2_________
WedNEsdAy, OcTobeR 24, 2001
Letters
Opinion
Bless the schools
I SALENAX)E LA CRUZ
Opinion Editor
“Gai Bless America” is a phrase
that has become synonymous with pa
triotism and Americans since our
nation’s biggest tragedy. However, in
a time when we should be standing
together, the American Ci vil Liberties
Union (ACLU) has demanded our
show of pride to be removed from an
elementary school in Rocklin, Califor
nia.
We as a nation and as families teach
our children the morals and values
they should have. By deeming God
inappropriate for school, what are we
telling them? We are telling them the
very beliefs we prided ourselves on
sharing with them are no longer con-
ventional. Why? Haven’t we taught
our children enough values that it
should be their decision as to whether
or not they want these values a part of
their lives?
Personally, I would much rather
have prayer heard in the rafters than
hate and violence.
I commend the superintendent of
BreenElementary, Kevin Brown, for
considered for publication if submitted by 1 p.m. the Friday prior to
publication. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing. We reserve the
right to not publish any letter.
ACLU has valid concerns
DANMERYS
the idea that saying, “God Bless
America” may be patriotic, but you
are not allowed to voice it
What amazes me is that one woman
-wanted a sign that said, ‘God Bless
America” to be taken down. The sign
did not say, “kill all who don’t follow
me.” One single solitary person be
lieved it wrong and contacted the
ACLU, and they in turn demanded the
sign betaken down. Shame on you.
There was an article in the Wash
ington Post by Charles Lane on Oct
12,2001 stating the ACLU was con-
sidejing legal actions. As of now they
are too little, too late.
I am nappy to report that on Oct 16,
2001, the |07’h Congress, in its first ses
currency ancUall' over-fedenil
building^
StaffWriter
The American Civil Liber-
Saying “God Bless America^
ties Union’s decision to may give you a warm fuzzyfeel
contest the placement of banners« ing, but when it alienates those
containing the phrase “God BlessL who don’t believe, in God and
America” in schools suchf as those who believe in a different
Breen Elementary School in f'god, it’s got to go.'Some think
Rocklin, CA is entirely justified
that this is an extreme point O.f
in my view.
I view, but take it to the other’ex-
While it’s a nice sentiment that
treme. Place banners with
shows support for the people of
New York and acts as a rallying
cry that says to the terrorists
phrases like “Vishnu(a Hindu
God) Bless America” or/‘Satgn
Loves America.” No school iffs
“We will not be beaten,” it is an
enough room to place“*banriers
endorsement of religion by a pub- . touting every religious position
lie school. Over the past 76 years in America. So the only r.easgn-
the ACLU has been involved in a ‘ able solution is to remove the
sion, unanimously passed HCON 248
EH, which states, “Resolved by the
House of Representatives (the Sen
ate concurring), that it is the sense of
Congress that public schools may dis
play the words 'God Bless America' as
an expression of support for the na
tion.”
I believe wholeheartedly in my rights
and those of everyone around me,
even children, and if that means allow-
ing themselves to decide what’s right
bitter battle to hava religious
overtones removed from public
banners altogether. ' - Ig w
These signs also make' some
schools. Leaving this banner up
is an attack on 7o years of
Pr°gress-
people uncomfortable. If every
time you turned a corner you saw
S.......
a six by eight-foot banner tell
ing you how different you were,
would really feel like sticking
around? No. I,didn’t think so.
That’s not the kind of environ^
colors, and singing my praise to God
and the nation. “God Bless
America.” Amen.
The U.S. Supreme Court has
held that prayer and The Ten
Commandments have no place in
schools. “Courts have generally
said that, up to a certain vaguely
defined point, what they call ‘cer
emonial deism’ is okay,” said Eu-->
gene Volokh, a UCLA law profes
sor. However, I believe this is
completely unacceptable, not to
mention that the phrase “In God
We
Trust” appears on U.S.
J.R. Richardson
Johi^Meyer^^^^^^
’’Sure, why not? I don't see
anything wrong with it”
"Sure, because right now
everybody should be united. It's
the thing for everyone to feel
safe under."
standing his ground on this issue. He ■ and wrong for them, so be it
let the ACLU know, ^That’s non-ne-
I’ll be waving my flag, showing my
gotiable.” Because he saw that we may
not have a future to look forward to if
wecontinue passing onto our children
All signed letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be
ment that’s conducive to mental
and emotional growth,
8 So the debate is one of practi
cality and tacsSi^^Igjgj^gg
ing to suffer because ofthegood
intentions of another, the sim
plest solution is to remove 1^?
problem paraphernalia?^^”
.. ■>
Photos and quotes compiled
by Mike Pollock and Maggie
Jirasek
BriannaCariiey^^^^^
David Gibler-
"Yeah, originally we are a nation
under God. Comforting thing to
have at school."
"Sure. That's a tough question.
The majority of people believe in
God. His blessing would help."
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