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When did they start throwing religion out of schools? I think it was shortly before we had to start teaching kids how to react to a gunman loose in their schools, wasn't it?
Those do DO believe in Christianity are singled out by this ruling. How is that fair to them?
Oh stop. Have you ever been in a situation where you've received dirty looks for not putting your head down? Folks like myself have. It isn't pleasant.
This is only one of a few instances across the nation in the last few years where schools have been taken to task for holding their graduations at a church as those have been the only suitable venue to house such events for those areas. The building is actually just that, a building. The "church" is really the people that believe in that faith. The schools have had to find suitable venues to house the number of graduates AND their families to attend (some want upwards of 20+ tickets for extended family) that is available within a close range and for the dates that everyone in the area is needing such as well. I'd be willing to bet that the ones that do get all up in arms over the graduation ceremony being held in a church building are the same ones that would vote "NO" if the school district proposed a bond package to build an events center that would be suitable for their area schools graduations. I guess they could always hold the graduations at their football stadiums OUTSIDE in June in Texas in the heat and/or rain. Then again, the same complainers would still be complaining.
Just goggle the subject...... numerous instances of school districts being sued because the only suitable venue to house a graduation is a church building. A church service is not going on during the graduation ceremony and no one is forced to do anything other than walk in the door, listen to all of the typical speakers at a high school graduation (principal or administrator, some local celeb or politician and the validictorian) march across the stage when their name is called, get a piece of paper and sit back down. They are not made to kneel at an alter, light any kind of candle, partake in any kind of communion or anything else that would go on inside that building if it were having a worship service.
Are steps taken to cover up crosses and other religious symbols inside the church and on the grounds? Has the church been "scrubbed" clean of anything that indicates that it normally serves a non secular purpose? How do you deal with the fact that taxpayer funds are being used to provide a financial benefit to a specific church and religion?
Not really. Nobody could legally stop an individual from praying. You just can't impose the practice on ALL.
Perhaps these wise words by James Madison would help?
Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations; but, on a candid examination of history, we shall find that turbulence, violence, and abuse of power, by the majority trampling on the rights of the minority, have produced factions and commotions, which, in republics, have, more frequently than any other cause, produced despotism. If we go over the whole history of ancient and modern republics, we shall find their destruction to have generally resulted from those causes.
This isn't an example of the minority dictating the majority, but minority being protected from the whims of the majority. The minority didn't ask to outlaw prayer, it demanded against a mob prayer.
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Originally Posted by andrea3821
Such a ridiculous lawsuit to waste our tax dollars. If you don't want to pray, you don't have to. Nobody is forcing anyone to put their head down, pray and say Amen.
The flip side is that you are taking away the rights of those who DO want to pray...and the Christian majority outnumbers the non-believing minority.
Try reading the post above yours...
YOU can pray anywhere you want but do NOT waste TAXPAYER'S money at a ceremony at a PUBLIC school....
Feel free to not bow your head and pray during time allotted for those who DO want to partake.
Only if they allowed those who were being forced into praying with the mob, to scream, beat drums and celebrate during prayer? That would be fair, no?
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Originally Posted by andrea3821
Those do DO believe in Christianity are singled out by this ruling. How is that fair to them?
The ruling was against collectivism. It was for individualism. Any Christian or Hindu or Muslim or Jew or whatever could have prayed on his/her own, in his/her own time, and nobody would stop them... except may be a Muslim then there will be a mob of "Christians" ready to...
Why are we constantly bending to satisfy every "offended" soul who declares themselves such?
There was a point in time I might have sympathized a bit with those who objected to prayers at football games or whatever, but the more time went on the more I see it for what it really is. That is, a sect out there who want to ban every Christian symbol. Not so much it really offends them, but because they just have a deep-seated hatred of Chrisitanity. The Pledge of Alligience is next, and so is the "In God We Trust".
Here is what Christians should do at football games and/or classrooms and/or whatever, is pray anyway. Start a spontaneous recitation of The Lord's Prayer. Those who don't like it can leave the bleachers or not participate.
Maybe the "deep-seated hatred of Christianity" is just a reaction to people like you that feel your religion should be used as an instrument of hatred and division. I have never understood the mentality of so many Christians that think it is a good idea to use prayer as some kind of weapon and purposefully try to upset people that don't share your religious beliefs.
Such a ridiculous lawsuit to waste our tax dollars.
Any such waste is the fault of the school pushing the prayer. They should have listened to their lawyers instead of their local teabagger representative.
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If you don't want to pray, you don't have to. Nobody is forcing anyone to put their head down, pray and say Amen.
That's not the standard in a public school context. The SCOTUS has recognized that the inherently coercive nature of the public schoolroom warrants a higher level of vigilance against the establishment of religion.
STUDENTS can do whatever they want - it's about what the school staff does.
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The flip side is that you are taking away the rights of those who DO want to pray...and the Christian majority outnumbers the non-believing minority.
No, you aren't. Again, STUDENTS can do as they please. Staff, as representatives of the State, cannot.
You also miss the whole point of having Constitutional rights - they are guarantees AGAINST the tyranny of the majority.
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