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Education

School Forces Child to Remove ‘God’ From Veteran’s Day Poem: ‘Separation of Church & State’

Nov. 30, 2012 11:06am Billy Hallowell

West Marion Elementary School Forces Kid to Remove God From Poem

Photo Credit: AP

West Marion Elementary School in Marion, North Carolina, is at the center of controversy after educators ordered a six-year-old girl to remove the word “God” from a poem she was slated to deliver at a Veteran’s Day event. The first grader intended to use the opportunity to honor her two grandfathers who fought during the Vietnam War.

The contentious line that led the school to take action was, “He prayed to God for peace, he prayed to God for strength” — clearly a reference to her relatives’ personal, wartime invocations. After a parent allegedly heard of the inclusion of a higher power, he or she complained. The school, apparently working diligently to balance church versus state concerns, then decided to tell the child to remove the line.

“The discussion [about the poem] occurred between myself, the principal and the assistant principal at West Marion,” Superintendent Gerri Martin told McDowell News. “We wanted to make sure we were upholding the school district’s responsibility of separation of church and state from the Establishment Clause.”

After consulting and considering the law, the school decided that allowing the line would constitute an endorsement of “one single religion over another.” Some in the Marion community, though, are concerned that the young girl’s First Amendment rights were violated when she was told that she could not utter God’s name during the Nov. 8 event.

One district employee, Chris Greene, spoke out at a Board of Education meeting this week, explaining that the school was guilty of “hushing the voice of a six-year-old girl.” He contended that she was not trying to pray or coerce others to engage in a conversation with God, but that the first grader was simply explaining what her grandfathers had done in their time of need.

Photo Credit: AP

“She was told that she was not allowed to say the word God during this program,” Greene said. “Being a six year old, and not knowing her rights, she did what she was told.”

But not everyone agrees, as Greene does, that an apology to the young girl is warranted. In an interview with McDowell News, Ken Paulson, president and chief executive of the First Amendment Center in Washington, D.C., said that the school was within its rights to remove “God” from the poem.

“Courts have consistently held up the rights for students to express themselves unless their speech is disruptive to the school,” Paulson maintains. “The First Amendment protects all Americans. She had every right to mention God, [but] that dynamic changed when they asked her to read it at an assembly.”

Because the event was planned and not spontaneous, Paulson said that the school could have potentially run into church versus state trouble. The audience was “captive” in that it had nowhere to go if members did not want to hear “God” be mentioned. In the end, he agreed with the school’s assessment and actions (so far, the girl’s family has been silent about the matter).

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section, below.

(H/T: Fox News’ Todd Starnes)

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Comments (253)

Uechi
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:45am
Time to vote with your feet if you can’t afford to send your child to a private or public school that isn’t anal retentive over the word God. My grandkids are home schooled and they are far from ignorant which is what conventional,now Marxist schools, would have you believe, They also are taught about God, values and ethics.

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- rx4nv
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:06pm
  Am I the only one that is offended by the schools and government supporting atheism? The fact that no one can mention anything religious makes me feel like the government is forcing atheism upon me. Does that not go against the establishment clause? Atheism is something people believe, therefore it falls under the realm of religion. People need to start sueing under the premise that atheism has been shown to be supported and enforced by the government.
  
  Report this comment
- AndYetItMoves
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:19pm
  You’re not the only one who is offended, nor are you the only one who has precisely no idea what atheism means or how the establishment clause works.
  
  Report this comment
- rx4nv
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:35pm
  Please explain! What do I not understand about atheism or the establishment clause? Just a reminder, establish means to make or form something. This is the whole reason the pilgrims left England. They left because the government established a specific religion that they forced on the people. “God” is not a specific religion. Many different religions believe in God. In order to avoid the forcing of an “established” religion, people should be allowed (as per their first amendment rights) to speak or not speak of God. Once someone is denied their ability to either speak or not speak of God, the government has then chosen to support one of those groups. It has “established” it’s religion. So banning the Catholic from singing christmas carols in a public park supports atheism and “establishes” a government preference toward a religion, whereas, forcing atheists to sing christmas carols in the park is supporting Christianity, therefore “establishing” a religious belief. However, letting someone sing christmas carols in the park while someone else is able to walk through it without having to join in is a separation of church and state, because the government has not forced anything upon anyone..
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:35pm
  On average, homeschooled children score 72 points higher on the SAT than children who are indoctrinated in State run schools.
  
  Report this comment
- rangerskippy
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:37pm
  Silly little child.
  
