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1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 2:07 am
To start, I decided to put this thread in politics as it realtes to constitutional rights, where "politics" seemed to be a good place to ask.
If I am in the wrong, I would like an Admin to move my thread.
Thanks.
I live in NE Texas in a heavy bible belt area and religion is everywhere. I mean everywhere.
In fact, it has even invaded my school.
In my highschool whose name I will not disclose, there are quotes lining the walls, most though provoking, others insperational, but there are a few that relate to the bible, speaking of it as a source of knowledge and such. It even goes so far as to give a couple verses of deuteronomy, if memory serves.
So I guess my question is-
Is this a violation of the first amendment?
Is my school emphasising a religion over another or perhaps a religion over nonreligion?
If yes, how should I deal with this? Who should I complain to and how?
Thank you for any answers you provide.
My conclusion is that there is no reason to believe any of the dogmas of traditional theology and, further, that there is no reason to wish that they were true.
Man, in so far as he is not subject to natural forces, is free to work out his own destiny. The responsibility is his, and so is the opportunity.
-Bertrand Russell
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 2:40 am
Why would it violate the first amendment to have people quote something they like? Unless they force you to read it: they could plaster the walls with bibles and still not be violating the first amendment. You have heard of free speech and free expression, yes? 
Yeah... I don't believe in it either 
Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 7:20 am
(This post was last modified: August 28, 2011 at 7:20 am by KichigaiNeko.)
 If you don't like it ..don't look. You have THAT right. 
Do what you have to do to get through the system and get out of there. 
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 11:00 am
Yes.
Yes.
Call the ACLU.
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 11:08 am
If it's a public highschool they've definitely entered the grey area and you may want to take Min up on his suggestion.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 11:21 am
Make a sign equal in size to the sign that references Deuteronomy and place it on the same wall.
Make the signs say something like, "Don't rely on god - work hard and trust in yourself"
...when they rip your sign down - THEN call the ACLU. The school has now favored religion over non-religion and NOW you've got a case.
Also, take photos of everything you do - the existing signs, your signs ... and of course the remnant of your sign after they tear it down.
You do that, I'll be seeing you on the news - or at least the internet for sure.
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 2:47 pm
ACLU 'em up.
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 3:03 pm
(August 28, 2011 at 11:21 am)Cinjin Wrote:
You do that, I'll be seeing you on the news - or at least the internet for sure.
Make my own signs? I am a little worried that that course of action will land me in detention or in school suspension. Tomorrow when I get back to school I will take some pics of these quotes and send them and my interpretation, which is that they are promoting Christianity over other religions and nonreligion in a public high school.
I didn't really know that the ACLU was a source to go to for this kind of thing. I'll ask for their opinion before I take any action to avoid trouble.
My conclusion is that there is no reason to believe any of the dogmas of traditional theology and, further, that there is no reason to wish that they were true.
Man, in so far as he is not subject to natural forces, is free to work out his own destiny. The responsibility is his, and so is the opportunity.
-Bertrand Russell
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 3:26 pm
(This post was last modified: August 28, 2011 at 3:35 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
What do you think they call it when a person attempts to provide counterpoints to certain claims which are written on public school walls is punished for doing so, or downright prohibited from doing so?
If i were even entertaining the notion of protest I'd just about pray that I was prohibited at the outset, saves a lot of time and effort. But that's the cynic in me speaking of course. Pick your battles you know.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: 1st Amendment Ignored?
August 28, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Were public funds (school employees' labor) used to paint the quotes?
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