Let me start by saying that I, undoubtedly, have plenty of crazy parenting fears (ask me how I feel about balloons), and I don't claim to be rational in all of my parenting decisions. I still, however, can't find even an iota of understanding for some Louisiana parents who are up in arms about their children's elementary school using a hand scanner in the school cafeteria because they fear it is an instrument of the devil. I wish I was kidding.
According to KPLC, when parents of Moss Bluff Elementary School received a letter letting them know about the new Palm Vein Scanner, designed to help their kids move through the lunch line more quickly, they were not happy about the improvement. Instead they were "disappointed" and "very very mad." And not because of the cost of the technology or because they feared it emitted cancer-causing rays, but rather because they fear its evil power.
While the school says it's optional, and kids still can eat lunch without getting scanned, some parents, like Mamie Sonier, are so upset they don't even want their children in the same building with the device. She says she'll likely be transferring them out of the damned (literally) place. She explained her reason to the station saying:
As a Christian, I've read the Bible, you know go to church and stuff. I know where it's going to end up coming to, the mark of the beast. I'm not going to let my kids have that.
She's dead serious, and she's not alone -- plenty of other parents reportedly feel the same way she does. Forget the threat of the mystery meat, it's the mark of the beast (a Biblical reference to a demonic symbol) your kid now needs to fear at noontime!
I typically try to respect all religious beliefs that don't harm anyone else, but ... are effing kidding me? I just can't believe these parents actually think this is a real threat that's manifesting itself in the school cafeteria. It's truly baffling, and I wonder how their children are affected by such extreme views.
Of course, they're their children, and we do have religious freedom in this country. But this, this is just so far beyond rational, it seems almost dangerous.
KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana
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Image via KPLC
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Comments 61
Yup. ^^^
I wouldn't want my kids to have to use a hand scanner either, but not because it's the mark of the beast or something ridiculous like that. Then again, my daughter brings her lunch so it wouldn't affect her anyway. I am much more concerned about everything tinypossum mentioned regarding food and I really wish that would be brought up during the election season more, or even at all. It is never discussed and it needs to be. It's a huge issue for me. Frankly, it should be a huge issue for everybody but everyone's screaming about gay marriage and abortion.
Why is it necessary to scan a 'body part?" No matter what, a scanning device must use some form of light emission. What is the danger? And veins? Not fingerprints, veins? Technology has it's place. And we need to learn to keep it in it's place!
Quinn I agree with you. And tinypossum I agree with you on the factory farm and the shit they feed and put in our food (one of the reasons why don't eat meat and grow my own food). But maybe you should look into the New World Order and the Bilderberg group. I might be paranoid but I would rather be paranoid and informed then uninformed and unprepared if or when it happens. Also if that info stored within the device contained the child's SS# then there is a possibility that someone could hack the system and steal that info (as all computer type devices can be). I'm sorry but there's a lot of crazy people out there and a lot of them are very resourceful. I'm a fan of our Consitution and everyday little by little it is being ignored and overthrown.
I'd be less concerned about "the mark of the beast" and more concerned about germs. Do they clean those things.
Tiny Possum, I totally agree with you about the food. I never let my daughter eat school food. But, I DARE you to write a nasty or threatening e-mail or tweet or whatever about the prez and see what happens. The FBI would be all over you in 48 hours and you'll never be able to fly again.
Okay, I can't believe that I am reading a lot of what these comments say!!!! You people are absolutely CRAZY!!! I think it is a wonderful idea. I have a 5 year old going into kindergarten, and a 12 year old 7th grader. I can't tell you the # of times we've had to replace that dumb id! Not to mention sending her with lunch $, to have it get "lost" during the course of the morning. Simply scan her palm, and send me a bill at the end of the month or week. I would just remind her to remember hand sanitizer immediately after being scanned.
Whatever happened to the old fashioned punch cards that you bought at the beginning of the year... good for so many lunches, they punch your card when you eat a hot lunch, the school kept the cards in a box; and when you were almost out of punches, a note went home to buy another card - no id's to lose; no lunch money to lose; and no unnecessary technology to worry about. Simplicity.
People who are ok with the concept of scanning your child's palm clearly DO NOT understand that kids *are* being conditioned to accept things that can and eventually will lead down the slippery slope....