Ga. Professor Bans Students From Saying ‘Bless You’
This is good fodder for those who believe religion is being taken out of our schools, as if it belongs there in the first place. Or maybe it’s just discrimination against those who have colds.
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D.B. Hirsch is a political activist, news junkie, and retired ad copy writer and spin doctor. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Tommy6860 August 28th, 2014 at 9:39 am
I can understand talking over him in class. But, even as an atheist, I can discern one wishing me well when they point that expression to me when I sneeze.
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:23 am
But it’s rude to do so when the professor (or boss or whomever) is talking, no matter what you say, bless you or gedundheit.
R.J. Carter August 28th, 2014 at 9:40 am
He sounds like one of those professors who is particularly fond of the sound of his own voice.
mea_mark August 28th, 2014 at 9:44 am
If this a public college that receives government funding they need to be careful that they don’t jeopardize that funding. There is still a separation of Church and State in this country and what this professor is doing can be seen as a religious activity. Penalizing people for what may or may not be their religion can not be done with government funding.
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:22 am
It sounds to me like he’d be just as irate at someone saying gesundheit. It’s not what they’re saying, it’s when.
mea_mark August 28th, 2014 at 10:31 am
{He goes on to say that saying “bless you” is “especially” rude} — From that, I believe he is trying to say that religion is rude. It may be in some cases but not all.
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:33 am
Could be he thinks it’s rude to say to non-religious people? Not sure.
It’s one reason I prefer gesundheit. No one can bitch about someone wishing you good health, so long as it’s at an appropriate time.
Tammy Minton Haley August 28th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
the originating site is “Campus Reform”, a project of uber-conservative “The Learning Institute”…
“training conservative activists, leaders, and students since 1979″…
this is about “godless, liberal , commie professors”…
Tammy Minton Haley August 28th, 2014 at 2:32 pm
leadershipinstitute.org
campusreform.org
…
NW10 August 28th, 2014 at 9:44 am
What a d*ck!
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 9:50 am
BLESS YOU !!!
http://youtu.be/IdnABUibopQ
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 9:53 am
If I was in that class, I would organize a “Class Sneeze” followed by the entire class all saying “Bless You”at the same time. And then just to prove the point, do it every 5 minutes for the entire duration of a class. And make sure people record it…
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:20 am
And you’d enjoy a failing grade.
Just saying.
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 10:29 am
Yes I would, and I would publish it all over the place…
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:31 am
Your right to but it sounds like the prof is against interruptions, not religion.
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Maybe, but a simple “Bless ou” to someone who sneezes I dont see as a major interruption.
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:44 am
It depends. Quietly murmured to the student next to you? Not a big deal. Shouted from across the room? A distraction and interruption.
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 11:07 am
^^^Agreed^^^
Abby Normal August 28th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Perhaps the class could wait until the professor sneezed and then, in unison, say “F*** you?”
mea_mark August 28th, 2014 at 11:00 am
Or anytime anyone sneezes the whole class silently gives the professor the bird.
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
Nahhhh, that is just being Rude and Obnoxious. Having everybody say “Bless You” would make more of a statement.
Budda August 28th, 2014 at 10:14 am
I’ve often thought the “bless you” after someone sneezes to be a religious carry over from the dark ages (ya know a sneeze is the devil coming out of you). In public and especially in a classroom it can be disruptive.
And just what the hell is ‘bless you’ suppose to mean/do? Protect you from the boogie-man?
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Me too. I much prefer gesundheit (good Health) over bless you.
Either way, it’s rude to interrupt people to say either.
Pistol-Packing August 28th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Why do people say, “God bless you,” after someone sneezes?
There are varying accounts as to the origin of this response. One belief is that it originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was raging through Europe. One of the symptoms of the plague was coughing and sneezing, and it is believed that Pope Gregory VII suggested saying “God bless you” after a person sneezed in hopes that this prayer would protect them from an otherwise certain death.
The expression may have also originated from superstition. Some people believe that the custom of asking for God’s blessing began when ancient man thought that the soul was in the form of air and resided in the body’s head. A sneeze, therefore, might accidentally expel the spirit from the body unless God blessed you and prevented this from occurring. Some ancient cultures also thought that sneezing forced evil spirits out of the body endangering others because these spirits might now enter their bodies. The blessing was bestowed to protect both the person sneezed and others around him.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/sneeze.html
mea_mark August 28th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Well, I certainly don’t want to accidentally blow my soul out my nose so I will politely take a “bless you” any chance I get.
uzza August 28th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
My soul? Is that what that stuff was?
mea_mark August 28th, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Remember Ghost Busters?
Dwendt44 August 28th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
the word ‘soul’ originally meant ‘to blow’ or ‘breath’.
Budda August 28th, 2014 at 10:48 am
My point and the Georgia instructors is that saying ‘bless you’ is disruptive and archaic, There is no good reason to do it other than continuing an old superstition. Teaching his class is the priority here.
mea_mark August 28th, 2014 at 11:04 am
It is a simple gesture of good will toward another human being, there isn’t anything wrong with it really, unless silence is necessary.
Budda August 30th, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Exactly. It’s a classroom…silence is required.
Tammy Minton Haley August 28th, 2014 at 2:27 pm
not exactly–originating site for this article is a place called “Campus Reform”…which is a project of The Leadership Institute…whose mission is …”…training conservative activists, leaders, and students since 1979…”
this is REALLY about “godless pinko commie liberal professors”
leadershipinstitute.org
campusreform.org
MIAtheistGal August 28th, 2014 at 10:24 am
Interrupting people is rude, no matter why you’re interrupting them.
Dwendt44 August 28th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
The Washington Times is a conservative paper, so who knows if there isn’t more to the story that what the headlines suggests, or the body of the article either for that matter.
Certainly interrupting a class is and should be a big no-no.
R.J. Carter August 28th, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Penalize the sneezer.
Dwendt44 August 28th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Sneezing is an involuntary reaction, mumbling a ‘bless you’ is totally voluntary.
Tammy Minton Haley August 28th, 2014 at 2:16 pm
this was originally from a site called “Campus Reform”…which is a project of The Leadership Institute…whose mission statement says “Training conservative activists, students, and leaders since 1979″…
it’s an educational think-tank with conservative motives…and, it’s serious about changing schools, especially “socialist, liberal professors” at colleges…
Tammy Minton Haley August 28th, 2014 at 2:29 pm
leadershipinstitute.org
campusreform.org
Dwendt44 August 28th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
So in other words, wildly exaggerated and distorted.
Tammy Minton Haley August 28th, 2014 at 9:41 pm
ding! ding! ding!
we have a winner in the “Understatement of the Night” category…no further entries will be accepted…thank you all for playing! 🙂
whatthe46 August 28th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
people were told bless you and you were likely raised to say it as well as good gesture, like sneezing, it too may be an involuntary response as you’ve said it all your life to someone when it happens. besides he states its disruptive to his class especially when he’s talking, i’ve never shouted out “BLESS YOU” for the population around to hear. and its usually in a whisper anyway. if someone sneezes and i’m on the other side of the class, i’m not going to make an effort to yell it across the room, i’m going to assume someone else closer may due the honors. besides, most people don’t even say “GOD” bless you, just “bless you.” clearly there are other issues this professor could find to be a dick about.