11/17/99

Transcript, Dr. Laura, Oct. 25

Transcribed from the October 25, 1999 Dr. Laura Schlessinger show which can be found at http://www.broadcast.com/premrad/shows/drlaura/oct.stm. The accuracy of this transcription is not guaranteed, please refer to the original for authoritative quotes.

"I'm Dr. Laura Schlessinger, and I have one question. One serious question. What in the hell is going on in Connecticut?"

"This was sent to me by Lynn in Branford, Connecticut. I'm just going to read you the highlights of this news story."

[SIGH]

"Hartford: Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced the winners of the seventh Law Day Essay Contest from more than 480 entries from eighth grade students throughout Connecticut. Students responded to the question: Should there be restrictions on what's on the Internet?' First Place went to Sara Miller of Simsbury's Henry James School. Miller was not the only winner from Henry James School. Students from MS Betsy O'Neill's class also took Second Place, Fifth Place and two honorable mentions. Quote 'the judges were surprised that so many of their top choices came from the same school.' When you read - when I read to you the winning essay, you will not be surprised, because a fetid well gives fetid water again and again and again. So I'm not surprised."

"Sara Miller is the winner. I mean, I can not believe this - I'm reading this and I can not believe how stupid and dangerous I think this is. That children are being supported and taught this kind of stuff. This is amazing. If this doesn't epitomize what I've been saying on this show, I quit. Sara Miller, (not the show, I just quit trying [unintelligible].)"

"Sara Miller opposed Internet restrictions. OK, I don't have a problem with that. I think it's wrong headed, but I don't have a problem with that. Except, here's the quote: 'Every person has a different set of moral values that they live by. Nobody's values are wrong, unfit, or too strict.' "

"Nobody's values are wrong or unfit. REALLY? How about people who lie, cheat, steal, murder, have sex with kids, have affairs, betray vows? That's their set of values. They feel entitled because of whatever."

"If this were my daughter, I'd probably put her up for adoption."

"Reading [unintelligible]: 'No one is perfect. People should be able to live by the values that they make for themselves because that is what they believe in.' Well, let's take down all the traffic lights. Because I see no value in stopping and waiting for people to go in the other direction when I'm in a hurry. I really see no value in that whatsoever. It's annoying. And I see no value in going into a restaurant and paying exactly what they ask when I think I should decide what it's worth."

"I, I ... This won First Prize. What is going on in Connecticut?"

"If laws were to be passed restricting what is on the Internet, the government would be telling the people that their values aren't sufficient enough for them to do what they think is right or wrong.' MmmHmmm. Isn't that what laws tell you? All laws tell you right from wrong. All laws are moral judgments. HELLO, SARA! All laws are moral judgments. Like the one that says I shouldn't kidnap you. And trust me, not a worry. 'that only the values created by the government are adequate.' That won."

"The essay contest judges were [I didn't feel like typing names, she noted that they were drawn from an internet company, the media, the CCLU and the Attorney General's Office. Those interested should listen to the original for the (partial) list. -transcriber] and it goes on like that."

"That's what they're teaching our children. Any value you come up with is fine. Ask her how long she'd like surviving in that school if all the kids had different values about what they could say and what they could do to other children - or teachers - or the building - or the books. This is what we've taught. Hyper-individualism - the elevation of the individual to one of billions of different, equal gods. There is no right or wrong - it's not wrong to punch somebody out. It's just your personal choice. That's not a morality. That's about living by your own wish and whim and impulse and elevating it to the status of a morality."

"I don't even know what more to say. I mean, I could go on for days or I could say nothing and I'd probably come to the same place. But if this is what wins in the state of Connecticut as a philosophical argument, Connecticut's in trouble, and so is the country."

"I mean, this can come from the Attorney General's office, where they have laws. I mean the Attorney General doesn't see the value of laws in promoting civility and civilization; and supporting morality and protecting individuals from the whims of others? The Attorney General's Office doesn't see that?"

"I'm just sitting here moving things around. You can't see that, but I'll make more noises."

"What in the hell is going on in Connecticut that I'm getting this?"

"By the way, the person who sent this to me from Branford says 'This seemingly innocuous article makes my stomach turn over to think that adults in powerful positions actually think this way. Sara Miller is only in Eighth Grade and hopefully doesn't yet have a clue of the evil that can flourish in her ideal environment, but what are the judges' excuses?"

"The curtailing of individual desires for the sake of others and community is what separates us from animals and evil. And poor Sara doesn't get it. So if she make her marriage vows and it's her husband's value to stay there but to have sex with everything that walks by, let's see if she thinks this philosophy works; that right and wrong is only determined by the individual, by what they want, by what they need. By what they desire. That's not a morality. Curtailing your desires for the sake of the good of others is morality. Gee, otherwise you'd just have anarchy and chaos."

"And that won. And they're surprised that it all came from the same school? I'm scared, but at least we know what schools is promoting this kind of trash and nonsense. Simsbury's Henry James School. OK, well. You know, maybe it's just a local [unintelligible] sensation."

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