Student faces town's wrath after protest to have prayer removed from school

[Blake]

I certainly could be.
On the other hand, I think you're dead wrong: The very first line is irrelevant unless you want it to be otherwise.

After decades, someone finally found it relevant and wants it removed.

They need to remove it or at the least, the 6 words.

[TeyshaBlue]

After decades, someone finally found it relevant and wants it removed.

They need to remove it or at the least, the 6 words.

Someone always finds something relevant.

[TeyshaBlue]

I don't see how it can be irrelevant: it's a prayer addressed to god asking him to teach us, to help us, to grant us strength, etc. "Teach us the value of true friendship" is a lot different then "May we value true friendship".

It's words on a page. No magic ghost daddy hiding behind the paper waiting to cast special thought-blessings upon those who gaze upon it.

[baseline bum]

It's words on a page. No magic ghost daddy hiding behind the paper waiting to cast special thought-blessings upon those who gaze upon it.

It's words from an authority figure encouraging young impressionable minds to view morality as a subset of faith.

[TeyshaBlue]

Overthinking.

[baseline bum]

If it's just words on a wall, why do you support the Supreme Court telling them they couldn't have The Lord's Prayer?

[TeyshaBlue]

I don't equate my interpretation with the SC's interpretation. Not sure why you are making that particular comparison.

I think there is a lawful interpretation for their ruling. I'm not sure I agree with it, legal <> ethical.

But, I'll live either way. The young lady probably could too.
Good back and forth, BB. I enjoyed it. Now it's time to commute home and become one with a pitcher of girly drinks. Have a good weekend.

[Blake]

Someone always finds something relevant.

I don't know about that. I do know this is relevant though.

[Blake]

It's words on a page. No magic ghost daddy hiding behind the paper waiting to cast special thought-blessings upon those who gaze upon it.

Invoking "our heavenly father" is expressing a faith in a judeo christian religion.

Doesn't belong in public schools for what should be obvious reasons

[baseline bum]

Now it's time to commute home and become one with a pitcher of girly drinks.

Haha. All the best.

[RandomGuy]

I wonder what the commentary would be if the banner read:

Our Heavenly Mohammed...

"Joseph Smith, who art our prophet"

"Buddha, who lights our way"

[LnGrrrR]

Or for LnGrrrr....Our Heavenly Spagetti Monster.


..I know I just misspelled spagetti, right?

Yes, but I won't hold it against you. The FSM might, but I won't.

[TheSkeptic]

It's words from an authority figure encouraging young impressionable minds to view morality as a subset of faith.

I still think it was going overboard in her case. Part of maturity is being able to handle the fact that your beliefs might differ from those of other people and taking a live and let live approach to these issues.

Since it looks like the majority of people didn't agree with her stance and nobody was getting hurt in the process, there was no need to go over people's heads for the sake of getting her own way. What she did was selfish, inconsiderate, and was exactly the kind of meddling that she was accusing the school of.

If she really didn't like what her school was doing all she had to do was transfer. That's it. I'm saying this as someone who attended a Christian school growing up and hated it because I didn't believe the same way as everybody else but they were still making us sign code of conduct agreements and the like. However, I recognized that the school's way of doing this was beneficial for a lot of people.

Instead of going to court and meddling, I told the administrators that I didn't share their belief system, didn't want it forced on me on a regular basis, and that I wanted out. I was removed from that school and signed up at a different one in less than a week. It really was that simple and this student should've done the same.

"Joseph Smith, who art our prophet"

"Buddha, who lights our way"

If I was in, say, Salt Lake City or a predominantly Buddhist community I'd see those signs -maybe critique the accompanying artwork if there was any- and I'd go about my day. I've got better things to do than get mad at people for being open about their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

[Blake]

I still think it was going overboard in her case. Part of maturity is being able to handle the fact that your beliefs might differ from those of other people and taking a live and let live approach to these issues.

Since it looks like the majority of people didn't agree with her stance and nobody was getting hurt in the process, there was no need to go over people's heads for the sake of getting her own way. What she did was selfish, inconsiderate, and was exactly the kind of meddling that she was accusing the school of.

