Students Seek Right To Display Religious Banners

[lilwriter85]

Here's the rundown a cheerleader at a Texas high school and some of her fellow students were told by school administrators that they couldn't display religious banners at games and ther school functions. A judge has granted them a temporary restraining order that would allow them to display their banners for the next 14 days. Here are a couple of articles on it. I wonder if Jessica Ahlquist will comment on this, I would love if she did.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/ ... 877151.php

http://www.kiiitv.com/story/19590525/ch ... e-attorney

[GeoBQn]

This really looks like something that would be ruled unconstitutional. It's being held by cheerleaders in uniform on the field during an official football game, and the football players are running through it to start the game. Even if the school hadn't officially approved of the signs, it still gives the appearance that it is endorsed by the school.

[Arete]

I take violence against children seriously. However, their parents and this institute putting it through the courts need to be beaten with a stick. So sick of this shit.

ETA DISCLAIMER: I am not advocating parents or anyone else be beaten. I an venting because "Inner peace, inner peace" is not cutting it in terms of restoring my equillibrium today.

[lilwriter85]

I take violence against children seriously. However, their parents and this institute putting it through the courts need to be beaten with a stick. So sick of this shit.

I'm sick of it too and the parents in this case piss me off. If they wanted their children to be able to display religious, they should have ponied up money to send them a religious affiliated school.

[fundyfunland]

This really looks like something that would be ruled unconstitutional. It's being held by cheerleaders in uniform on the field during an official football game, and the football players are running through it to start the game. Even if the school hadn't officially approved of the signs, it still gives the appearance that it is endorsed by the school.

Exactly! Also, I'd love to see how much community support these cheerleaders would get if they were displaying, say, messages from the Koran.

[formergothardite]

Exactly! Also, I'd love to see how much community support these cheerleaders would get if they were displaying, say, messages from the Koran.

They would be freaking out about Muslims taking over our country!!!!!

[GeoBQn]

Exactly! Also, I'd love to see how much community support these cheerleaders would get if they were displaying, say, messages from the Koran.

I was talking about this with my husband, and he was shocked that the cheerleaders are ok with having a sign with the words from their sacred texts destroyed. I'm not sure if other religions have similar rules, but Jews don't destroy anything with G-d's name on it. He even felt the need to ask a rabbi if it was ok to throw out a kippah from a wedding where the couple eventually divorced.

[Arete]

The Eastern Orthodox bury sacred text and objects when they are no longer serviceable, and it would definitely be frowned upon to allow anything to be purposely destroyed. It's the reason religious Orthodox do not wear cloths with the word "God" on them.

[GeoBQn]

The 2nd article comes from a news station, but the only people it quotes are a cheerleader and her family, their attorney, and Liberty Institute. No word from the other side.

[Glass Cowcatcher]

I'm just curious, how would Jews and EOs feel about God being mentioned on currency?

[Arete]

For Greek Orthodox, the name of God on currency is frowned upon, especially because metal currency can be destroyed by fire, and cremation is seen as a "pagan" custom.

The "paganism" part is certainly eye roll worthy of us, as in the ancient world we were synonymous with pagan-homosexual-idolatrous practices. :lol:

[rock_girl]

Could these kids get any more narcissistic? Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing, but I always thought that you prayed quietly to God, asked him to help you and went about your day. That sort of public display is just crass. It also conveys that victory is assured because, hey, they've God's favour. What happens when the other team believes? Does God count the virgins on both teams and decide the match based on how heavily each player hits the porn and guilt?

[Arete]

Could these kids get any more narcissistic? Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing, but I always thought that you prayed quietly to God, asked him to help you and went about your day. That sort of public display is just crass. It also conveys that victory is assured because, hey, they've God's favour. What happens when the other team believes? Does God count the virgins on both teams and decide the match based on how heavily each player hits the porn and guilt?

LLLLLove!

[defrauding]

I was talking about this with my husband, and he was shocked that the cheerleaders are ok with having a sign with the words from their sacred texts destroyed.

