This commentary directly addresses the problems being created daily by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. These far left liberal loons are fully aware that they represent the views of Americans that are in the extreme minority. However, through the mere implied threat of a potential lawsuit, they bully school districts, businesses, civic groups and anyone else lacking moral fortitude into making ridiculous concessions, or worse, even outright ending support of worthy causes. The ACLU often doesn’t even care if it wins or loses a conflict. Their goal is to draw organizations into the fight, forcing the commitment of thousands of dollars for legal representation, and thereby increasing their tyrannical threat of legal action against the next traditional group or cause.

I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Josephson’s assessment of the "Tyrannical Minority." It will take great courage of traditional leaders to defeat the twisted and warped ideology of groups like the ACLU.

Like all your commentaries, this one is right on the button about the tyrannical minority. However, schools should not teach basic values such as honesty and respect. They should support the parents teaching basic values such as honesty and respect. Parents should be teaching basic values. Schools certainly should support and augment these values.

Good lord! Another ACLU basher. Why, oh why, do these kinds of comments get posted? Not only is the language inflammatory - which I am speculating was purposefully done - it is just wrong. It is even conspiratorial. Ram, don't you know how people are? Do you really believe people can get along so well that they could successfully conspire for years and years, even decades? This is just not well written or thought out. I would have liked to hear why you have the opinion you do, but the tone of your writing makes you easier to dismiss. Do you take your position seriously? If so, you have to try and be more effective. Conservatives like me get grouped with people like you who prefer generalizations over measured, thoughtful thinking and writing. I object to some of the ACLU's actions because I disagree morally or even emotionally. But legally, the ACLU seems often to be sound. In any case, the commentary did not mention the ACLU. I don't even know what Mr. Josephson is talking about in particular (which is why I do not at all like this commentary). Why are you so focused on the ACLU? Can it not be that people (regardless of affiliation) who push their minority opinion hard can effect a majority of others?

What has this country come to that 7% of the surveyed people oppose teaching basic values like honesty and respect? I cannot believe that 7% ever feel that way. What are they thinking? This could be why crime runs rampant in some cities. This is one of our problems in the US right now.

Thank you for your excellent columns and writings, Mr Josephson. There is a lot to take to heart in your teachings and beliefs.

As a long-time educator, I agree, in theory, it would be great to support parent teaching of values. However, as is often the case, the devil is in the details. All 93% of the parents want respect taught. However, some of them believe respect includes supporting the rights of gays to marry while others think such teaching is disrespectful of their beliefs and that homosexuality is a sin. It puts educators in a difficult position.

I believe the best teaching of values, in any case, occurs by modeling, not by words. The best way for a school to teach respect is to ensure teachers are respectful of students, parents and each other. It is to hold students and parents accountable to be respectful as well. (And that is not easy as anyone who watches the reactions of parents and students at a high school sporting event can attest. The behavior toward referees and the opposing team is often downright disrespectful.)

I think the above commentary might simplify a relatively complicated situation.

Ultimately, what really matters is what you want for yourself and your family. Sometimes we lose perspective of this fact, and our attention turns to who does not agree with us. All of a sudden we become unable to see the forest because of the trees. Our initial desire (teaching basic values to your kid) gets diverted into convincing others that we are right. The only person I need to convince that what I want is the right thing is myself.

The most difficult aspect of public school administration for me, as well as for my colleagues, is the difficult parents with whom we interact on a daily basis. Although they constitute a minority of parents, they take an inordinate amount of our time. The best way to deal with them is to listen, then go ahead and do what you know is right. It will likely upset some of them, but bullies need to be confronted head on. It's the right way, and it's the only way. Just do it.

This seems to be a metaphor for the tea baggers and Republican attacks on everything Obama.

Thank you for such a great commentary, Mr. Josephson. Your commentary reminds me of what many religious organizations often do. They yell and make so much noise that certain views are not respected or considered because they are not aligned with their own. Many religious organizations are so righteous in their beliefs that they themselves become intolerant and even hateful toward anyone who has other personal philosophies regardless of a majority or minority representation. I think of how poorly atheists and non-Christians are treated in this country and how a few religious extremists in the minority seem to dominate the topics of conversation. This can be seen in issues such as gay rights, abortion issues, prayer in schools, and even the right to not believe in any sort of god. Thank you for the commentary and hopefully tolerance and perspective can be improved.