Posted on 12/09/2005 11:42:48 AM PST by dukeman
Weston, WI - Late yesterday afternoon after receiving a demand letter from Liberty Counsel, the D.C. Everest School District reversed course and decided not to censor religious themes from a student-sponsored, homeroom door decorating competition.
From December 12-14, students will be participating in the "Winter Spirit Week Door Decorating Contest sponsored by the Student Council. But in a December 7, 2005, Weekly Bulletin, the D.C. Everest Senior High School told students that no religious Christmas themes were permitted. The Bulletin stated that the doors can be decorated to depict "[a]ny winter scene," so long as there are "[n]o religious ties." Principal Thomas Johansen said that any doors with religious themes would be disqualified.
Students with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes immediately obtained more than 200 student petitions protesting the discriminatory rule. Representing the students, Liberty Counsel issued a demand letter on December 7 to Kristine Gilmore, the Superintendent, and the entire school board. The letter warned the District that this kind of censorship would be met by a lawsuit. Late yesterday afternoon, the following email was sent by the District to its employees: "Our school attorneys have advised us that the phrase 'no religious ties' in the Winter Spirit Week Door Decorating rules is not in compliance with existing laws. Therefore, if the Student Council holds the Winter Spirit Week Door Decorating Contest, the phrase 'no religious ties' must be deleted from the rules." The District has also given written confirmation to Liberty Counsel confirming the changed policy.
Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel, stated: "The students are elated that their religious viewpoints will not disqualify them from the contest. For these students, the Christmas 'Grinch' is gone. They can now decorate their doors with the joy of Christmas. Private religious speech that occurs on public property is fully protected by the First Amendment. Christmas cannot be treated like contraband."
Liberty Counsel's Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign is designed to educate about the constitutionality of celebrating Christmas. A free legal memo is available at LC.org.
Former President Reagan's Remarks on Lighting the National Christmas Tree - December 12, 1985
"My fellow Americans, thank you for joining Nancy and me on this festive evening. The menorah stands lighted in Lafayette Park, for this is also the time of Hanukkah, and this season is rich in the meaning of our Judeo-Christian tradition. In a moment we'll be lighting the National Christmas Tree, carrying forward what is now a 62-year tradition first begun by Calvin Coolidge.
Tonight we're drawn in warmth to one another as we reflect upon the deeply holy meaning of the miracle we shall soon celebrate. We know that Mary and Joseph reached the stable in Bethlehem sometime after sunset. We do not know the exact moment the Christ Child was born, only what we would have seen if we'd been standing there as we stand here now: Suddenly, a star from heaven shining in our eyes, shining with brilliant beauty across the skies, a star pointing toward eternity in the night, like a great ring of pure and endless light, and then all was calm, and all was bright. Such was the beginning of one solitary life that would shake the world as never before or since. When we speak of Jesus and of His life, we speak of a man revered as a prophet and teacher by people of all religions, and Christians speak of someone greater -- a man who was and is divine. He brought forth a power that is infinite and a promise that is eternal, a power greater than all mankind's military might, for His power is Godly love, love that can lift our hearts and soothe our sorrows and heal our wounds and drive away our fears. He promised there will never be a long night that does not end. He promised to deliver us from dark torment and tragedy into the warming sunlight of human happiness, and beyond that, into paradise. He's never been a halfway giver; His generosity is pure and perfect and sure.
This, then, expresses the true meaning of Christmas. If each of us could give but a fraction to one another of what He gave to the whole human family, how many hearts could heal, how much sorrow and pain could be driven away? There's still time for joy and gladness to touch a sad and lonely soul, still time to feed a hungry child, to wrap a present for a kind old man feeling forlorn and afraid, and to reach out to an abandoned mother raising children on her own. There's still time to remember our Armed Forces, to express our profound gratitude to those keeping watch on faraway frontiers of freedom, and to redouble our energies to account for our MIA's. They are not and never will be forgotten. And there's still time to remember the deepest truth of all: that there can be no prisons, no walls, no boundaries separating the members of God's family.
Let us reach out tonight to every person who is persecuted; let us embrace and comfort, support and love them. Let us come together as one family under the fatherhood of God, binding ourselves in a communion of hearts, for tonight and tomorrow and for all time. May we give thanks for an America abundantly blessed, for a nation united, free, and at peace. May we carry forward the happiness of the Christmas spirit as the guiding star of our endeavors 365 days a year. And as we light this magnificent tree, may all the youthful hope and joy of America light up the heavens and make the angels sing.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all. And now we're going to light the tree."
Yay for the Liberty Counsel. A foil to the ACLU!
I want a separation of Atheism and State. Atheism is a religious faith that insists absolutely there is no god.
Why should their no god God dominate the public square?
Freedom of religion is NOT freedom from religion.
I haven't heard of any agnostics irritated by public signs of faith. The atheists (not all) seem to be leading that battle.
I'm so happy that there are several conservative law groups like Liberty Counsel and FIRE that challenge liberal establishments... God bless them all!
And Wisonsin has nearly cornered the market on this type of thing. This is about the 5th story like this I've seen this week out of Wisconsin. Can someone out there give me a long term perspective on how so many cheeseheads veered left?
WOOHOO....we're starting to WIN!!!!
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