Further: Mr. Valentine needs to clarify why his decision that county school employees should not involve themselves in public prayer should not be seen as a threat of persecution.
****
Mr. Valentine's order appears clear: "Effective immediately, football games are not to be opened with a prayer that is in anyway led, directed, organized, or encouraged by Lauderdale County Board of Education employees."
School employees who disregard this instruction will in all likelihood be disciplined in some manner for insubordination, and they should be. Discipline is NOT "persecution." The order does not prevent employees from individually praying in a manner that is NOT associated with leading, directing, organizing, or encouraging religious expression at football games or other official school activities.
Too many of you deranged wingers are quick to classify anything that interferes with your unconstitutional notions of theocracy as "persecution." Your freedom to practice your religious beliefs is greater in this nation than anywhere else on earth. Whadda ya want? An egg in yer beer?
==================================================
vailed threat of percecution plain and clear contendah. Valentine is in direct violation of the U S Constitution. let me remind you of what it says:
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
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.
let me point out to you Contendah:
1. there is no law respecting an ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION
2. Mr. Valentine has in violation of the US Constitution sought to prohibit the free execercise of religion on the part of employees and in doing so affected the freedom of exercise on the part of citizens who elected him. He is sworn to uphold the Constitution and is in violation of that trust.
contenda if you cant see that plain and simple you simply just don't want to. Don't dig yourself any deeper in error than you already have. eating crow may not be to your taste.
on behalf of truth i demand you recant your poisition. [new word for the day]
****
Demand all you wish, lexum; there is no reason for me to recant anything. "Free exercise" is not a concept that must be enfleshed within sectarian public actions of governmental authorities in order for the First Amendment to have practical validity. Your concept of free exercise is intolerably expansive and wholly out of line with a whole string of judicial decisions applying to the First Amendment. You and others who will simply not face up to this fact, continue to serve up your simplistic and wrongheaded guardhouse lawyer drivel in support of your untenable positions. You are on the losing side, plain and simple. You are hereby ordered to CEASE and DESIST!!!