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The distortion and perversion of the first amendment

It seems the ACLU is at it again. They are threatening to sue a New Jersey high school with a 70 year tradition of hosting graduation ceremonies in a historic auditorium. The ACLU claims the event violates the “separation of church and state” as well as the first amendment.

The venue is owned by a Methodist group and it seems one person complained about the building’s religious symbols and Christian-based references – among them a 20 foot white cross above the auditorium’s entrance. The ACLU wants the school to remove or cover up the cross and three other religious signs.

In an attempt to reach an accommodation with the ACLU school officials agreed to change the graduation program to remove the student-led invocation and two hymns, to rid the ceremony of any religious references. But of course this was not enough for the ACLU, who is still threatening to sue if the school doesn’t fully comply.

The first amendment to the Constitution states:

The original intent of the first amendment with regard to religion seems unambiguous. Congress shall make no Law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof.  The New Jersey school is making no Law nor is it prohibiting the free exercise of religion. It is simply a graduation exercise.

But over the years the first amendment has been distorted and perverted to fit the political, social, an moral tenants of various parties. Even the Supreme Court has endorsed these distortions and perversions.

It has now been established that the first amendment now refers to states and municipalities, in addition to the federal government. In the middle to late twentieth century the Supreme Court began to interpret the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses in such a manner as to restrict the promotion of religion by the states. No longer did it have to be a law, now it is simply a perceived preference of one religion over another religion or non-religion.

Now it has reached the point where the first amendment is being interpreted as not being able to even acknowledge God in public. The infamous “separation of church and state” has grown out of this distortion and perversion. As Ronald Reagan so eloquently said:

To those who cite the first amendment as reason for excluding God from more and more of our institutions and everyday life, may I just say: The first amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people of this country from religious values; it was written to protect religious values from government tyranny

The New Jersey school is not trying to create a state church, not trying to repress freedom of religion, not enacting any laws, and not discriminating against anyone. They just want to continue a 70 year tradition. Yet from a series of Supreme Court decisions and manipulation by other courts, government agencies, and organization like the ACLU, the first amendment is being used as a weapon to attack religion wherever it raises its “ugly” head.

The first amendment has gone from being a 45 word sentence with clearly stated intentions to a muddle of leagaleze that bears no resemblance to what our founding fathers intended. Unfortunately, the same could be said of many of the amendments to the Constitution. I am constantly amazed that our country is fast becoming a country where the good of the few outweigh the good of the many. How sad.

 

 

 

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