  If she would just remove “God”, and replace with “Obama” she would be fine, the school would love here, the MSM would praise her, Chris Mathews would interview her…..
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:38pm
  Actually, the federal courts have ruled that atheism is a religion (Kaufman v. McCaughtry). Here’s what’s I want to know… Since atheism is a religion and since Evolution is a doctrine of atheism (i.e., according to the first plank of the Humanist Manifesto), why haven’t any Christians filed lawsuits to stop the State from favoring the atheist doctrine of Evolution over the Christian doctrine of Creation in our public schools? If I had children in a public school, I would have filed a lawsuit a long time ago.
  
  Report this comment
- rangerskippy
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:39pm
  who is raising these kids now days? You would think this child believes to have some sort of freedom of speech, or worse yet, a freedom of religion.
  
  Hope and Change Baby!
  
  Report this comment
- kadster01
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:45pm
  But it’s perfectly fine for a young child to watch Islamic men beating themselves bloody and even joining in on the fun. Separation of church and state, as specious as it is to begin with (and to be found nowhere in the US Constitution), does NOT extend to personal expression!
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:52pm
  If she’d said “He prayed to Obama…” would they have objected?
  
  Report this comment
- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:19pm
  THE TIME HAS COME.
  YOU are either a Child of GOD or not.
  
  These immature, hysterical, feeble-brained atheists who have NO proof there is NO GOD have managed to scream louder, attack more and we’ve just sat there. This horrible woman O’**** managed to get GOD out of our schools? Okay…it’s up to US to get Him BACK IN SCHOOLS.
  
  No one forces anyone to say GOD. They never did. BUT our CREATOR…the Entity who gave us this earth, this Universe and this life should be treated with RESPECT at all times. The fact that we have
  ETERNAL LIFE now that His Son came to DIE for our sins is incredible. GOD LOVES US. HE created us. He wants us forever with Him, but not with sin.
  
  “Being GOOD (nice, decent, honorable)” does NOT get us to HEAVEN. Acknowledging that GOD is, in fact, The Creator of the Universe and that Jesus DID come and died for us is how we get into HEAVEN. It’s up to YOU to learn why. YOU have free Will. YOU can’t have it both ways.
  
  YOU have to come to GOD. YOU have to acknowledge His Presence (as outrageous as it may seem…it’s no more outrageous than knowing that we are floating round on a sphere and not falling off)
  
  The vast majority of People believe in GOD. Those of us who know Him know that HE is the only “converter” – we can’t…all we can do is put information out there. GOD needs to be in the CENTER of our life – every day.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:24pm
  @LTB
  
  A clarification on your menetion of Kaufman v. McCaughtry. The court did not declare atheism a religion; they declared that atheists have the same rights as other religious denominations. Nowhere in the reading does it state that atheism is a religion. In other cases (Davis v. Beason, 1890, for examples) the Court said: “The term ‘religion’ has reference to one’s views of his relations to his Creator, and to the obligations they impose of reverence for his being and character, and of obedience to his will.”
  
  As atheism rejects the idea of a Creator, it cannot in fact be a religion. There are several other reasons as well (it doesn’t have ministers, religious literature, houses of worship, etc), but as you only focused on the SCotUS, that should set you straight. Have a good day! :-)
  
  Report this comment
- wordsofwisdom
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:28pm
  This reminds me of how tentative our religious rights are in this atmosphere today. All you need to do is mention god and you are attacked by the atheist with the separation of church & state BS. This is how the left works. This song is for them “The Devils Song” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10789987
  They are his deceivers!
  
  Report this comment
- CanadaRocks
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 3:17pm
  So Patty. Where is your proof that god does exist?
  
  Report this comment
- Lucy Larue
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 3:55pm
  Call the West Marion Elementary School. the number is (828)738-3353.
  Yeah…, comment here but let THEM know your opinion!
  
  Report this comment
- Wolfgang the Gray
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 4:01pm
  So how is a child putting God in her poem considered separation of church & state (which doesn’t even really exist)? I thought that falls under the God given rights of Freedom of Speech. Where is it in law that Atheists (who’s religion is the belief that there is no God) rights are above anyone else’s?
  
  If Atheists want to have a national holiday of “There is no God & we are all worm food”, I have no objection. I’ll let them parade around in their worm food outfits and praise the emptiness above and randomness that caused them to come into being. However, when it is Hanukkah, I expect them to let the Jews have their celebration in peace. When the Muslims have Rammadan, they should get their piece. When the Kwanzan’s have Kwanza, let them eat their beef jerky. And when Christians have Christmas, Atheists need to show respect for those that don’t share their views and leave everyone alone. If Atheists can’t agree to disagree, then they do not deserve anyone else’s respect.
  
