This letter was in the Appeal today in response to NO PLACE FOR FORCED RELIGION.
People of faith have rights too I am compelled to respond to the Nov. 20 letter "No place for forced religion," and challenge some of the writer's faulty reasoning and interpretation of law. The writer cites the Shelby County Schools' anti-discrimination policy that is printed on documents. This policy was intended to prevent persons from being denied educational and employment opportunities on account of "race, color, national origin, religion, gender, or disability." It does not prohibit employees from practicing their faith. Since the writer does not indicate she has been denied any opportunities, I don't see that the school system has violated her rights under this policy or that hypocrisy is involved. In asking the question "Has separation of church and state been totally discarded?" the writer makes the common mistake of misapplication of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which declares: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This provision was added to the Constitution to prohibit the federal government from establishing a state church, which was commonplace in Europe at the time of our nation's founding, and from meddling in the right of citizens to freely practice their religious faith. Some of my relatives have also "fought and died for our right to religious freedom." Correctly understood, this is the right to practice religion, not the right to be protected from being offended when others practice their religion. Steve Rowland Bartlett On Nov 20, 9:39 pm, stem cell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Did you see this in the Commercial Appeal today? Any thoughts? > > stemcell > > NO PLACE FOR FORCED RELIGION > > I am an employee of the Shelby County Schools system and have been for > over 18 years. I am fed up with the hypocrisy of the administration. > > On almost every document they print "Shelby County Schools offers > educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, > color, national origin, religion, gender, or disability"; however they > force all their employees to take part in Christian prayer. > > This occurs at the beginning of each school year during a systemwide > in-service training for teachers. This school year it took place at > Bellevue Baptist Church. > > Each time this is done, I am highly offended, not only for myself, but > for all the people who feel that freedom of religion is a critical > cornerstone of our nation. How can a public school system justify > this? > > Has separation of church and state been totally discarded? People have > fought and died for our right to religious freedom. This practice of > Shelby County Schools needs to be stopped. > > One might read this and say nobody is forcing you to work for Shelby > County Schools. That is of course true, but Shelby County Schools > should not lie about it so blatantly. > > People need to be warned before they accept employment that they will > be forced to take part in Christian prayers. Before writing this > letter, I complained about this practice and was told by an > administrator that I can skip the next prayer session, but I will be > docked for the time. > > NAME WITHHELD (Read the original in the Commercial Appeal if > interested.) > Memphis --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
