Intellectual Dishonesty

| Mon 23 Jan 2012 | 5 Comments | 1073 Views

Author Emily Dietle

My focus is on state-church separation & social issues. I'm an avid reader, and feel that one of our most valuable tools is the free movement of information and ideas. | @emilyhasbooks

I’ve seen hundreds of responses to the ruling on the school prayer banner in Cranston High School West, and the majority of the religious responses are defamatory towards the plaintiff, Jessica Ahlquist, or express their blatant ignorance of the law.  The religious banner, if you missed it, reads:

SCHOOL PRAYER Our Heavenly Father, Grant us each day the desire to do our best, To grow mentally and morally as well as physically, To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers, To be honest with ourselves as well as with others, Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win, Teach us the value of true friendship, Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West. Amen

The most common argument railing against the removal of the prayer banner (other than “historical importance”) is that it doesn’t promote religion and that it contains a great message for the school’s youth.  It is undeniable that the banner clearly does promote religion, as it is a PRAYER; stating otherwise, is intellectual dishonesty.  Such a promotion is clearly a violation of the Establishment Clause, and this issue has already been addressed in 1962′s Engel v Vitale*.

It’s easy to admit that the author of the school prayer banner was coming from a place of good intentions, but a banner by school officials promoting religion has absolutely no place on public school grounds.  So, to honor the aspiration behind the ‘School Prayer,’  I propose a new banner for Cranston West, that isn’t strictly exclusive to adherents of YHWH.  This secular banner contains the same inspiration as the prayer, and actually gives the responsibility of action to the students.

*If you’re unfamiliar with this case, it’s when the Supreme Court determined it’s unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools.  They stated that even if it’s not coercive, the mere promotion of a religion is sufficient to establish a violation, and that even if the prayer is vaguely worded enough not to promote any particular religion it’s not a sufficient defense.  So what’s the issue here?  Why won’t the school set a good example and cease breaking the law? If anyone is conducting themselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West, it’s Jessica Ahlquist.

For more info. about the ACLU, the organization that assisted Ahlquist, please visit aclu.org

 

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  • Gary Clemans-Gibbon

    Beautifully put Emily.

  • Sailordan

    The Prayer banner looks more like something we used in the Military called “Core Values”.
    Honor, Courage, Commitment, Loyalty, Respect, Honor, Integrity, personal courage, and Excellence in all we do. At one time Tradition rang across every services core values. However, by the 1990’s, this was stripped of every service, a sad time in my Navy days.

    Relating this banner to the schools core values, this looks pretty awesome for a seventh grader in 1963 to have wrote. Of course in that time period, it’s not suppressing it was written as a prayer.

    I’m certain, both Atheist and Christians would rather see children graduate high school and move on to higher education and successful careers as ethical and morally citizens.

    REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, I PRAY THIS SCHOOL DOESN’T CHANGE ANY OF THEIR SCHOOL CORE VALUES. However, For forty-nine years this banner has stood in the school gym. Could we view this as the entire school community, except for one, that is asking for the “Tradition” of allowing this version of school core values to remain?

    In my opinion, but it is only my opinion. Most Atheist have no concern about after effects of stripping an institution of their time honored treasures. Placing that institution on unfamiliar and unstable ground. The Atheist banners and protesters are long gone when the undesired after effects are felt. Why is it there are not great men or women such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, or Ronald Reagan who stood out in history who were Atheist?

  • Gary Clemans-Gibbon

    Interesting post Sailordan.

    You said “Honor, Courage, Commitment, Loyalty, Respect, Honor, Integrity, personal courage, and Excellence in all we do.”

    I notice that you mentioned “honor” twice, a word that I find all too often overused by Americans. I suspect that of that list of words, honor would be the one that you might stumble on in defining. It is a fairly meaningless and valueless word. In fact I’d say it is redundant in that fine list of secular values you just gave.

    The USA has a fine constitution penned by learned men who, unlike most Americans today, had a detailed memory of the atrocities and harm caused by the religious dynasties of Europe during the dark ages of clerical rule.

    That school and all others like it need to ditch all religious overtones and stick to the health and liberating secular values you listed above.

    You keep praying Sailordan. Lets hope that these kids grow up doing something a little more effective in bringing about a better world.

  • Sailordan

    Yes, by mistake I used Honor twice, just as many others do in grammar errors. Nothing more. Maybe I’ll even skip running spell check here and allow you to pick on that also. Since it seems the merits in my previous post were right on point.

    I notice the first words out of “Least Learned Atheist” is always, “It’s blatantly against the Law”. No it is not! We are battling the meaning of the words “Separation of church and state”. Take a look at your tax bills. Theirs Federal and state, then a school tax. (No, I didn’t really think that would change view). I’m certain the Supreme Court will vote on this again, and again, for years to come on it’s legality. I, as many others simply view it has Atheist Intimidation, and its worse than a begging Harry Christina at the airport, or a Jehovah witness knocking at my door.

    This school prayer in no way, shape or form joins the school and church at the hip, ankle, or even on a “Pinky swear”.

    Think of World War II. All the soldiers that came back home wondering why they made it and others didn’t. All the wives, parents, and children thankful for their soldier’s return or saddened by that dreadful letter delivered by a government car. Add that too the 1950′s first printing of “In God we Trust” on paper money followed by this 1960′s Prayer written by a seventh grader shows solid core school values. The importance that era placed on attending your own place of worship. Now you see just one reason why it was written as a prayer and church was so important in that time.

    The desire to do our best”,
    To grow Morally and Physically
    To be kind and helpful
    To be honest to ourselves and others
    To be good sports
    To value true friendship
    To conduct ourselves to bring credit upon our school (something I hope every Atheist would desire to do).

    Would just one Atheist, stop for a moment. and think.
    This sixteen year old girl is battling an entire state
    and running up expensive bills for them ( yes, I know that’s the schools choice,,,, I said think)
    Will this girl ever get ask to a prom?
    Will she ever visit a high school reunion?
    Will she ever find a job in her own state?
    I for one don’t hire Drama queens or those who don’t play nicely with others.

    Have you ever heard the saying. “Don’t fight so hard to win the battle that you lose the war”?

    This prayer has become a school treasure.
    Removing it, will place it in a church or some place where it’s memory and observance will be much more than it is today.

  • cheryl

    Thank goodness for courageous teenagers like Jessica. The bad decision lie with the godfearing,devil worshipping christians who think forcing their brand of religion down everyone’s throats is their mission in life. Do me a favor, let me live my life they way I want to. stop trying to turn this nation into a twin sister of islam. Keep your religion in your church and in your home. Practice your values all you want just don’t tell others we have to walk the chalk line you’ve drawn because you choose to live in Mother Goose’s house.

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Category: Atheism & Religion, Church-State Separation