  Does anyone else feel like we are getting ever closer to a civil war that will not be North vs South or State vs State, but neighbor vs neighbor?
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 6:48pm
  Time to vote with a baseball bat. These school dictators need to be beaten, severely, along with the atheist az hats that push this kind of idiocy. America is not the land of the free. This school violated her first amendment rights.
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 6:53pm
  Locked-
  you don’t need to believe in a creator to be a religion. Atheism is a “belief” system, and an organized one at that. It is a religion.
  
  Report this comment
- DenverKitty
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 7:45pm
  They can throw God to the wind, but that doesn’t mean we cannot believe in Him. His judgment will be severe.
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 8:02pm
  why do you wait for some one to take back your schools . do it your selves . well that would mean i would have to make and effort . much eaiser to bitch about it and hope some one else will do the work
  
  Report this comment
- staythecourse
  Posted on December 1, 2012 at 9:24am
  RX I agree. Also that school better not use any money because God is on the bills. I am so tired of atheism being shuffed down our throats. Atheism IS a believe system and the government is forcing all of us to accept that belief system.
  
  Report this comment
- binge_thinker
  Posted on December 1, 2012 at 11:20am
  Militant atheism is a mental disorder.
  
  Report this comment
- Wavelinker
  Posted on December 1, 2012 at 12:54pm
  The First Amendment prohibits government from establishing a religion and protects each person’s right to practice (or not practice) any faith without government interference.Unfortunately common sense, logic and deductive reason does not prevail in the conversations about religion. We now have a growing (new) religion that believes man is the Savor and to mention a higher power (God) is a sin. Atheists need to practice what they preach and not impose their religion on anyone else.
  
  Our schools should provide a safe environment for students to learn, explore and express. Why crush the personal creative expression of a six year old?
  
  CONTROL! and removal of our Liberties.
  
  Report this comment
ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:44am
It’s Bush’s fault.

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- Jenny Lind
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 12:52pm
  Enough of that, really.
  
  Report this comment
- Lucy Larue
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 3:57pm
  Call the West Marion Elementary School. the number is (828)738-3353 .
  Comment here…,Great! Now call them…,let them kbow what you think!
  
  Report this comment
GuruMeditation
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:44am
Very lame.

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TeresaJ
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:41am
Not only were this girl’s rights violated, this getting beyond rediculous. The Establishment clause does not mean that religious references and symbols cannot be used in a public arena, and the Supreme Court is actually violating the Constitution every time it strikes religious references.

“The whole view of the petitioners seems founded upon mistaken conceptions of the meaning of the Constitution…. If [the use of legislative chaplains] had been a violation of the Constitution, why was not its character seen by the great and good men who were coeval with the government, who were in Congress and in the Presidency when this constitutional amendment was adopted? They, if any one did, understood the true purport of the amendment, and were bound, by their duty and their oath, to resist the introduction or continuance of chaplains, if the views of the petitioners were correct. But they did no such thing; and therefore we have the strongest reason to suppose the notion of the petitioner to be unfounded…. They had no fear or jealousy of religion itself, nor did they wish to see us an irreligious people; they did not intend to prohibit a just expression of religious devotion by the legislators of the nation, even in their public character as legislators; they did not intend to spread over all the public authorities and the whole public action of the nation the dead and revolting spectacle of atheistical apathy.” – Senate Judiciary Committee 1853.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 12:30pm
  The State will not be bothered by other gods before it. It will force its beliefs upon your children for your children are owned by the State. If you disagree with the State the State will steal away your children, as the acolytes in England do. The US priests of State are not yet as powerful as those priests in England, but they are making progress.
  
  Report this comment
- FLguy71
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:24pm
  What the first amendment protects is citizens from their government imposing laws regarding their religion (Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof). It does not say that churches cannot talk about government, though the IRS may say differently as far as tax exemption is concerned. The last time I checked, this little girl (nor any other student) works for the government or is elected in any way. She IS NOT the government, and so she can say whatever she wants about her religion or anyone else’s religion. The SCHOOL violated the first amendment here in claiming that she was and in making her change her speech. THEY are the ones prohibited by the first amendment from saying jack about religion or from limiting anyone’s right to their beliefs or practices. The Constitution makes no distinction of school sponsored assembly or spontaneous. If a student says something about their religion, and it is not something that the school employees have told him or her to say, then it is permissable under the first amendment. The representatives of the government (aka the school here) cannot promote one religion over another; the students sure as heck can.
  
  Report this comment
- TeresaJ
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:35pm
  “The representatives of the government (aka the school here) cannot promote one religion over another;”
  
  Actually, that’s just it, yes they can, and precident proves it. What they can’t do is establish a national religion, or force anyone to follow a particuliar one. The Courts are violating the Constitution.
  
  Report this comment
- coldnorth
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 10:36pm
  Most of us know this but here it is.
  
  First Amendment. 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.
  
  Congress shall make no law….
  
