As followers of Loose Topics you know that we are in favor of our Amendments that the Constitution has given us. You also know that we love pointing out instances when our government tries to infringe on those rights.
Well I have one of those instances today.
A federal judge in the state of Texas has ordered a Texas school district to prohibit public prayer at high school graduation ceremonies.
The judge's order is against Medina Valley ISD and forbids students from using words specific to religion including "prayer" and "amen".
The judge's ruling also bans students and speakers from using religious language in their speeches. The order also states to remove the terms "invocation" and "benediction" from the programs at these ceremonies.
Now if this isn't a direct infringement on our First Amendment, I don't know what is. Lets leave the religious aspect out of the conversation for just a bit. We have our courts telling us or our children what phrases we can and cant use while speaking from our hearts. The Freedom of speech does not state to speak freely but do not use these words or phrases.
In a place where young adults need to hear some positive reinforcement because they are about to head into some of the toughest times of their lives. Some will go to college, some will have to go straight to work (in our bad job market), others will have to serve in our military and be deployed into wars. So to deny these young adults the opportunity to pray to whatever they as individuals believe in and to ask for guidance from whatever they believe in is unconstitutional.
This is no different then when the football team kneels together after the game and gives thanks that everyone was uninjured. It's the same thing when a player is injured and players take a knee to "pray" their teammate or opponent is ok.
Our society is so afraid to be honest and up front. People don't want to be politically incorrect for fear of ridiculous law suits like this one.
Every person believes in something. We all don't believe in the same thing and that is the beauty of our country, we don't have to. To say you are taking religion out of the ceremony, you are virtually saying " I am removing what you believe in whether you like it or not".
Lets not let another Constitutional right be taken away from us. Our right to the Freedom of speech is what makes this country the best country in the world.
Lets not be afraid of religion anymore. Believe in what you wish, find your strength and guidance through you beliefs. Allow others to find theirs as well. Young adults graduating high school need all the beliefs, guidance and strength they can get. The world they are about to enter can be cruel without it.
AMEN.
Tell us what you think about the 1st Amendment, religion in school or religion in general.
Agree or disagree at least we know what the PEOPLE think. L2
7 comments:
I agree that this shouldn't be the courts decision on whether certain phrases or words can be used. although in this country there is the separation of church and state and in this matter the school is a state public school. also, just because you have the freedom of speech doesn't mean there isn't consequences and repercussions for the words used. the school should ultimately determine its policy and procedures on this matter and if they chose not to allow it than students would need to adhere to those policies. this country is founded on laws and rules and you cant break them just because you think its against your constitutional right. try getting away with freedom of speech by saying "bomb" on a airplane or telling a police officer how you really feel and see how far the 1st amendment gets you. But this is just my 1st amendment opinion.
question for you L2: If in the benediction the speaker spoke of Satan as in his/her beliefs, would you and everyone else have the same outlook?
@Anonymous thank you for you comment. Please sign up to follow us and subscribe via email. I agree that there is a division of church and state in our country. Like I have said before our constitution needs to be ratified from time to time. When it was written, its intent to keep church and state separate, was due to the way the church had ruled our founding fathers relatives across the pond. They did not want the church to have that kind of power here in the new world. They never intended for it to mean that you cannot say "amen" or even say a prayer. It is the interpretation of the freedom of speech that gets lost. This country was not founded on rules and laws. This country was founded on freedoms. We have imposed rules and policies on ourselves in order to keep some order. I agree with you that everything has consequences, even the things we say. Where I disagree with you is, it is our constitutional right to break the laws and policies. Sometimes we must do the wrong thing in order to make it right. But as you stated, you must be willing to except the consequences that come with that right.
@Anonymous thank you for your comment please sign up to follow us and subscribe via email if you havent already. To answer you question that if in the benediction the speaker spoke of satan in his/her beliefs how would I feel? I can say this, if the speaker stated that he/she found guidance and their strength through whatever belief they have, whom am I to judge how they do it? Now if someone is pushing those beliefs onto the crowd, I do have a problem with that. Recruiting for ones beliefs or religion is not appropiate, but just stating how you feel about your own is quite alright. Our intolerance of each others beliefs and close minds is one of our major down falls here. But we are changing that starting right here by trying to understand each others views.
I think you say you would be understanding to the use of Satan or other Satanic words during a graduation because thats PC on this forum. I am sure down inside you think it is utterly ridiculous and inappropriate. If your not going to be honest with yourself and on this blog then why have it. We all know God is "good' and Satan is "bad" and therefor we tolerate the things that we deem good and dismiss the bad. There would be an uproar if Satanic expressions were used just like there is an uproar when God is left out. I am not saying one is better than the other nor to I care. I believe there are places for all to go worship and say how they feel but school is not one of them. you said students need "positive reinforcement", who are you to say god is just that. Its because you deem god as "good" so therefor its ok.
@Anonymous thank you for your comment. Now what I said and what you think I said seem to be two differnet things. I said that if a speaker were to say how they find their strength and guidance through whatever beliefs they have I would be open minded to it. Would I agree with them, maybe maybe not because I have my own beliefs. For you to say that someone is not being honest with themselves is a very self rightious comment. What I believe in deep down inside you have no idea so unless you would like to sit down and have a conversation about what I believe in, to say that is utterly ridiculous is a false statement. We have this blog to open minds and learn from differnt views. We may not agree with all of our followes but I try to learn something from how they think. You say "WE all know God is good" and "Satan is bad" and so we tolerate things. Yet at the end of your comment you ask who am I to say god is good? You just stated we all know that. I never once sayed that a certain god is good. What I say is this, whatever or whomever you believe in and gets you through your daily struggles, that god is good for you. God is a very broad term, he/she may be differnt to everyone which is fine. Thank you for your comment I enjoy hearing from people that do not share my same opinions. Please keep responding to all of our posts here.
Just a quick update to the story I wrote about titled FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION.
The ban that was imposed on a Texas high school was lifted yesterday evening. The ban prohibited students or speakers from invoking any type of prayer or religious words in their speeches.
This got the attention, along with my article I'm sure, of the Gov. of Texas Rick Perry and state Attorney General Greg Abbott. They filed a federal appeal to the ban and it was overturned.
Gov. Perry released a statement saying "The First Amendment prohibits governments from interfering with American's rights to freely express their religious beliefs". He also stated that the "U.S. Supreme Court has maintained that Congress may conven every day with a prayer."
So if Congress can start every day with a prayer so can students or speakers at a graduation ceremony. Some have said this is a victory for religious freedom. I dont see it that way. I do see it as a victory for our 1st Amendment right.
I am always proud to be an American but not always proud of things our government does. But this time I am pleasantly surprised and extra proud they up held a Constitutional right.
Post a Comment