

First off: I love RENT, ya'll are so lucky you get to preform it! I hope it's not cancelled and you guys do great!

Secondly, is it like a whole school function that all students have to attend? I'm sure if their parents disagreed they could let the school know and the students would not have to watch the play.

That's what bothers me. I respect their differing opinions, but just because they don't agree doesn't mean everyone else does. If you don't like it, don't read/watch/listen/whatever, but don't ruin it for others. That goes for everything. IMO.

I have friends who are against the whole choice of life, but they go by "Love the sinner, hate the sin." since that is what they believe. They know they don't like it, but they know they can't change what they do and just accept it. While we both disagree, (I'm strongly supporting) I really love how accepting they are of it, and they really love RENT. I wish more people were this way. Plus I think RENT is so much more than just about homosexuality.

 

[Sparx]

censorship of art makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[Loves Disney]

I went to see a high school production of RENT a couple weeks ago - I was not a fan of everything they cut for it to be "age appropriate". Like Sparx, I absolutely hate censorship in the arts. I think it's too much that schools have to cut from RENT let alone parents crying over their own personal beliefs. It's the 21st century and their kids are in high school...is there really anything their kids haven't heard/seen?? I agree with you. Both my parents are high school teachers as is my uncle and I'm in school double majoring with one being secondary education...I have heard enough stories of parents freaking out over the most idiotic things, at least in my opinion. My mom has had, in the past, freshman classes read "Night" - every time they would read it, she got complaints from parents that she should not be subjecting students to "fictional" events in history - they basically didn't want their kids getting the idea that the holocaust happened. Um...what??? Schools will always battle with parents and sometimes it's just so frustrating!

But anyway, back to RENT...the high school version is cut enough were it's not really "RENT" anymore because of all the cuts...parents should be satisfied enough with that. It's crazy but I suppose you're always gonna get *those* people.

 

[pigletgirl]

It is what it is.

Can't do anything about it.

We had a play about sex that was tied to the sex education, and the people that put it on had to jump thru so many hoops and obstacles just to be able to perform. I couldn't imagine RENT being done in a highschool.

 

[chisnpeke]

Who besides Christians really disagree with being a gay or lesbian? If that is their reasoning then how can they say that it is bad? Separation of church and state should take place here.

(I'm a Christian and I don't agree that being gay is a lifestyle, but realize others do).

Anyways, I love the music from Rent. We sang Seasons of Love in chorus three years ago.

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes!!!

 

[pigletgirl]

Its a hard topic Laura. Totally is.

I can't get into details as I'm headed out for the evening.

 

[m-and-m]

that's just plain stupid. if they have a problem with the play they should just keep thier own kids from seeing it, not depriving everyone of the chance. also i know how much work goes into plays, and to cancel it would mean alot of people wasted alot of time.

minirant over

 

[DramaGirl]

I have so much that I would like to say to that, but it would get way too long and heated... So I'll just say that I agree with everyone else.

 

[imabrat]

BTW, this whole "Me, Me, Me" mantra we have in society today makes me furious. Who cares if you don't like it, others do and majority wins!

 

[CastawayJ]

our school is sooo lenient


(were trying to convince our director to let us do "Across the Universe")

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

People are stupid.
They don't see the beautiful messages and undertones of RENT.
If they don't want their kids to see it/do it. Then don't let them see it/do it.
Unless that isn't a viable option, I don't get what their problem is.

 

[StitchfansJr]

People are stupid.
They don't see the beautiful messages and undertones of RENT.
If they don't want their kids to see it/do it. Then don't let them see it/do it.
Unless that isn't a viable option, I don't get what their problem is.

I know. A lot of people don't like RENT just because of drugs or the homosexuality. That's not all there is to it. That's not the message of it.

I can't believe you actually might be allowed to do RENT. I'd love to see RENT be performed at my school. I do think it'd be a difficult play to perform. The original play is three hours, doesn't the play have to be under an hour..usually?

