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Religion
American Family Association Claims Anti-Bullying Event Promotes "Homosexual Lifestyle"
The American Family Association, which is a Christian organization, recently emailed members urging them to keep their children out of school during Oct. 30 because of an anti-bullying event, 'Mix It Up For Lunch Day,' which was organized by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The American Family Association executive director and radio host Bryan Fischer (pictured) accused the event of promoting "the homosexual agenda," reports the New York Times.
Fischer wrote in the email: “Anti-bullying legislation is exactly the same. It’s just another thinly veiled attempt to promote the homosexual agenda. No one is in favor of anyone getting bullied for any reason, but these anti-bullying policies become a mechanism for punishing Christian students who believe that homosexual behavior is not something that should be normalized."
Since the email went out, 200 of the 2,500 schools taking part in 'Mix It Up For Lunch Day' have opted out, according to the New York Times.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which does support equal rights for LGBT people, said the event encourages students to eat lunch with people outside their usual social groups and is not aimed at gays.
Maureen Costello, who heads the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance project, which organized the event, told the New York Times: “I was surprised that they completely lied about what Mix It Up Day is. It was a cynical, fear-mongering tactic.”
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Comments
I like this comment from
I like this comment from Gem
I am glad to hear more people equating the AFA with the Taliban. Obviously more people are realizing these fanatic Evangelical groups are no more Christian the the KKK (as a matter of fact, they share members). Most of the kids targeted & bullied are not even gay. Many haven't even hit puberty. In many public schools anyone who isn't having some kind of sex is called a faggot or queer. These Evangelicals are just encouraging kids to start having sex as early as possible to prove they are straight, then they refuse them contraceptives and try to claim teen pregnancy is caused by sex education & progressives. It's time mainstream churches exposed these zealots for the ignorant, Christofascists they are. They should be as shunned as the Neo-Nazi's & KKK. I want bullies turned over to the law for prosecution & their parents investigated by social services.
Jerome McCollom
I am thoroughly shocked that
I am thoroughly shocked that Fischer has never had a gay sex scandal. That man has a lot of hate, he must really be repressing.
Jerome McCollom
Is there anyone out there who
Is there anyone out there who truly believes that having these "anti-bullying" rallies and billboards and commercials are truly going to have any impact on bullying? I mean, come on, really? Did Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign work? No. And neither will this crap. Bullies have always been around and always will be. Some of them are in school. Some are at work. Some are in politics (are you listening, Joe Biden?!).
You & everyone knows peer
You & everyone knows peer pressure is effective. Anti-bullying campaigns are working. The children in my family all talk about their school programs & how they would help anyone they saw getting picked on. They are learning at a young age what assault & battery is, and how to handle it whether they are the victim or a witness. I'm sorry more parents lost interest in teaching & enforcing the golden rule, or caring what their kids were doing in school. I hate the term "bullying" because it sounds petty for what has been occurring in our schools today. School faculty members shouldn't have to "parent" or police the kids they are trying to teach. I want to see more of these cases sent to juvenile courts before these angry, vicious children become serious Violent offenders.
Yes... it has made a
Yes... it has made a difference. In the district where my children go, bullying is down substantially. These campaigns add social pressures for people to pay attention.
My children's district has a zero tolerance policy. The few times my children have been harassed, it has taken one and only one phone call for it to end. When I was a kid it was "boys will be boys" or "he will have to learn to defend himself some time." I have scars on my knuckles from all the teeth from bullies I broke off on the end of a punch. I also made it a point of fighting for other victims of bullying who were not athletic enough to defend themselves. Fortunately, my sons will never have to fight like I did just to be left alone.
Yes, these campaigns matter. You might mock Nancy Reagan, but drug use went down substantially for quite a while. It wasn't until the medical marijuana movement got started that we saw increases again in child drug use.
"Just Say No" doesn't work
"Just Say No" doesn't work because it is based on misinformation. Kids may start out being impressed by the officer in the classroom but eventually find out that they've been lied to and they blow it off.
Anti-smoking campaigns, however, have been tremendously successful.