If she really didn't like what her school was doing all she had to do was transfer. That's it. I'm saying this as someone who attended a Christian school growing up and hated it because I didn't believe the same way as everybody else but they were still making us sign code of conduct agreements and the like. However, I recognized that the school's way of doing this was beneficial for a lot of people.

Instead of going to court and meddling, I told the administrators that I didn't share their belief system, didn't want it forced on me on a regular basis, and that I wanted out. I was removed from that school and signed up at a different one in less than a week. It really was that simple and this student should've done the same.



If I was in, say, Salt Lake City or a predominantly Buddhist community I'd see those signs -maybe critique the accompanying artwork if there was any- and I'd go about my day. I've got better things to do than get mad at people for being open about their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

lol meddling.

You were at a private school, she's at a public school. Generally the only way to switch schools is to live in a different area.

Iirc from the article, she did take it up with the school and the school board first. It was an organization that approached her and asked if she would be a plaintiff in this case.

[ElNono]

I still think it was going overboard in her case. Part of maturity is being able to handle the fact that your beliefs might differ from those of other people and taking a live and let live approach to these issues.

Since it looks like the majority of people didn't agree with her stance and nobody was getting hurt in the process, there was no need to go over people's heads for the sake of getting her own way. What she did was selfish, inconsiderate, and was exactly the kind of meddling that she was accusing the school of.

If she really didn't like what her school was doing all she had to do was transfer. That's it. I'm saying this as someone who attended a Christian school growing up and hated it because I didn't believe the same way as everybody else but they were still making us sign code of conduct agreements and the like. However, I recognized that the school's way of doing this was beneficial for a lot of people.

Instead of going to court and meddling, I told the administrators that I didn't share their belief system, didn't want it forced on me on a regular basis, and that I wanted out. I was removed from that school and signed up at a different one in less than a week. It really was that simple and this student should've done the same.

If I was in, say, Salt Lake City or a predominantly Buddhist community I'd see those signs -maybe critique the accompanying artwork if there was any- and I'd go about my day. I've got better things to do than get mad at people for being open about their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

Terrible take, all around.

I wouldn't have a problem working with people from any religion as long as they keep their religion to themselves. If they start hanging posters at the office, damn right I'm going to tell them to keep that at home.

Whether you agree with them or not as to the "beneficial" aspect, it's irrelevant.

[baseline bum]

I still think it was going overboard in her case. Part of maturity is being able to handle the fact that your beliefs might differ from those of other people and taking a live and let live approach to these issues.

That's much more an indictment of the adult administration of the school, pushing their beliefs on kids.

Since it looks like the majority of people didn't agree with her stance and nobody was getting hurt in the process, there was no need to go over people's heads for the sake of getting her own way. What she did was selfish, inconsiderate, and was exactly the kind of meddling that she was accusing the school of.

Selfish and inconsiderate for making her public school live up to the cons ution.

If she really didn't like what her school was doing all she had to do was transfer. That's it.

Love it or leave it?

I'm saying this as someone who attended a Christian school growing up and hated it because I didn't believe the same way as everybody else but they were still making us sign code of conduct agreements and the like. However, I recognized that the school's way of doing this was beneficial for a lot of people.

Private schools can do what they want. Public schools can't endorse a religion.

Instead of going to court and meddling, I told the administrators that I didn't share their belief system, didn't want it forced on me on a regular basis, and that I wanted out.
I was removed from that school and signed up at a different one in less than a week. It really was that simple and this student should've done the same.

LOL at the idea that it's on her when the school is the one breaking the law.

If I was in, say, Salt Lake City or a predominantly Buddhist community I'd see those signs -maybe critique the accompanying artwork if there was any- and I'd go about my day. I've got better things to do than get mad at people for being open about their religious beliefs (or lack thereof).

Not everyone likes being walked on, but cheers to you for being the sad clown.

[TheSkeptic]

Terrible take, all around.

I wouldn't have a problem working with people from any religion as long as they keep their religion to themselves. If they start hanging posters at the office, damn right I'm going to tell them to keep that at home.

Whether you agree with them or not as to the "beneficial" aspect, it's irrelevant.

