Blog Entry #2 "Religion and Rights"

The debate on church and state, and the involvement that our government has played in delineating policy of our public schools has bounced back and forth for years. Upon reading “Religion in Schools Debate Heats Up” and the article regarding Billy Gobitas and the pledge of allegiance, I was reaffirmed in my personal philosophy regarding religion and education.
You would think that with my extensive military background that I would be in favor of the government enforcing students to say the pledge. However that could not be farther from the truth and would defy why most people choose to serve in the military and that is to preserve the rights and beliefs that are country was founded on. To live in a truly free society we can not impose on someone a belief, idea, or opinion and demand compliance. I believe that it was once best summed up under this statement: “Your rights end where other individuals begin”.
Now to twist things around, as to the concept of teaching evolutionism and creationism, I believe this to be an important concept of history and both has a place in schools if they are taught together as concepts and without bias. It is not impossible to teach about creationism without teaching about religion and equally you can teach about evolutionism without denying the theory of creationism.
There needs to be a “wide” line between church and state in public schools. To keep the school systems intact as an institution of learning, then beliefs must be set aside and free thinking must prevail. I would like to think that our judicial system is finally grasping the notion of constitutional rights, but I fear that there are many battles yet to come.