So have campaigns to encourage the use of seatbelts.
"It will never work" is not an argument; it's just lazy thinking.
You are absolutely correct.
You are absolutely correct. Zero tolerance for bullying works and continues to work.
You have a lot to learn if
You have a lot to learn if you think that calling a liar out when he lies makes one a bully.
Bullies lie, among other things. Honest people have no need to lie and no need to bully.
And in answer to your question, YES, it can work. It has begun to work and people are starting to stand up to bullies. You may be afraid to, but you are not everyone.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
The only thing that fixes a
The only thing that fixes a bully is a baseball bat. Beat them until they can't get up and then let them know forever more if they bully they will get beat to a pulp. A bully is simply a defective brained sub human without empathy. They should be treated as they deserve.
Those that can't or won't defend themselves can only be slaves.
Gee... thanks for the
Gee... thanks for the insightful commentary. How about community involvement and zero tolerance for harassment and bullying? Seems like a more "human" response.
I have to agree with CRW
I have to agree with CRW here. Realitybytes probably doesn't realize that a lot of school bullies are beat regularly by a parent or step-parent. They get their rage from somewhere but act on it when they think they are safe to do so, usually against a smaller victim because they now want to be the powerful one. Male victims of abuse often become abusers because they hate themselves for being to small, weak & young to stop their own abuse. Instead of relating to other victims, they hold them in contempt. Who wouldn't rather terrorize others than be terrorized?
I am glad to hear more people
I am glad to hear more people equating the AFA with the Taliban. Obviously more people are realizing these fanatic Evangelical groups are no more Christian the the KKK (as a matter of fact, they share members). Most of the kids targeted & bullied are not even gay. Many haven't even hit puberty. In many public schools anyone who isn't having some kind of sex is called a faggot or queer. These Evangelicals are just encouraging kids to start having sex as early as possible to prove they are straight, then they refuse them contraceptives and try to claim teen pregnancy is caused by sex education & progressives. It's time mainstream churches exposed these zealots for the ignorant, Christofascists they are. They should be as shunned as the Neo-Nazi's & KKK. I want bullies turned over to the law for prosecution & their parents investigated by social services.
I agree and we can discount
I agree and we can discount comments from the intolerant Christian Right. They think God is on their side and the rest of Christianity are wayward fools. God save us from the wrath of their little, bigoted minds!
You seriously need an
You seriously need an adjustment in your medication!! This is one of the most stupid posts I have ever read and that is really saying something! I pray that God will wake you from your insane rebellion against Him and those who love Him and seek to love our neighbors with the love of Christ.
I really hope that Clyde the
I really hope that Clyde the sparkly green, invisible unicorn will wake you from your insane rebellion against him and those that leave oats out for him, before it's too late and he kicks your soul out of your body and out to pasture.
Go ahead, keep telling
Go ahead, keep telling yourself that it's all a fantasy. You know in your heart that God is real and, even, that He is keeping you alive this very second.
You can keep telling yourself
You can keep telling yourself that I must feel that way, and that your delusional god father figure is real, but in reality I do NOT "know in [my] heart that god is real" or that it "is keeping [me] alive". The more ridiculous claims are made by people that DO believe in god, the more convinced that there couldn't be one - because if there was, she'd be facepalming herself over what these morons are doing in her name and perhaps incarnating herself down here again just so she could go on a spree and shoot them all in the face and shut them up. Ones like Pat Roberts - who owns a diamond mine in South America that utilizes child slave labor, yet preaches to others to give to charity and gives nothing himself.
I hope that you will realize
I hope that you will realize that there is just as much evidence that christ was gay as there is evidence that he opposed homosexuality.
You are either hopelessly
You are either hopelessly ignorant or just a God-damned liar. There is no evidence whatsoever that Jesus was a homosexual. Jesus was a practicing Jew Who agreed with every "jot and tittle" of the Old Testament and was actually The One Who came to fulfill the OT Law, including the condemnation of homosexuality.
