This Spring we heard much ado about high school graduates that wanted to mention the Christian God (the one true God) in their speeches and the speeches were censored by school officials, due to "separation of church and state" issues. The 21st century is a century in which Christians are not allowed to mention their religion, but if Christians are to cry "OFFENSIVE" when a Muslim, Humanist or Atheist mentions their beliefs, it is called intolerance. The censorship of God is NOT what the Founding Fathers meant when the clause was put into the Constitution.
Ammendment One (in the Bill of Rights) of the US Constitution states
" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The fact of the matter is that Congress, (aka the government) can't force me to believe something. They can't come into my house and tell me that my belief system is wrong. That is it. The same amendment gives me free speech. I can say what I want where I want and the government (in all of its forms) can't stop me. That means that public schools shouldn't censor speeches.
Talking about Christ in a speech, posting the 10 Commandments, mentioning Heaven, putting crosses on the side of the road, NONE of that is forcing YOU to believe what I do. YOU are free to exhibit your religious artifacts. YOU are free to mention what you believe in a speech you give.
America is about freedom to be yourself. It is about pluralism. It shouldn't be about censorship because you don't like what I have to say. Hey, you probably own an iPod, use it if you don't want to listen, that is your choice. The 1st Amendment was penned to allow people freedom, just because you choose to not believe doesn't give you the right to take away my freedom and my right to talk about my beliefs, where and when I want.
-JLP-
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