From: davidc@montagar.com (David L. Cathey)
Newsgroups: tx.politics
Subject: Re: Bush Vetoes Stupid Education Reform Bill
Date: 9 Nov 92 14:11:43 GMT
Distribution: tx
Organization: Montagar Software Concepts, Plano TX

In article <1613@airgun.wg.waii.com>, reed@rd08.wg2.waii.com (Michael Reed) writes:
> In article <21824@rpp386.lonestar.org>, jfh@rpp386.lonestar.org (John F. Haugh II) writes:
> |> 
> |> 	"Let Us Pray!", by Eugene H. Methvin, Reader's Digest,
> |> 		November 1992
> |>
> |> 	Do you generally favor or oppose prayer in public schools?
> |> 		75% Favor
> |> 		19% Oppose
> |> 
> 	Ask the question the right way and you will get the answer you are
> 	looking you want.  I think most people favor individual silent
> 	prayer wherever anyone wants to do it.  Group prayer at any 
> 	public function violates the state establishment of religion.

	But ONLY is the State is promoting it.  A student or group of
students praying in school, does not violate the rights of others, since
the state is not promoting the behaviour.

	Students smoke at school, too, but no one things that the state is
establishing that minors are required to smoke.

> |> 	It's right for a school to put up a manger scene or menorah
> |> 	during the holiday season?
> |> 		76% Agree
> |> 		21% Disagree
> |> 
> 	Can I put up an upside down pentagram in celebration of the Winter
> 	Solstice?

	Yes.

>                   What about people that have no religious holidays
> 	at all, how can they participate?  By allowing any religious
> 	symbols in the school, government is sanctioning religions.

	The rule is that the state shall not establish a state religion. 
Simply allowing the symbols in school (as long as the school does not provide
the material), does not sanction the religion.

	I do not believe in Santa Claus, so I can sue the school over placement
of these "graven images" of St. Nick and placement of Christmas Trees?

> 	Once again it doesn't matter how many are in favor: the
> 	Constitution is to protect the rights of the minority.

	It is to protect the rights of everyone, not just the "minority".
I have the freedom of speech and religion, and the inability to speak and
practice religion just because I am in a public place is restricting those
rights.

> |> 
> |> 	 "And at the North Clayton (Ga.) Junior High School, drama, math,
> |> 	  science and chess clubs assembled.  But the 60-member Youth for
> |> 	  Christ Club, which always met after school, was expelled from
> |> 	  campus after a lawsuite was filed through the American Civil
> |> 	  Liberties Union (ACLU). ..."
> 
> 	Using public, tax-payer funded facilities by religious group
> 	is a clear violation of the ban on the state establishment of
> 	religion.

	No, it is not.  As long the others are not prohibited and
Jewish/Buddist/Moslem/etc groups were given equal access as well.

	You seem to mix up "allowing a group" as "establishing a group".

> 	Tell you what.  If anyone can find a student who was told they
> 	could not prayer silently in school, I will sue the district on	
> 	behalf of the student for their rights.

	I'm glad to hear that.  However, the problem is that some people
are so intolerant of "religious"-groups.  I am very tolerant of other
religions, and take some interest in other beliefs and philosophies (not that
I agree with all of them!).  We need to stop this knee-jerk reaction to
someone's beliefs just because we don't hold the same beliefs.

> -- 
> The above are my own opinions and mine alone.
> 
> *****************************************************************************
> Dr. Michael Reed,
> Western Geophysical, Research and Development Group
> reed@rd08.wg2.waii.com
> (713) 964-6322                     FAX: (713) 964-6372
> *****************************************************************************
-- 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
David L. Cathey		                |INET: davidc@montagar.com
Montagar Software Concepts              |UUCP: ...!montagar!davidc
P. O. Box 260772, Plano TX  75026-0772  |Fone: (214)-618-2117