Source: https://www.scottbradford.us/2002/11/25/the-sound-of-silence/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 11:04:38+00:00

Document:
Posted November 25, 2002, 1:04 p.m.
There are few issues as uselessly contentious as the issue of silence. What I mean, of course, is legislation which requires that school children observe a “minute of silence” during school hours. The issue in question is whether or not statutes which require minutes of silence violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which guarantees that the people are free from government establishment of religion and government limitation of the practice of their own religion.
Almost as soon as the legislature had completed its voting, the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union had brought the case to civil court, arguing that the civil rights of the students they represented had been violated by the state’s encouragement of prayer (the second paragraph of the statute included a list of acceptable activities during the minute: “meditate, pray, or engage in any other silent activity”).2 After an early loss in a federal district court, the ACLU pressed on to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
As mentioned in brief earlier, the crux of the argument is whether an enforced “minute of silence” violates the first amendment right to freedom of religion and the concept of a “separation of church and state.” To examine this, we must begin by clearly defining the content and intention of that amendment.
The wording states simply and succinctly that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . “5 What this means is that the government may not actively support nor force anybody to practice any religion, and nor may the government obstruct people from exercising their own religion. In order for a statute to be found in violation of this limitation, it must be shown that the statute was passed with the intention or effect of forcing religion on a populace.
The closest dealing that the Supreme Court has had with moments of silence was the 1985 case Wallace v. Jaffree. It would appear in this case that the Supreme Court took the side opposite of that which I am presenting today, but on a deeper examination it is clear that moment of silence legislation—in and of itself—does not run askew of the Establishment Clause. There are some small but important differences between the minute of silence legislation passed in Alabama that the court overturned and the minute of silence legislation in Virginia.
What is clearly implied by the nature of this decision is that the minute of silence is not a violation of the Establishment Clause, but rather to pass such legislation with the intent of encouraging religious activity is. It is in this context that we can begin to examine the legal issues which effect Virginia’s statute.
By the very nature and wording of the statute, it is obvious why the Supreme Court chose not to entertain the case. While prayer is specifically mentioned as a possible activity, the content of the law (and of the actual one minute in classrooms statewide) allow for any silent activity. This extends from the specifically mentioned meditation and prayer, to other silent activities not listed—drawing, writing, daydreaming, thinking, or working on homework.
As mentioned earlier, this landmark decision in support of a non-religious moment of silence (which can be used religiously if students individually choose) has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court, and rightfully so. To assume that a moment of silence—an inherently neutral act—supports, endorses, establishes, or limits any religious practice is not founded in either case law or logic. As long as a minute of silence statute does not come with a legislative intent of encouraging prayer, it is not unconstitutional and it is not illegal.
To make an argument that anybody’s rights are trampled by having to be quiet for a minute, the opposing side makes a fundamental mistake—they have nothing to attack. Silence is, indeed, nothing by definition. There is no coercion and students may, indeed do anything. Rather than limiting the freedom of religion, a minute of silence in the public schools encourages it by providing a moment where students may do whatever silent activity they wish—whether it be prayer in accordance with their own religious structure, or something secular for those who have none.
Interestingly enough, most religious circles don’t want anything more than a moment of silence. In fact, many Christian groups consider the minute of silence statute to be a perfect compromise between school organized prayer—often unpopular across political and religious spectrums—and a complete lack of prayer. “The problem with organized school prayer was that it could too easily contradict the religious teachings of the parents,” said author Stephen L. Carter for Christianity Today. “Many religious parents, however, are understandably uneasy about sending their children to schools that are aggressively secular.”14 According to many like-minded people, the minute of silence provides a neutral ground where the religious may pray in keeping with their beliefs while the non-religious may not be directly exposed to it at all.
Choice—the concept upon which the moment of silence is truly based—is the core behind our civil rights. Our freedom of speech guarantees that we can choose to say what we wish. The freedom of the press guarantees that we can choose to print whatever we wish. The freedom of religion, likewise, guarantees that we can choose to worship and practice or faiths (or lacks of faith) how we choose. This very concept is evident and present in Virginia’s minute of silence legislation.
To attack this legislation as unconstitutional or damaging to the freedom of religion is to misunderstand its intent and its implementation which does entirely the opposite. There is a huge difference between the establishment of religion and giving students time to practice theirs which is glossed over by the opposition in an attempt to make the issue into something it is not—an issue of civil rights. Nobody is limited from their free practice, and no religion is required or established.
2 Virginia moment-of-silence law survives court test. Church & State, v.54 i.11 p.3. Dec. 2001.
3 Virginia moment-of-silence law survives court test. Church & State, v.54 i.11 p.3. Dec. 2001.
4 Opinion from Ed Brown, et al. v. James S. Gilmore III, Governor of Virginia, et al 01-384. Supreme Court of the United States. Oct. 29, 2001.
5 Amendment I. The United States Constitution. 1787.
10Opinion from Brown v. Gilmore 00-1044-A. United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria Division). Oct. 26, 2000. Pages 3-4.
11 Opinion from Brown v. Gilmore 00-1044-A. Pages 5-6.
12 Opinion from Brown v. Gilmore 00-1044-A. Page 13.
13 Opinion from Brown v. Gilmore 00-1044-A. Page 14.
14 Carter, Stephen L. A quiet compromise: why a moment of silence is better than school prayer. Christianity Today. v.46 i.2 p. 82. Feb. 4, 2002.
15 Opinion from Brown v. Gilmore 00-1044-A. Page 15.
16 Court Order from Brown v. Gilmore 00-1044-A. United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria Division). Oct. 26, 2000.

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