It is only people who hold the modern perverted perception who assume that men who are not married or sexually-active with women or men who express affection for other men must be homosexual. One of the many unfortunate consequences of the so-called "Gay Liberation" movement is that men today tend to be hesitant to express legitimate non-sexual love to other men because it will tend to be misinterpreted as a sign of homosexuality, just as adults are afraid to express innocent affection for children who are not related to them out of fear that it will be suspected as pedophilia.
In the past, homosexuals were the ones who were rightfully afraid to show their unnatural and shameful affections openly. Yes, I am saying that homo's need to go back in the closet!! "Gay Pride" is a disgusting glorification of what is shameful and will be judged by God in The End unless those who go in this direction repent.
The word "reactionary"
The word "reactionary" applies here - you are reacting rather than reading. My point was that there is no evidence that jesus was gay just as there is no evidence that he was opposed to homosexuality.
Actually, there is evidence
Actually, there is evidence Jesus was gay:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/apr/04/jesus-gay-man-codices
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/apr/20/was-jesus-gay-probably
However, the general consensus is that no one knows. He was in his early 30's, he lived with men, slept in he same bed with men from time to time, was openly affectionate with men, and he did not marry. Consequently, today we would think he was most likely gay. 2000 years ago... who know?
The stories of Jesus were written long after his death. The details are distorted, exaggerated, and missing in some instances.
The acceptance of homosexuality has varied greatly based on time, place, and culture. The Greeks and Romans accepted homosexuality. Gay marriage was common in some ancient cultures. In western cultures, it was the push for an aesthetic view of sex by folks like St. Augustine that created the great bias against homosexuality that we see today.
Jesus never directly condemned homosexuality. In fact, it is listed in only two areas of the bible - Leviticus and Paul.
It must be sad to be on the
It must be sad to be on the losing side of this argument. You must be very frustrated.
Now that the courts have struck down DOMA (defense of marriage act) and "Don't Ask Don't tell" has been repealed, the window where you can legally discriminate against gays is getting smaller and smaller.
Back in 2011, the country crossed the 50% mark in support of gay marriage:
http://www.gallup.com/video/147689/Gallup-News-Minute-Gay-Marriage-Milestone.aspx
There numbers were updated in 2012:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/154529/Half-Americans-Support-Legal-Gay-Marriage.aspx
If you look at the age breakdown, the younger generation supports gay rights more than older people. Consequently, it is not matter of if your position will be swept aside but when.
The days when people like you can legally discriminate against homosexuals are coming to an end. Thank goodness!
Yeah freedom! Down with religiously based hate!
It is not sad to be on the
It is not sad to be on the wrong side of the majority when the majority supports evil, as it did when Adolf Hitler was elected and at other times throughout history. On the contrary, it is your side that will be unspeakably sad when The Truth is made clear to everyone.
You and all the other
You and all the other supporters of homosexuality actually know in your hearts that you are wrong and, even, that you are rebelling against God. You may continue to deny this until you find yourselves in Hell or you can open your minds, get to know God and find eternal peace and joy. It's your choice.
@gem: "These Evangelicals are
@gem: "These Evangelicals are just encouraging kids to start having sex as early as possible to prove they are straight, then they refuse them contraceptives and try to claim teen pregnancy is caused by sex education & progressives."
Where are your facts to support your statement above? We Christians preach celibacy until you are married. There is only one way that is 100% effective to prevent STD's and unwanted pregnancy and that is abstinence. Other methods approach 100% but are never 100%. Abstinence is not taught in school sex education classes as far as I know.
The Catholic Heretic
Nice sounding argument, but
Nice sounding argument, but the facts don't hold water. Yes, abstinence is 100% effective, but abstinence only education is a proven failed policy. And, abstinence is taught in sex ed classes alongside everything else; just not exclusively, except in the more radical right wing states, where it is the only thing taught and teen pregnancy rates have since skyrocketed.
The numbers are in and in schools where that has been the only "sex ed" that these teens have gotten, teen pregnancy rates have increased at rates of over 50% over other programs where teen pregnancy rates have either gone down or, in some cases remained stable.
Fact of the matter is that, no matter what we teach our kids, teenagers will go out and have sex; maybe not all of them, but many will.
