Or, according to the link, her coach didn't think bib numbers were a big deal and didn't inform her of her bib number until the day of the race. Guess it just depends on what people want to believe. It seems like the coach has to take the blame in the link. "Poor communication between adults" is what I saw.

 

Also, according to the link, they didn't make it known to race officials the reason they wanted a number change was for religious reasons. Sounds like the coach and runner were the ones who dropped the ball to me.

And there you have it. :thumb:

 

Or not.

Or not.

 

Even though they had the number four days in advance?

Even though they had the number four days in advance?

 

Thought it said she found out about it the day of the race?

Like everyone else, you're misunderstanding my points and position. All I'm pointing out is if we make exceptions for this one, we have to do it for everyone else, no matter how flimsy their "religious" reasons are. Therein lies the problem — as a country, we've made years of exceptions for one particular faith and have gotten used to that environment, but we don't want to make those same exceptions if it's for a faith that's "not ours."

 

Under law we are suppose to make exemptions for religious beliefs that do not infringe on others rights. Where have you been?

I know what the church says it's a symbol of. Doesn't at all change the fact that the digit "6" three times in a row is nothing more than a number.

 

Agreed it isn't magic but it is a symbol.

In the original article, the coach is quoted as saying something along the lines of when she saw the number that the girl had been assigned, she thought she'd have an issue with it. If that's the truth, and the school/coach had the number for 4 days prior to the race, and the coach didn't inform the girl or request a number change beforehand, this is 100% on the coach.

Agreed it isn't magic but it is a symbol.

 

That 99.99% of Catholics/Christians would ignore and go about their business if they encounter it...

What authority does the recognizing?

 

 

 

You're oversimplifying my position on this. I'm a firm believer in the concept of freedom of religion. It's what keeps us from becoming some wacky fundamentalist Baptist-esque theocracy where dancing and drinking anything else fun is not permitted, a world I do not enjoy living in from my experiences living in Kentucky's dry counties.

 

 

 

Again, if they change her number they have to do it for everyone else. What if every runner in the world suddenly decided they had to have 7 as their number because of its religious associations? See the bag of worms that's being opened here?

 

Jim do you really not understand how Freedom of Religion works or is your post above being serious?

Thought it said she found out about it the day of the race?

 

She may have. But the coach had the information.

Jim do you really not understand how Freedom of Religion works or is your post above being serious?

 

If I'm a Scientologist and Scientology has a number, let's say 36, that has a negative meaning, and I requested a number change because of my beliefs as a Scientologist, you'd feel the same way as you do here, correct?

How would Freedom of religion allow her to the privilege to change her number and not allow me to have a choice as well?

 

If you have a religious belief to change a number my stance is the same with you as they would be with her. Changing a number doesn't bug me. A few of you are making very bad analogies. A majority of the people in this race are just going to take whatever number they are handed and run. We had one girl in this race who on religious reasons was offended by a number "666". Whether you agree or disagree with her stance it's a well known and held religious belief in the Christian faith what the number represents.

 

If you wanted to change your number because you got "23" and MJ gives you nightmares knowing Kobe wouldn't catch him. I'd support you.

Or, according to the link, her coach didn't think bib numbers were a big deal and didn't inform her of her bib number until the day of the race. Guess it just depends on what people want to believe. It seems like the coach has to take the blame in the link. "Poor communication between adults" is what I saw.

Seems like the media and/or coach are dramatizing this (even more than how I already pointed out). According to the article I read the coach knew IMMEDIATELY once he saw that number that this girl wouldn't wear it. I don't know if he waited to look at it or not but any coach I know would've have checked the entry sheet for accuracy upon receiving it.

 

At the end of the day this seems to fall solely on the coach...

If I'm a Scientologist and Scientology has a number, let's say 36, that has a negative meaning, and I requested a number change because of my beliefs as a Scientologist, you'd feel the same way as you do here, correct?

 

100%. How does someone changing their number infringe on my rights?

If I'm a Scientologist and Scientology has a number, let's say 36, that has a negative meaning, and I requested a number change because of my beliefs as a Scientologist, you'd feel the same way as you do here, correct?

 

 

That's one of my lucky numbers also. Mainly because of Wu Tang Clan.