You'd be en led to feel that way but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter.

Nobody's getting hurt if they put up a religious poster in their own office/cubicle. Just like how your wife/family is important to you so is religion and faith to others.

Getting offended and freaking out over things like that is petty. I'd be saying that regardless of the religion/belief system being put on display it doesn't have to be just Christianity. If everybody else is mostly fine with it but it's still that big of a deal just transfer.

The school and the politician behaved badly as well but that doesn't excuse the fact that this was all unnecessary and the court case really didn't need to happen.

lol meddling.

You were at a private school, she's at a public school. Generally the only way to switch schools is to live in a different area.

Iirc from the article, she did take it up with the school and the school board first. It was an organization that approached her and asked if she would be a plaintiff in this case.

Not exactly. It was a complicated situation where they were classified as a public school but were using two different accreditation bodies to be able to teach Christianity. All of this was attached to our grades and stuff so the religious aspects were mandatory.

Not at all. I was able to just call the other school and register. Whole thing took less than a week from start to finish.

[Blake]

Not exactly. It was a complicated situation where they were classified as a public school but were using two different accreditation bodies to be able to teach Christianity. All of this was attached to our grades and stuff so the religious aspects were mandatory.

Not at all. I was able to just call the other school and register. Whole thing took less than a week from start to finish.

What's the name of the school (s) ?

[ElNono]

You'd be en led to feel that way but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter.

You don't get to pick what matters/doesn't matter to anybody else.

You also don't have to "get offended" to find certain things inappropriate in certain places.

[Drachen]

There are parents getting felony charges for trying to put their children in a school outside of their area. Many thousands of dollars in res ution....

Skeptic, you are wrong about this. Also, how do you know this didn't really bother her? There are plenty of people who would get PISSED and storm the school board with torches and pitchforks if someone posted a banner at a school that said As-Salamu Alaykum, even if that school had a small group of well meaning muslims.

[mingus]

Was having the banner put up an administrative decision? I say if the kids want it up there then let them. If a Muslim wants his/her beliefs up there then let him/her. If an atheist wants his/her beliefs put up there then let him/her.

[Drachen]

Was having the banner put up an administrative decision? I say if the kids want it up there then let them. If a Muslim wants his/her beliefs up there then let him/her. If an atheist wants his/her beliefs put up there then let him/her.

There are a lot of religions out there, if you take that tact then where will you put the poster of the cat falling off the tree saying "hang in there"?

[mingus]

There are a lot of religions out there, if you take that tact then where will you put the poster of the cat falling off the tree saying "hang in there"?

Sure, there are a lot of religions out there. But I doubt they're even nearly all represented at the school (plus, you are assumming anyone of a particular faith would even ask for a banner to be put up there, which is clearly incorrect). And if someone decides to mock the school by coming up with the example you gave, then you simply call it out fo r the bull mockery that it is.

[Drachen]

Sure, there are a lot of religions out there. But I doubt they're even nearly all represented at the school (plus, you are assumming anyone of a particular faith would even ask for a banner to be put up there, which is clearly incorrect). And if someone decides to mock the school by coming up with the example you gave, then you simply call it out fo r the bull mockery that it is.

Look, I don't necessarily disagree with you, but you can't possibly be that naive. People will argue about which religion gets "the best" spot, then who regulates exactly what gets on the banners. Guaranteed that someone gets angry if an athiest puts up a banner that says "the reason for the season is reason", and so on.

[mingus]

Look, I don't necessarily disagree with you, but you can't possibly be that naive. People will argue about which religion gets "the best" spot, then who regulates exactly what gets on the banners. Guaranteed that someone gets angry if an athiest puts up a banner that says "the reason for the season is reason", and so on.

I think you're jumping to conclusions. I seriously doubt anyone would care whether their poster had the best spot. That's so stupid. But say it does happen, then do just do it randomly. And if people disagree as to what should be said on the poster, then, again, just do a random selection. If those problems did happen, they're not that difficult to resolve. I didn't think about them not because I'm naive, but because I think those scenarios are not only unlikely to happen in my view, but because they are so easily resolveable anyway that I do not think they deserve attention.