So if they are bound and determined to do so, doesn't it make more sense that they be taught all of the risks and given the tools for prevention beforehand rather than after it's too late, if they are going to do it anyway?
The religious reich wants to end abortions, but think about this fact, with contraception, the possibilities of having a need for abortions are dramatically reduced, no matter what side of that controversy you are on, you cannot deny that it makes sense.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
I would have no problem with
I would have no problem with Mix It Up Day if the LGBT people and their advocates would be willing to sit down with and listen to Christians who believe that homosexuality is sinful, but forgivable and overcomeable. However, I am quite sure that this perspective will not be allowed. This is because a false understanding of tolerance has taken over our schools and culture, which is actually intolerance in the name of tolerance.
True tolerance means accepting the right of others to do, say or think things that one considers wrong and even offensive. Real Bible-believing Christians have to do this constantly with open homosexuals And real Bible-believing Christians love homosexuals enough to try to share with them the Good News that God has forgiven us for our sins (even ones we are still struggling with) and will make us better and better over time. Those who refuse to listen are simply blind to the consequences of rejecting God's gracious offer.
Funny thing, that whole "sin"
Funny thing, that whole "sin" thing that you folks in the delusional right wing keep spouting.
You all continuously cherry-pick those "sins" that you wish to enforce on everyone, including yourselves.
The concept of sin is endemic in ONLY the Judeo-Christian-Islamic religions. In many 1st nations tribes consider homosexuals and bisexuals to be blessed by the gods and are held in high regard as healers and shamans. The same in other cultures in the pacific islands and aborigonal peoples.
Using the argument that your god created man as he is and all nature as it is, how can it be a sin when homosexuality happens in more than 150 different species on this planet, including mankind? If your god made all things as they are, then why did he make nature sinful? That's pretty stupid for a god that is supposed to be all knowing.
What is most offensive about you "real bible-believing" Christians is that you end up being hypocrites and liars. You want tolerance for your intolerance in a world where tolerance is NOT a one-sided thing.
"Tolerate what I say while I condemn you in my intolerant manner" is the behavior that you want us to put up with. That makes you a hypocrite.
Ignoring the science that proves that what you call a "sin" is part of nature shows that not only do we not have any obligation to have to listen to you, but no real reason to put up with your condemnation against those who are different because nature made them that way, nor for holding you accountable for your ignorance and intolerance of reality.
Isn't hatefulness a sin as well? Maybe you folks should either modify your programming to fit reality or start living in accordance with ALL of your bible's values. If you are a "real bible believing Christian", then it MUST either be all, none or adapt to the real world.
In the modern world, the only people that I know of that follow their bible as wholly and completely as you claim that you are, are the Amish, and you are not one of them; if you were, you would not be using a computer.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
You are confusing two
You are confusing two concepts. Free speech does not mean free of consequences. You are free to "say or think things that one considers wrong and even offensive." However, there is a flip side this. You must accept the social consequences of what you say, which includes being told you are a theocratic fascist who wishes to establish a god driven society full of hate and intolerance.
Free speech means free of criminal prosecution by the government - nothing more and nothing less. You can still be fired, sued, ostracized, and harassed for what you say in public.
You are free to condemn homosexuals until the day you die, and the government will never imprison you or convict you of a criminal offense. However, you can be prosecuted civilly for discrimination, you can be sued for libel, slander and harassment, and you can be called out publicly by other citizens.
I respect your right to say what you wish. However, I also insist that you accept the consequences for your speech.
Tolerance does not mean allowing anyone to say anything without judgment.
You are the fascist if you
You are the fascist if you don't respect the beliefs of Christians and try to punish us for our beliefs in any way. You are an example of why Christians have been persecuted throughout history. And you are the one wanting to perpetrate hate and intolerance. You have been brainwashed to believe that Christians are the oppressors. In fact, countless Christians have given their lives trying to help others. Christians tolerate many things we consider offensive but we will never stop warning people of the consequence of continuing to rebel against God and offering them The Greatest Gift - forgiveness from God and peace forever. Like everyone, you will one day see why we are committed to this. But, I hope and pray for your sake that it is not too late for you.
