I totally agree with the Catoosa County school superintendent. This is a violation of the law regarding separation of church and state.
Once again the "religious right" is trying to force their views on the minority. I do not force my religious and spiritual beliefs on anyone.
Dale R. Souders
US Navy, Ret.
North Chattanooga
drsouders460@yahoo.com
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Mr. Souders,
What law are you speaking of when you say “separation of church and state”? I assume you are referencing the First Amendment, which says:
“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”
I see nothing in there about “separation of church and state.” I do see that it says Congress cannot establish a religion. I don’t think cheerleaders holding up a sign quite constitutes establishment of a religion. If anything, telling them they can’t is prohibiting them from exercising their religion, which the amendment clearly does mention.
Mike Willingham
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Mr. Willingham is exactly right. Separation of church and state simply means that we will not have a state church in our nation.
Before the Revolutionary War 12 out of 13 colonies had an established church or standing order church. Rhode Island was the only state during the colonial period that allowed complete religious freedom. As a matter of fact the state of Massachusettes did not officially outlaw the Congregational Church as the established church of Massachusettes until 1838, inspite of the first amendment to the U.S. constitution. Talk about being behind, wow.
Had it not been for John Lealand and other Baptist preachers in Virginia insisting to James Madison that there had to be something in the constitution that protected our God given right to freedom of conscience, there would be no bill of rights today. At that time Virginia had the biggest population of any state, and the authors of the constitution had to have Virginia on board. Those brave preachers simply told Madison that if there was nothing in the U.S. constitution that protected freedom of conscience, they would not support the constitution. James Madison gave these brave men his word that he would see to it, that this would be a part of the constitution.
Unlike our leaders today, Mr. Madison kept his word, and that's why we have the first 10 amendments in our U.S. constitution.
The U.S. constitution is the supreme law of our land, and according to the 1st amendment, I can pray out loud, anywhere and any time that I choose. That amendment tells me that congress will make no laws to keep me from freely exercising my religious beliefs. The cheerleaders at Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe High School have violated absolutely nothing.
When I was a student at Lakeview High, we had a science teacher who would pray for us before we took our six weeks or semester test. I will forever admire this wonderful teacher. I assure you, her prayers didn't hurt any of us, and as mean as I was, it helped greatly. At least we didn't need to have a policeman in the hall like they do now. This just shows me that whenever we forsake our biblical and constitutional foundations, the result is always anarchy. Apparently this is what our government, principals, superintendents and I'm afraid many teachers desire for government schools.
No, I can not force my views on anyone. What good would it do, if I could? Anyone who comes to Christ must do so by their own free will. It all boils down to choice: I choose to believe, and if some don't that's their wagon, and they can pull it.
David Knight
Chattanooga
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The folks in Catoosa are all up in arms over their rights being violated by not being able to hold their little Jesus signs in a public school setting. What about the rights of the Muslim kid or the atheist student or whoever just doesn't think Christianity is the answer? These are the people whose rights are threatened. The kid on the football team who might not believe but succumbs to peer pressure because he is outnumbered.
I'm sure if those were quotes from the Quran I'm sure your school would be outraged.
To all the Christians out there, keep that garbage out of schools. You don't dictate what is right for everyone else to believe. If you want to express your religion in school then by all means go to a private religious school.
And don't tell me if I don't like it I can leave the game. The taxpayers pay for your school so maybe you should think about being the ones to leave.
Tom Gill
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Mr. Souders, there is not such thing as separation of church and state as a matter of law. I am not sure who told you there was but I am afraid there is not. There is a clause that states Congress shall not establish a state approved church. Maybe you think this establishment clause means that there is no place for religion in the schools. I remind you sir that when that was written the church was providing most of the schools. It just means that Congress cannot set up one church.
Children should be free to express themselves without hate, bigotry and fear. Both you and Mr. Gill fear the power these kids have. They are young, brave, bold and committed. That means they will not cram religion down someone’s throat but they will display their own personal faith. People think that sex, disrespect, hate, beatings, stabbings, bullying, lying, stealing, threatening, groping, cheating, vandalizing, and a myriad of other societal degenerative behaviors will cease to exist if people got a little Jesus in their life and those things make schools great learning environments.
Good for the kids. Sad for Catoosa because they could not afford to take a stand.
Johnny Franks
seechatt@yahoo.com