I see. I was kind of thinking along the same lines. "Did the ACLU sue because the student wasn't allowed to hang a moon painting or did they just demand that the Jesus painting be removed because they are offended by Jesus"?
However, I can envision an ACLU that feeds itself by winning payouts from the government. Sueing for Christians on one day, Muslims the next and Atheists on the third. What might REALLY matter to them is the ACLU, not religious liberty.
Life Member, NRA, Lapeer County Sportsmen's Club Disclaimer: I Am Not A Lawyer. Opinions expressed are not representative of any organization to which I may belong, and are solely mine. Any natural person or legal entity reading this post accepts all responsibility for any actions undertaken by that person or entity, based upon what they perceived was contained in this post, and shall hold harmless this poster, his antecedents, and descendants, in perpetuity.
So you're telling me that if Dearborn want's to put a crescent moon over every door in their schools, and install a nice big "peter"- call to prayer tower, you'd be good with it? Cause- freedom OF religion, not from. You don't have to practice it just because you're immersed in it.
I would be VERY upset if DEARBORN was to do that. That is the other portion of the amendment, SHALL ESTABLISH NO. If the "people" wish to, they may. Right next to the crosses and six pointed stars, statues of Buddha, the Ankh, etc: They may not bar one in preference of another, just as those that are lacking should not be able to bar those that have a right to the "Free exercise there of".
Nice try on putting words in my mouth.
Life Member, NRA, Lapeer County Sportsmen's Club Disclaimer: I Am Not A Lawyer. Opinions expressed are not representative of any organization to which I may belong, and are solely mine. Any natural person or legal entity reading this post accepts all responsibility for any actions undertaken by that person or entity, based upon what they perceived was contained in this post, and shall hold harmless this poster, his antecedents, and descendants, in perpetuity.
I concur with Round' on this. People often think there is "separation of Church and State". Incorrect. Don't think so? Look at your money and count all of the religious (probably Judeo-Christian) references. No where in the Constitution do the words "separation of" and "Church and State" appear. It is a clause prohibiting the State from establishing an official religion of the country. True to the Constitution, there can be religious symbols and references all over any government building ... so long as there is no preference of one over the other or any action that establishes one as "the correct religion".
Given Dearborn's high Muslim population, if the people who lived there were fine putting Islamic symbolism plastered over the sides of their post offices, fine. But if someone who isn't Muslim wants to put a crucifix or lamb/lion on that same building, it needs to be given equal value and visibility... but that would be up to the people who live there, not me.
There is a significant difference between freedom OF religion, to choose and practice as you wish provided it does not impede or cause harm to the rights of others, and to be free from exposure to religion at all.
Wow, thought I clicked on the wrong thread until the second try. At the risk of derailing a spirited debate, do we know when the house votes on this?