The entire world has seen the
The entire world has seen the Christian version of forgiveness. It is well documented historical fact that Christian "forgiveness and tolerance" comes at the point of a sword; or in modern times a berating for one's "disbelief", harassment, or even gunpoint.
How many people do you hateful Christians, bent on "saving our souls at all costs", have to drive to suicide or other acts of violence before you get the fact that YOU are the problem, not the solution?
This year is the dawning of a new age; 2 months away, to be precise: an age where your kind of religious bigotry needs to die off for a more enlightened belief/philosophy/system to rise up....and no one will need to be staked to a tree to make it happen either.
Follow the laws of nature....either evolve to a more enlightened, less medieval version of your religion or let your religion go the way of the dodo and the mammoth. You folks are fighting change and it is obvious that it is the last panicked throws of a dying breed of people; a dying way that serves no one but those who greedily hold power over your money, minds and your souls.
When you have to try so very hard to convert others, then the problem is not them, it is you and your religion. REAL religions don't need to seek converts, converts seek them on their own without any help at all.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
You don't even understand
You don't even understand what the word fascist means. You also don't understand the difference between free speech and freedom of religion.
YOU have the right to believe what you wish without fear of persecution. No one should be allowed to harass you or to discriminate against you for being christian, jewish, muslim, etc. HOWEVER, when you publicly use those beliefs to make judgmental statements, then you must accept the social consequences of those statements.
Do you get it yet?
This is what it means to have a public debate. When you make public statements, you don't have the right not to expect a response.
When I look around today, most of the hate values spewed by conservatives who claim to be "christian" are things I would imagine Jesus would call you out for if he were alive today. Brainwashed? How about a free thinker who develops his own opinions rather than being programmed from the pulpit?
Tolerance means live and let live. When christians insert their perspective to PUBLICLY say that homosexuals are going to hell, etc., then they have violated the concept of tolerance and they should expect to be to criticized. This is the right of free speech, which you seem to misunderstand.
All you can do is repeat the
All you can do is repeat the same tired arguments that I previously refuted. I refuse to waste any more time arguing with you. It is pointless to debate with someone who either refuses to or is simply unable to actually consider the opposing position. One cannot reason with an irrational person. I have reasons for my positions. You only have fallacies and emotion.
As I have pointed out
As I have pointed out already, the social trends, the law, and our culture are against you.
It seems rather than argue, you prefer to just stop and say "I am right, and you are irrational." In a real debate, that would be a killing blow for you.
You can't defend the indefensible. Your only fallback is "god told me it is this way." However, socially, this is not how we establish the law or public policy.
I encourage you to review the supreme court case - Lawrence v. Texas. Your position on homosexuality will never be allowed to stand from a legal perspective.
As an atheist, I really couldn't care less what you think of me. I already know you believe I will burn in hell. However, it is an argument neither of us can win. When I die, nothing will happen. When you die, nothing will happen. There will be no mocking or sympathy or change of heart. When we both die in our times, existence ends. Provide reproducible evidence to the contrary or understand that your position is based on faith, which is belief without proof.
The problem is that
The problem is that homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality are as able to be changed as your natural hair color. Sure, you can die your hair, but that will not change what nature has made it.
The "bible believing Christians" that you are talking about are scientific illiterates that cherry pick which portions of their bible that they wish to follow. That turns your doctrine into a joke.
The only Christians that I know of that are truly devout and uphold the entirety of the bible's teachings, without cherry-picking, are the Amish.
You are not Amish, or you would not be on the internet.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
"The problem is that
"The problem is that homosexuality, heterosexuality and bisexuality are as able to be changed as your natural hair color." [Raptorcat]
“Recent empirical evidence demonstrates that homosexual orientation can indeed be therapeutically changed in motivated clients, and that reorientation therapies do not produce harm when attempted” [
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Psychopathology-Treatment-Third-Edition/dp/0393705609
]
And you know what, if someone
And you know what, if someone actually did "choose" to be gay, who gives a f%^k?