 

[Vannah]

A high school around here is trying to do RENT, too.
I really want the school to do it so I can go see it.
They're pretty much facing the same issues that you are.

Good luck, if you get to do it I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I know. A lot of people don't like RENT just because of drugs or the homosexuality. That's not all there is to it. That's not the message of it.I can't believe you actually might be allowed to do RENT. I'd love to see RENT be performed at my school. I do think it'd be a difficult play to perform. The original play is three hours, doesn't the play have to be under an hour..usually?

It's about love, really. And living life to its fullest.

I saw (the movie) at age 13, and thought nothing of it. It remains one of my favorite musicals to this day.

If parents don't want their kids to see it, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO. Don't spoil my fun, or the drama department's fun, just because YOU don't like it.

(Our fall school musical was "Once Upon a Mattress", by the way)

 

[Disney Dork]

Thanks everyone.

Seeing the play was going to be completely optional to those who weren't already a part of it. I think it was going to be like 3 dollars or something like that to get in. There'd also be a 'short' version of it during school hours for those who wanted to see it at that time and then the full version (which I think is about afterwards around 7ish). If you think about it, after cutting out so much of the 'inappropriate' content out...it's very watered down and no where near as long as the original.

I'm not sure when exactly we'll find out if the school will actually let it happen tho. At the meeting there were a bunch of priests and women that (get this) DIDN'T EVEN HAVE KIDS THAT WENT TO THE SCHOOL.

And, this is a school. Not a church or religious building in any way, shape or form....so why bring Priests to a PUBLIC school meeting? They were bringing up points like "Well....by doing this play we will be exposing the children to an unacceptable lifestyle! What if they start to think it's ok?! OR! WHAT IF, AFTER SEEING IT, THEY DECIDE TO GO OUT AND ACT LIKE THEIR FAVORITE CHARACTERS?!" </ end dramazation>

Right. Because 14-18 year olds ALWAYS run around acting like "Spider Man" after watching his movies....or start cheering in the halls and doing backflips after seeing "Bring It On". And anyway...honestly? I don't think that they realize that, although they may THINK that by not doing this play they are 'protecting' us from seeing these things, they really aren't. Do they not realize that we see people doing things every time we go to the movies? Or two men/two women holding hands as we walk around the mall or even DISNEY WORLD?! I mean, honestly! We're going to see it anyway. And just because we see two girls kissing in a movie or play, doesn't mean we're going to suddenly turn to our best friend and do it too.

It's just....ridiculous.

I'll let you all know what's going to happen tho...as soon as I find out. Hopefully it won't take them too long.

 

[JarethDrakul]

Thats totally wrong and I think the parents who complained it aren't right are quite closed minded towards people. I've never had a problem with the play (haven't seen it so I'm not sure whats its really about).

I also don't see why they brought in priests to a meeting...I could understand if it was a religious school but not a public school

"Well....by doing this play we will be exposing the children to an unacceptable lifestyle! What if they start to think it's ok?! OR! WHAT IF, AFTER SEEING IT, THEY DECIDE TO GO OUT AND ACT LIKE THEIR FAVORITE CHARACTERS?!"

I think this play would help bring an understand of a different lifestyle, in life you will meet gays, lesbians or Transgendered people. I've friends who are gay, bi, lesbian and transgender, I knew them before they came out they are still the same people inside. You really can't claim to be gay/bi/lesbian/transgender because its "cool", sexuality is a feeling, not a fad.

I love the film/musical Rocky Horror (Picture) Show but I don't go out dressed like Dr. Frank-n-furter.

I think it should be allowed to be performed as the people in it have worked hard towards it, their parent's have no problems with it and if their parent's did they wouldn't be in it. Its no place for the parent's whose children aren't in it (if they don't want their children to see it don't let them, simple) and the priest/people who don't really have a connection to the play...its not their place to get involved really, a Public school should be open to equality and not try and say people's lifestyles are wrong.

-I'll shut up this little going on haha-