To sum, a high school student campaigned successfully to force her school to remove a large mural with a specifically Christian Prayer. Since then, she has received threats and been harassed, for simply standing up for the First Amendment. This fringe minority is vocal, and terrifying. There is, of course, this fringe to Atheism as well. But it's easier to notice those opposed to you and what you agree with.
Therein lies the fly in the ointment... What about the rights of the Christians, who have now been told they can't express their own beliefs...? That is to say, in order to protect one persons from exposure to a belief that he or she does not agree with, we have to suppress another person's rights to expression of that belief.
That hardly sounds like a solid interpretation of our first amendment...and it really puts our lawmakers in a spot now, don't it?
Under the theory of the 1st Amendment, lawmakers may also suppress Pornography in public schools to protect what is defines as "the prurient interest" of society. Additionally, The government takes the position that public schools are not supposed to be a conduit for marketing and advertisement.
Having said that: We see that our law makers and enforcers might actually be failing to deliver on the amendment's full intent... And of course some peoples rights will necessarily be trampled by means of the most common reason: "economic benefit to the institution""
Consequently, I have hypothetical solution to satisfy and fully uphold all First Amendment rights, and avoid the agony of idealogical conflicts in a [b]public school: (Are you ready?) [/b]
1) Take out all forms of religious expression from the schools - Spare everyone the agony of ideological conflict
2) Remove all Vending machines and marketable products from the schools - Product placement has no business in our institutions of learning.
3) Enforce uniforms. Civilian clothing is an expression of individual ideal and taste, and risks the agony of ideological conflicts.
4) Do not provide Funding for Music and Arts, Literaure ...Since these reflect taste and ideology, which present a risk of conflicts.
5) Segregate Gay and non- Gay students into separate class rooms , since there is a risk of ideological conflict.
6) Remove Athletic competition, since these are driven by social, ideological philosophies (Greece Hellenistic period) but in their very nature places students at risk of conflicts.
7) Keep the Pledge of Allegiance: Since Public school is government funded, by tax payers, it stands to reason we are all on board with defending the institution that provides us with education...(even if we arent under one God, indivisible). The work-around for the GOd clause is simple...Take the God Clause out of the pledge. .
Elect and support an established lunch menu. Ensure that prepared meals do not reflect any ethnic influence. No Mexican food, No Lasagna, No Pita bread, no crepes. In fact, the menu should simply contain raw vegetables (So as not to offend animal rights activists) and fruit juices . Its only Lunch, and the parents can shove Big Macs down their throats when they get home...((right after they say Grace...) Right!?
Dizz, I can go on and on... And the last thing missing here : is to provide the kids with hand guns, so they can shoot themselves in the head.
My point is this...You take away a few prayers from the school...you can be guaranteed a ride down slippery-slope avenue... EVERYthing is a trade off. Let the people have their religion, and let the non believers have their refuge, but dont drag the whole damn world down just to champion a cause that's quite frankly, very petty.