I remember you from other
I remember you from other boards. You are a close-minded hypocrite who prefers to believe derogatory stereotypes about Christianity and Christians and refuses to actually learn what we believe.
There sure are a lot of God
There sure are a lot of God hating idiots around here...
lol! You mean there are a
lol! You mean there are a lot of free thinkers who aren't brainwashed by a bronze age book written in dead languages and mistranslated four times from the original?
How about the fact that there are only two areas of the bible that actually say anything about homosexuality - Leviticus and Paul. Jesus never said anything about homosexuality nor did god directly. Is there some commandment I haven't read?
The idiots are the ones that
The idiots are the ones that use their god as an excuse to hate.
As Gandhi once said: "I like your Christ, but I fear your Christians."
Think about it before you make another blanket statement of ignorance. Words have consequences, just as actions do. Particularly when those words are a lie used to harm or control another.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
There sure are a lot of
There sure are a lot of imaginary god loving drooling fools around too.
Those that can't or won't defend themselves can only be slaves.
Before hating a god there
Before hating a god there would need to be one first, and since there isn't, your point doesn't make much sense. It's like saying there's a lot of people here that hate the tooth fairy or the gremlin that moves your car keys when you're not looking.
It sure would be nice to find
It sure would be nice to find out which specific schools opted out. Saying you're against bullying but somehow are for it if it promotes your superstition's particular brand of intolerance is about as meaningful as "hate the sin, love the sinner."
Most bullying victims are just regular kids who are slow, or small, or different in some way. 200 schools are apparently in favor of bullying these vulnerable kids. I bet the parents would like to know about this, especially the ones whose kids have bully problems.
Which part of the utterly
Which part of the utterly meaningful phrase, "hate the sin, love the sinner" is it that you have such difficulty understanding?
"Bullying" is verb that describes a sin so obviously a sin that I wouldn't expect to find likeable anybody who was in favour of bullying. But, when I read this article, I couldn't stop myself from suspecting that the people who said what they said had made a valid point.
Agit-prop is a dirty business, and I find it utterly credible that agit-prop agents promoting the normalisation of (let's face it) a filthy perversion wouldn't hesitate to strive to promote their agenda, by exploiting the natural abhorrence that decent people have, of bullying. I'm not saying that I know that this is what has been going on. I'm only saying that, judging by the content I've read on sites like this lately, I wouldn't in the least be surprised to discover for myself, that the activists who claim that this is what has been going on, aren't liars.
These wannabe Christians give
These wannabe Christians give the religion a black eye with their intolerant, ignorant and bigoted attitudes. They have a lot in common with the Taliban!
but... but... these policies
but... but... these policies will stop us from bullying people that don't subscribe to our religious views and are gay! If we're not allowed to beat gay people, everyone might turn gay! How will they know god's love if we can't use the bible to drive them to kill themselves?
The funny thing about the AFA is that because of their views, I couldn't with a clean conscience allow them anywhere near my family.
The obama administration has
The obama administration has made appointments to many positions such that they pushed in lots of gays, lesbians, women, & minorities. What ever happened to hiring people based on competency? No wonder the Obama admin. is screwing up in so many things.
Liberals seem to constantly be trying to push their tripe on everyone else. Even Christians regard faith as a matter of free will rather than manipulation in America, but libs keep forcing their views. It will backfire someday, and they'll be crying about it. Besides, what next is going to be defined as "bullying" -- the "bullying" of pedophiles??
You are basing your
You are basing your assumption on women, gays, lesbians and minorities being unfit for the positions they've been hired to fill.
Do you really think that nobody from these demographics is capable of fulfilling a government position?
And what makes you think they
And what makes you think they are not competent? Do you believe that any competent gays, lesbians etc would have a chance in hell of getting those positions under a conservative/American Taliban administration?
As for pushing "tripe" on others - Christians have been happily doing that with their bigotry and religious garbage for centuries. Can't take your own medicine? At least our "tripe" is on the side of progress, equality and freedom and not on outdated "morals" written by ignorant desert goat herders in the bronze age.