Is it really a freedom if I am not allowed to do it? Every day there is a chance we may say something that offends another person, or something that contradicts another person’s beliefs. The United States was founded on freedom. As stated in the constitution, we have freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition against the government. People come to the U.S. just for these freedoms, because they aren’t granted in other countries. The U.S. was not made for everyone to believe the same things and represent the same things, although that would be nice, we know that not every single person in our country will have the same opinions about everything. Just because we do not all believe the same things, doesn’t mean we can’t agree to disagree. Part of accepting other people, is respecting what they believe even if you don’t agree. Freedom of religion has been hindered in schools because of controversy.
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Teachers are no longer allowed to state their beliefs to students about religion, and they can no longer read from the bible. A moment of silence in school is no longer referred to as a time of prayer because calling it a time of prayer may offend those who do not believe in prayer. People argue that they will feel forced to accept these beliefs if we call it a time of prayer. Some people protest the right to pray at sporting events, and school functions. There is always going to be contradiction about what we should believe, however there is no contradiction about what is allowed by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. The first amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” As long as while people are practicing these freedoms they do not infringe on another person’s rights, freedom of religion is allowed. Allowing individuals to practice what they believe is not forcing a set of beliefs on everyone else. So we do not let people publically display their rights because of what? It offends a certain group of people, it might hurt someone’s feelings, or it isn’t what everyone else believes. This is no excuse. The constitution gave United States citizens these freedoms without these restrictions. In elementary school we teach our children not to be tattle tales, not to tell on someone for pity things unless it is something serious or something that could hurt someone else. When I think of this, it reminds me of how we choose to make a big deal out of things that really have no support. When people say that praying in school, or having a moment of silence infringes their rights, they are wrong and not supported by the constitution. The first amendment explains that the government has no right to make you believe a certain set of beliefs or interfere with your way of worship. Having a moment of silence for students who believe in prayer can also provide time to collect one’s own thoughts for the day and mentally prepare for the goals we set each day. This is not interfering with someone else’s safety or rights as a citizen, nor is it forcing them to pray if that is not what they believe in. What argument is worth having if you cannot back
Teachers are no longer allowed to state their beliefs to students about religion, and they can no longer read from the bible. A moment of silence in school is no longer referred to as a time of prayer because calling it a time of prayer may offend those who do not believe in prayer. People argue that they will feel forced to accept these beliefs if we call it a time of prayer. Some people protest the right to pray at sporting events, and school functions. There is always going to be contradiction about what we should believe, however there is no contradiction about what is allowed by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. The first amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” As long as while people are practicing these freedoms they do not infringe on another person’s rights, freedom of religion is allowed. Allowing individuals to practice what they believe is not forcing a set of beliefs on everyone else. So we do not let people publically display their rights because of what? It offends a certain group of people, it might hurt someone’s feelings, or it isn’t what everyone else believes. This is no excuse. The constitution gave United States citizens these freedoms without these restrictions. In elementary school we teach our children not to be tattle tales, not to tell on someone for pity things unless it is something serious or something that could hurt someone else. When I think of this, it reminds me of how we choose to make a big deal out of things that really have no support. When people say that praying in school, or having a moment of silence infringes their rights, they are wrong and not supported by the constitution. The first amendment explains that the government has no right to make you believe a certain set of beliefs or interfere with your way of worship. Having a moment of silence for students who believe in prayer can also provide time to collect one’s own thoughts for the day and mentally prepare for the goals we set each day. This is not interfering with someone else’s safety or rights as a citizen, nor is it forcing them to pray if that is not what they believe in. What argument is worth having if you cannot back