Everyone should stand up for their freedom of speech
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Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2012 12:00 am
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Updated: 6:00 am, Thu Nov 29, 2012.
Everyone should stand up for their freedom of speech
The U.S. Supreme Court has observed: "It can hardly be argued that either student or teacher shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."
The constitutional principle regarding symbols, music, art, drama or literature, whether in public school or in association with other public entities is simple — mix the secular and the sacred.
A school-sponsored concert on a public school campus which contains only Christian Christmas songs mixed with secular songs of the holiday make the presentation constitutional.
Public schools are not religious-free zones. Students may distribute religious Christmas cards and greet one another saying "Merry Christmas." If the school does not require uniforms, students may wear clothing with religious symbols or religious jewelry.
Courts have long recognized the historical, social and cultural significance of religion in our lives and in the world, generally.
I beg of everyone this Christmas to stand up for your freedom of speech and religion! Have a blessed Christmas.
Carolyn Hadden
Galt
Posted in
Letters
on
Thursday, November 29, 2012 12:00 am.
Updated: 6:00 am.
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Patrick W Maple posted at 5:28 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
None the least: "Yigaquu osaniyu adanvto adadoligi nigohilvi nasquv utloyasdi nihi" Cherokee - "May the Great Spirit's blessings always be with you."
Patrick W Maple posted at 5:21 pm on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkha. Frohe Weihnachten. Shuvo Baro Din. Vessela Koleda. Joyeux Noel. Feliz Navidad. Boas Festas. Mboni Chrismen. Nadolig Llawen. Eftihismena Christougenna. Shub Christu Jayanti and even from Russia: Hristos Razdajetsja...that about covers it...except for the other 100 or so countries that celebrate Christmas. I hope.
Mike Adams posted at 6:27 am on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
A story from 3 years ago. Pickin's must be very slim. Why not just have the cheater make up a story and post that?
Andrew Liebich posted at 12:51 am on Wed, Dec 5, 2012.
How much carbon do you suppose the 54 trees in Obama's White House could be sequestering had they not been chopped by this green president?
[sleeping]
Darrell Baumbach posted at 10:34 am on Tue, Dec 4, 2012.
No sky is falling, just liberal intolerance for public expression of religious themes and Christmas.
Ban On School Christmas Carols Upheld
First Posted: 10/06/10 09:19 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 06:55 PM ET
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/06/ban-on-school-christmas-c_n_751839.html
In the 1990s, South Orange-Maplewood adopted a policy banning the use of religious songs in school performances. The district stirred controversy in 2004 when a memo clarified the policy, extending it to vocal and instrumental performances.
Opponents organized an "illegal" night of Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs and other musical pieces that December, according to Muise's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court. The policy covered religious songs of all faiths, but Muise said his client's case was brought on behalf of Christmas songs.
"You're not even going to allow the instrumentals of the music that doesn't contain the words," Muise said. "People in the audience would sing the songs in their minds?"
The case was brought under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which requires the government to be neutral toward religion, Muise said.
"The whole idea of diversity and tolerance, you learn those traits by understanding other people's traditions and religious traditions," he said.
Mike Adams posted at 6:09 pm on Mon, Dec 3, 2012.
Patrick Maple: what are you talking about? Your legal opinion appears to be some what at odds to current court rulings.
As for me, I don't care who puts up what display where, you apparently think that you can put what ever you want anywhere (well how about a tire dump next door?). It just sounds like you're stressed out about a lot of stuff that hasn't even happened yet. Do you find that worrying about religious displays and government interferrence into their placement occupies a large amount of your time?
Merry Christmas!
(seriously, merry christmas)
Patrick W Maple posted at 1:25 pm on Mon, Dec 3, 2012.
But our taxes are rising...does that make it a wash or maybe a moot point?
Bobcatbob Ingram posted at 10:41 am on Mon, Dec 3, 2012.
I agree, but I think You used an errant 'not' in your first paragraph. [wink]
Doug Chaney posted at 9:51 am on Mon, Dec 3, 2012.
The sky is falling!
Patrick W Maple posted at 1:31 pm on Sun, Dec 2, 2012.
Correction: ..." I do believe people SHOULD have the right to celebrate a holiday....
Patrick W Maple posted at 1:29 pm on Sun, Dec 2, 2012.
Mr Adams: When is the last time you saw someone demanding that a nativity scene be put UP rather than taken down. I have said many times that I am not religious...but I do believe people should not have the right to celebrate a holiday in whatever manner they choose.They have a right to use public property just as much as anyone does...as much as soccer does the school soccer fields, Atheists in public parks or kids on a playground.
As a Native American (First Americans) I would be totally teed off if they stopped ANY MORE ceremonial dances or festivals. In actuality the Native Ghost Dance of the Plains tribes (started with the Piaute Tribe) was the only Federally BANNED dance...it was not allowed to be performed even on the reservations...only a few tribes practice it today. Many however, practice many different religious/spiritual dances and ceremonies today...at tribal meetings and Pow Wows.
I can't imagine trying to ban the Sun Dance, Hoop Dance, Wounded Knee dance or the Buffalo Dance...or any of the hundreds still practiced and beleived today.
So, here is a people who knew nothing of God or Jesus yet believed in a Supreme Being...well before Christianity came ashore...that believed in the Great Spirit and the Spirits he would sent to help the tribe. Hmmmm....Of course they were portrayed as being just dumb indians.
Mike Adams posted at 10:50 am on Sun, Dec 2, 2012.
I think this whole "movement" is quite over blown.
From what I've seen, it flairs up around Christmas and then disappears for 10 months and they you hear about it all over again.
The court decisions I've seen merely say you might not be able to have Christmas themed displays on public property around Christmas. It doesn't disallow them totally. Every year, the city of Lodi lights up a evergreen tree in front of City Hall. They hang wreaths from the light posts downtown. Sometimes they change the lights in the arch to red and green. Not seeing a lot of "NO CHRISTMAS AT ALL" here in Lodi.
In over 30 years of education, not once was I ever told or recieved written instructions not to mention "Christmas" or any other December holiday for any reason. I've seen Xmas decoration contests, choral performances, etc.
Perhaps the difference was that contests and other holiday themed activities were on a volunteer basis (of course, everyone volunteered). Mandating participation in public schools, other public institutions, public property appears to be the problem.
There's always someone who percieves some sort of slight, blows it out of proportion and causes unnecessary drama. In my experience, it has been the result of persons who favor Christmas who look for a problem and then raises a big stink.
Patrick W Maple posted at 3:40 pm on Fri, Nov 30, 2012.
Well said Carolyn...relligious tolerance no longer exist in this country today...atheists and agnostics have stolen the phony outrage argument and are now trying to wipe religion off the face of the earth.
I am not a religious person but I am a believer and think that we had to start somewhere...why not with a God? He seems harmless enough. The idea that someone has to keep their beliefs and thoughts to themselves seems to quash celebration of everything.
The liberal left thinks people's rights should be curtailed unless it is their rights...take the right to smoke vs the right to smoke pot...or for that matter legalization of drugs...but no t-shirts in the schools or crosses on public property. Or PETA vs the turkey dinner. I say let them eat grass. Your are to be commended.
Darrell Baumbach posted at 7:04 am on Thu, Nov 29, 2012.
Merry Christmas Ms Hadden! Thank you for points well made..