Hi...I am reading this story and am in complete shock. I grew up in Mount Vernon and Freshwater was a teacher of mine. I am appalled that he would actually brand someone, regardless of WHAT it was! To me, that's child abuse no matter what spin you put on it. And anyone who abuses a child should not be allowed to be around children.

I'm having a hard time comprehending how he thought it was a good idea to burn someone else's skin. Seriously? What has gotten into him? I know people will say religion, but there is nowhere in the Bible that states you are supposed to BRAND someone. What was he thinking?

I don't remember whether or not he taught his Christian values in our class. It's been so long ago, and really I have a horrible memory. He may have had the ten commandments on the wall, but I'm not sure.

While being a Christian, who believes in intelligent design, I also believe that those are my personal beliefs - not necessarily the belief of everyone else. And I believe in the value of life before birth, but I also believe in compassion on anyone who has had to go through such a difficult decision - no matter what they choose. After all, any woman having to make that decision is already having a difficult time. Until we walk in her shoes, we can't really judge her. If Christians really want to see a woman keep her baby, then maybe we should be the ones offering to take her in, care for her baby, love on her instead of judging her for getting pregnant in the first place and picketing on the front lawn.

It appalls me when I see others making ANYONE feel less than human. Especially when it's a Christian. That's not what Christ taught. If anything, Christ sat with those who were "sinners" and loved on them. Sadly, it seems that many these days are more like the pharisees of old who think it's better to stone someone than to care for them. Christians should know better. After all, they have been forgiven, and anyone who has freely been given should freely give.

You asked a question, how does that happen exactly? I don't know that I really know the answer, but I can offer my opinion. I think, no matter what religion or cause or anything else they choose to believe in, many people sometimes lose the forest for the trees. I think they start to focus on one thing so hard that they start to become less effective for whatever it is they are trying to promote. And I think that as they start down that path, society naturally starts to reject their view. And the more rejected they become, the more they may feel the need to fight for that one thing. What human doesn't want to feel validated in some way? Sadly, it becomes a vicious cycle, and in the end, we have someone with a radical belief in something that doesn't represent the original intention of the religion, cause, or belief.

I don't know if anything I said here made much sense, but I hope people understand that not all Christians are like this. And those of us who aren't, don't want to be condemned for having faith in Christ. And in the same token, not all of us Christians condemn those that believe differently, even if we disagree with their decisions or choices.