What is wrong with some people?

My friend, A., is a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teacher in the Southeast. Her classroom is decorated as you might expect -- lots of photos of kids around the place, the alphabet and numbers prominently displayed on the walls, a calendar to teach months and the days of the week, kids' art projects and a rainbow to demonstrate colors. She also has a photo of the President in the front of the room.

Last week, however, a parent wrote a letter to the school principal, copying the school superintendent and board, complaining about the decor. He stated that by putting up a rainbow, A. was "furthering the gay political agenda," and he refused to allow his son to be a "political pawn in that sick woman's game to put gay marriage back on the ballot."

A. was fairly upset. First, because the parent didn't come and talk to her first. Second, because how dumb can you get? It's a rainbow to discuss the difference between blue and purple for 4 and 5 year olds! But finally, A. is a bit put out because she is actually heterosexual, and in a committed relationship, and is not sure how or why this parent thinks different (Note: she didn't find it funny when I suggested that her boyfriend always did look a little girly).

Of course, all the hullabaloo is requiring a lot of meetings with key administrators and parents where she now finds herself having to quote Seinfeld, "I'm not gay, not that there's anything wrong with that..." And she hates that, too, because there isn't anything wrong with that but just some ignorant dude's fear of it has her having to defend herself, her teaching practices and her moral fitness to be around children.

Is this what we've come to, people? Complaining about a rainbow made out of construction paper in a kindergarten classroom? I've said it once and I'll say it again. Get a hobby, people. One that doesn't involve burning books, painting protest signs, picketing Washington or even reading the newspaper. Obviously, you can't handle it.