The Frisco Independent School District in Texas was faced with complaints about Gideon volunteers hanging around outside of schools to pass out bibles to children. They solved the problem by inviting them into the school where free bibles are now made available to the students — a move that has caused some parents to object.
The school allows the religious group to come to schools on particular days to pass out the bibles. The District says that non-school literature is allowed as long as it doesn’t “attack ethnic, religious, or racial groups.” Such material must also not “interfere with school activities or the rights of others.”
How does the district prevent other material being brought into schools. I expect some parents might object to evolutionary textbooks and even environmental textbooks. How about books on atheism or paganism?
A spokesperson said “We cannot pick and choose which materials are allowed to be left at a designated location for display/pickup based upon the viewpoint expressed in the materials.” I would have less trouble with such a display if the school allows books on atheism, gay rights, Islam, and other material to be shown. Somehow I think that there would be a backlash to such material, but it might be worth a test.
For the full story, click here.
Atheists lose lawsuit over Detroit’s downtown aid
Evening update
Associated Press • May 28, 2009 •
DETROIT – A federal appeals court says Detroit did not violate the Constitution when it partially reimbursed churches for renovations before the Super Bowl and other major sporting events.
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After winning a bid to host the 2006 Super Bowl, the city in 2003 created a development program to reimburse up to half the costs of refurbishing downtown buildings and parking lots.
Three churches received 6 percent, or $737,000, of more than $11 million allocated for projects.
The group American Atheists sued, claiming the city could not include religious organizations in the program.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled today that Detroit intended to bolster its downtown – not promote religion in general or any one faith in particular.
Thought it was applicable.
I am not a religious person. I sometimes find it silly. However, I have no problem with the bibles being left. I believe this was high school or middle school. Young people should be left to make up their minds, and get diversity of opinion. That is what should make America great. Religious people also should be able to accept if their children are given opinions that are either atheistic or are religions opposite of their own. Many Americans, both left and right, show what hypocrites they are when they talk about freedom, as long its their freedom and no one elses.
Bron, I find it hilarious that when people cant address the actually substance of what I say, they have to resort to claiming Im someone else and ad hominem attacks. Quite amusing. Now, try something different—–actually address the CONTENT of what I say.
And by the way, any evidence Im “angry”??? Because I use all caps in some words? Im EMPHASIZING words. If I was yelling, every word of the post would be all caps.
“Hey, is Larry saying those things about me? I thought he was just referring to Mespo.” M.A.
Whoops I jack up a single vehicle funeral procession? 🙂 Won’t be the last.
Larry:
You can still learn about yourself and the world we live in without verbally
stooping to the levels you display. The choice of what you create belongs to you.
Bron, thank you, but you’re much too kind. As I mentioned in another post, there have been a number of courtroom moments when I would have killed for a teleprompter.
MikeA:
no one would ever talk smack about you. You are way to much of a gentleman (at least on this blog, having not seen you in court I am limited in my observations. Although reading some of your posts here I would not want to be an opposing counsel unprepared. The stiletto wit inserted intracranially would smart).
Hey, is Larry saying those things about me? I thought he was just referring to Mespo.
Bron,
It’s possible. Look into Waynebro though before you make up your mind. He was another CCM incarnation that was considerably more rabid.
Buddha:
I went back and read some posts in 2008 that featured Cro Magnum Man (he had what looked like a little devil as his avatar) because I wanted to see what Patty C was referring to in regards to me. I must say that I see some similarities between CMM and Larry. They have that rabid anger and they do multiple posts in a row and just cant drop something. (Now this just may be a normal human response to disagreement.)
His tirades seemed to escalate once he was called a couple of benign names. Anyway just some thoughts.
Larry:
Are you Cro Magnum Man? I have been accused of being CMM and would like to set the record straight.
By the way you sound like a trained ape maybe Bonzo of Bed Time for Bonzo, does Ronald Reagan have his hand up your a** controlling your thoughts?
It’s always amusing to see someone blissfully unaware they are being screwed with.
“Self-declared victories are the basest and most fleeting kind. I’ll let the readers decide the outcome. If you really want to know the answer to your “question,” read Mike Appleton’s comments.”——I was CORRECT, as predicted. By telling me to refer to somone ELSE’S post, YOU did not answer my questions! Quite funny.
CCD:
You can’t argue with the manifest truth.
Larry:
Due post again with the test case results.
mespo:
Funny for the life of me I cannot perceive Mike Appleton as a dickhead or an
a**hole as Larry projects. Emotional intelligence is so underrated, and lacking it deludes ones self with grandeurs of annihilation.
Larry:
“Once again, clear evidence that you have ZERO answer for my questions and that I annihilated you with facts! ”
*********************
Self-declared victories are the basest and most fleeting kind. I’ll let the readers decide the outcome. If you really want to know the answer to your “question,” read Mike Appleton’s comments.