It really sends mixed signals, doesn't it? "The Romans ran through Jesus Christ with a spear; the Kountze High School football players ran through 'Jesus Christ' on a banner."

[synchroswimr]

It really sends mixed signals, doesn't it? "The Romans ran through Jesus Christ with a spear; the Kountze High School football players ran through 'Jesus Christ' on a banner."

I'm not a religious person and I have trouble destroying things that have religious text on them.

But these banners, not ok at a public school. Just no.

[rock_girl]

Lol, I really am curious. I'm guessing that neighbouring schools aren't hotbeds of Islam and atheism, so when it comes time to play and both schools have exactly the same concentration of fundies, how does God decide? Does he say "oooh, what a nice banner, thanks for destroying the name of the son I sent down to earth to save your wretched souls, you win the game!" Failing that, maybe God looks at other factors like virginity, average length of beards among the players, whether or not the teachers at the school keep the sabbath, that sort of thing.

[fundyfunland]

You know what would really annoy me, is if the team wins some championship, because then the cheerleaders will be all "God wanted us to win" and "Jesus helps those who are saved". Barf!

[GeoBQn]

It reminds me of some poem from one of the Chicken Soup for the Teenaged Soul books where a football player prays before a game, "Please G-d, let my team win." G-d responds, "I can't answer that--the other team is praying for the same thing."

[fundyfunland]

The 2nd article comes from a news station, but the only people it quotes are a cheerleader and her family, their attorney, and Liberty Institute. No word from the other side.

And this surprises you? This is coming from the bible-belt here, where any dissenting opinions are considered hateful and oppressive of Jesus-humpers.

[Evilbad]

Yeah it's Texas. 'Nuff said.

(we may be moving to Texas in a few years and holy shit I have already decided to find a good private school and live on Spam to avoid my kid (who plays football) having to deal with the insanity. I doubt it will help, though)

[julie paradox]

God heard the embattled nations sing and shout

Gott strafe England! and God Save the King!

God this, God that, and God the other thing -

Good God, said God, I've got my work cut out.

- Sir John Squire, 1884-1958

[luckylibrarian]

Could these kids get any more narcissistic? Maybe it's my Catholic upbringing, but I always thought that you prayed quietly to God, asked him to help you and went about your day. That sort of public display is just crass. It also conveys that victory is assured because, hey, they've God's favour. What happens when the other team believes? Does God count the virgins on both teams and decide the match based on how heavily each player hits the porn and guilt?

ITA. And if they are anything like the cheerleaders and football players when I was in high school, God will have to look a long time to find a virgin. You're right that it's crass.. They're so quick to make a spectacle of their faith, but I wonder how "Christian" they are when no one is looking.

[Sola]

I guess it would be depend on whether it was the kids who wanted to do it, or the school that told them to do it.

If the kids wanted to do this, I think they should be allowed to display their faith if that's what they want. If the school told them to do it, then absolutely not.

I would love to know if they would support a Muslim student wanting to display qu'ranic verses though.

[GeoBQn]

It doesn't matter if the school told them to do it or not. It is during an official school activity, and schools allowing student-lead, student initiated prayer before football games is unconstitutional.

[Swamptribe]

I guess it would be depend on whether it was the kids who wanted to do it, or the school that told them to do it.

If the kids wanted to do this, I think they should be allowed to display their faith if that's what they want. If the school told them to do it, then absolutely not.

I would love to know if they would support a Muslim student wanting to display qu'ranic verses though.

By allowing them to show favoritism for one religion over another, the school would be sanctioning their message. The behavior of the cheerleaders is inflammatory and bullying and they know it. They feel they can get away with it because the majority in their community is Christian.

Think how those who are not christian and go to that school will be made to feel by this. Even if they are not the majority, they still have as much right to their beliefs as the cheerleaders. Just because the majority of students may practice some form of Christianity does not give them the right to marginalize the minority students because they don't hold the same religious beliefs.