Comments for Free Society Institute http://fsi.org.za Defending free thought and speech in South Africa Wed, 09 May 2012 05:04:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on About by Jacques http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-14011 Jacques Wed, 09 May 2012 05:04:34 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-14011 Hi Adeola. I'm afraid that wouldn't be practical. Please subscribe by Facebook and/or Twitter, using the links at the top of the page. As you'll see in the comment above yours, the next Cape Town event was mentioned there. Hi Adeola. I’m afraid that wouldn’t be practical. Please subscribe by Facebook and/or Twitter, using the links at the top of the page. As you’ll see in the comment above yours, the next Cape Town event was mentioned there.

]]> Comment on About by adeola oyebade http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-14008 adeola oyebade Wed, 09 May 2012 02:45:26 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-14008 Please inform me of your activities in cape town. Thanks Please inform me of your activities in cape town. Thanks

]]> Comment on About by Jacques http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-13966 Jacques Sun, 06 May 2012 15:15:43 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-13966 Hi Corne, and welcome. I see you've found the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Free.Society.Institute" title="FSI on Facebook" rel="nofollow">Facebook page</a> - we'll be posting the next event there (which will be on the evening of May 25, somewhere in or around CT CBD). Edit - it's been <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/229992700440137/" title="Skeptics in the pub" rel="nofollow">posted, here</a>. Hi Corne, and welcome. I see you’ve found the Facebook page – we’ll be posting the next event there (which will be on the evening of May 25, somewhere in or around CT CBD). Edit – it’s been posted, here.

]]> Comment on About by corne http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-13965 corne Sun, 06 May 2012 15:09:42 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-13965 Hi there. just wanted to know if there are any events coming up near cape town. been an atheist for years now, but would like to get more involved. Hi there. just wanted to know if there are any events coming up near cape town. been an atheist for years now, but would like to get more involved.

]]> Comment on About by Isabella Kuijers http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-13949 Isabella Kuijers Sat, 05 May 2012 17:07:27 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-13949 I was introduced to this website by a friend entangled in the reels and red tape of copyright law and i'm thrilled to finally find a website that disseminates free societies - most sites have ridiculous download prices. I'd like to request a download of a free society (download size?) and I'm lead to believe that you do free speech too. Good on you! Maybe you could fondly refer to yourselves as the Atheist bay? Regards, Isabella. I was introduced to this website by a friend entangled in the reels and red tape of copyright law and i’m thrilled to finally find a website that disseminates free societies – most sites have ridiculous download prices. I’d like to request a download of a free society (download size?) and I’m lead to believe that you do free speech too. Good on you! Maybe you could fondly refer to yourselves as the Atheist bay?

Regards, Isabella.

]]> Comment on Religion education in SA schools by Jacques http://fsi.org.za/religion-education-sa-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-13594 Jacques Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:53:44 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?p=132#comment-13594 Hi Elle. I fear that the only thing that's really going to make a difference is to at some point launch a lawsuit against schools, or against the Department of Basic Education. They basically don't seem accountable to the Policy on Basic Education, and it ends up being parents such as yourself - and sometimes pupils - who act as isolated voices about this sort of thing (and often end up more isolated as a result). Children are only free to excuse themselves if we can trust that they won't get treated poorly as a result, and I doubt that we can have any confidence in that at the moment. Besides the long-term possibility of legal action, if you can find any other like-minded parents at the school, perhaps they will pay more attention? But if the US precedent is any guide, we have a long way ahead. You should read the summary of that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCollum_v._Board_of_Education" title="McCollum vs Board of Education" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">case on Wikipedia</a>, as it might give you some ideas as to how to approach this at the school in question. Hi Elle. I fear that the only thing that’s really going to make a difference is to at some point launch a lawsuit against schools, or against the Department of Basic Education. They basically don’t seem accountable to the Policy on Basic Education, and it ends up being parents such as yourself – and sometimes pupils – who act as isolated voices about this sort of thing (and often end up more isolated as a result). Children are only free to excuse themselves if we can trust that they won’t get treated poorly as a result, and I doubt that we can have any confidence in that at the moment.

Besides the long-term possibility of legal action, if you can find any other like-minded parents at the school, perhaps they will pay more attention? But if the US precedent is any guide, we have a long way ahead. You should read the summary of that case on Wikipedia, as it might give you some ideas as to how to approach this at the school in question.

]]> Comment on Religion education in SA schools by Elle Ay http://fsi.org.za/religion-education-sa-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-13591 Elle Ay Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:11:26 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?p=132#comment-13591 Thank you very much for the wonderful work you do. This issue in particular is one that is salient to my life right now as my oldest child started school this year. There is not one school in my town (out of about 6 or 7 Afrikaans schools) that do not have the "the school will have a Christian character, and this will be exemplified in all its activities" thing going on. Their answer to my concerns has been that children are free to excuse themselves (although, the principal of the school she's in now proudly boasted, not one child has ever excused themselves) and if I don't like it, they don't want me or my child in any case and I should look for another school - but there isn't one! What can one do about something like this? I don't even know where to start. Thank you very much for the wonderful work you do.

This issue in particular is one that is salient to my life right now as my oldest child started school this year. There is not one school in my town (out of about 6 or 7 Afrikaans schools) that do not have the “the school will have a Christian character, and this will be exemplified in all its activities” thing going on. Their answer to my concerns has been that children are free to excuse themselves (although, the principal of the school she’s in now proudly boasted, not one child has ever excused themselves) and if I don’t like it, they don’t want me or my child in any case and I should look for another school – but there isn’t one!

What can one do about something like this? I don’t even know where to start.

]]> Comment on Quacks like Patrick Holdford find receptive audiences in South Africa by Raymond Welter http://fsi.org.za/quacks-patrick-holdford-find-receptive-audiences-south-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-12087 Raymond Welter Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:19:30 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?p=363#comment-12087 Holford may be a quack, but this is nothing compared to to criminal drug companies, whose products kill many thousands of people every year. Holford may be a quack, but this is nothing compared to to criminal drug companies, whose products kill many thousands of people every year.

]]> Comment on About by Ray http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-11782 Ray Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:34:16 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-11782 I am delighted to have discovered this website. Have you any idea how many forum posts are floating around local and international websites regarding the lack of a solid, South African atheist place/organization/group? There is that ever-present, subconscious need amongst atheists to gather and collate information, ideas and opinions - which might be very hard to meet, from a South African standpoint, for most people. The FSI may delve a bit more deeply into certain issues that some don't really care for, but it's literally almost a relief to find this amazing, intelligible resource. I will be blogging about you in my next post - and following your progress keenly! I am delighted to have discovered this website. Have you any idea how many forum posts are floating around local and international websites regarding the lack of a solid, South African atheist place/organization/group? There is that ever-present, subconscious need amongst atheists to gather and collate information, ideas and opinions – which might be very hard to meet, from a South African standpoint, for most people. The FSI may delve a bit more deeply into certain issues that some don’t really care for, but it’s literally almost a relief to find this amazing, intelligible resource.

I will be blogging about you in my next post – and following your progress keenly!

]]> Comment on About by Jacques http://fsi.org.za/about/comment-page-1/#comment-11756 Jacques Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:10:40 +0000 http://fsi.org.za/?page_id=110#comment-11756 Thanks Tim - I'll certainly keep at it! Thanks Tim – I’ll certainly keep at it!

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