  Tenth Amendment. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
  
  It’s one thing to hang the Ten Commandments on the wall of the class room. It’s another to silence the voice a six year old student. It violates the 1st amendment on two fronts. Freedom of speech and religion.
  There are those of you who would say, but it’s the school and not congress, then turnaround and say, “hey they get my tax dollars, they can’t say God, we need seperation”.
  What we need to do is cut the federal purse-strings. Empower our parents, local communities and school boards with the responsibility of structured education. We don’t need some faceless bureaucrat in Washington dictating what children learn.
  School board members are elected locally. Get to know them. Find out what they stand for.
  
  Most of us pay alot of county taxes, with the lionshare going to local schools
  
  Parents, this is a war of hearts and minds. They may be in the classroom for 35 hrs a week, but you have them for the other 133
  
  Report this comment
Red Meat
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:40am
This occurrence is typical when a region is overrun with northeast liberals and RINOs.

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Cabo King
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:38am
What have we become? what?

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- GuruMeditation
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:44am
  Condemned flesh. That’s what.
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 12:54pm
  A society that exercises separation of church and state – like it is suppose to do.
  
  Report this comment
- DimmuBorgir
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:17pm
  @SIMPLE
  
  I didn’t realize the 6 year old was a government employed speaker.
  
  Report this comment
- 4truth2all
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:20pm
  Yo Simple:
  
  This is not church and state
  this is a little girl and HER personal beliefs and words
  Would you like to cut her tongue out so you don’t have to “hear’ the word GOD ?
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:57pm
  Yes, Andy would like to cut her tongue out to stop her from speaking of God. Andy supports full indoctrination, re-education, and if needed, liquidation of anyone who does not embrace the progressive atheist secular humanism religion. He would rather that you die than believe something other than he does. He is a disgusting creature.
  
  Report this comment
- REPUBLICANINCALI
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:23pm
  Repeating a lot of history.
  http://www.freeworldfilmworks.com/apat-hitlerusa.htm
  
  Report this comment
- Mr. Smarty
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 4:24pm
  Simpletruths, the nationally acclaimed constitutional scholar and founding member of “The Choom Gang 2012″ has posted his “simpletruth” interpretation of the the first amendment to the constitution for all of you hicks from the sticks to read. Simpletruths has spent many hours on bended knees and facing the crotch of the most learned constitutional scholar in U.S. history, The Great Obamasiah (may peace be with him). FORWARD!
  
  Report this comment
TEIN
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:37am
Mentioning God endorses what church??? Which religious base for a church is the word “God” exclusive too?? This is not separation of church and state, but exclusion of religion in any forum deemed “public” state or federal!!! Separation of church and state was to stop the federal government from picking, corrupting and forcing a state church (church does not have to be based on theological religion or belief) upon the people therefore stopping any religious freedom. With the courts help and perversion of “separation of church and state”, this is exactly what is taking place!!! The Church of Atheism is being instituted and accepted and perverted as the church of the state!!! It is a belief system that has as much filled dogma as any state church that exists or has existed!!

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- Lara
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 1:22pm
  WELL SAID TEIN!!! I am going to copy and paste that for my friends to read too! That is all of it in a nutshell!
  
  Report this comment
paulusmaximus
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:36am
HOME SCHOOL! If you really want your children to receive the best education possible home schooling is it.They are not storage units as the public schools have become the truly confident literate men and women of the future will be home schooled and makes a true separation of church and state possible.

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- Theocracy588
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 2:44pm
  But what if you’re a moron? How effective is home schooling likely to be then?
  
  Report this comment
- lbesq
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 4:21pm
  @Theocracy588
  I would think that you might be the moron by your comment. By your comment, you sound like a SNOB.
  Just my 1/5th of a dime.
  
  Report this comment
- IWISHIWASINTEXAS
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 5:14pm
  I think even a moron’s education is more worthwhile than education recieved from a socialist teacher.
  
  Report this comment
MDECKER
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:36am
Hold on, T.S. Eliot, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Dylan Thomas,William Shakespeare, there are public schools in North Carolina and elsewhere in the United States which wish to re-write your works. These people are the brightest of the brightest, though they’ve never accomplished anything on their own but, they are the experts and everyone should take note. Some of them are Harvard graduates and even held the position of, Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Astounding!

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noproblems
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:33am
Guess you cannot read theDelaration of Independence, the Constitution, or quote MLK?

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TDrury
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:31am
I am guessing this school superintendent probably has an advanced college degree. From the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” How is allowing a child to have the word “God” in a poem making a law or prohibiting anything?
Why do we continue to put idiots in charge of our children for most of their day?

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- LasVegasRon
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:45am
  And they always forget the “prohibiting the free exercise” part too.
  
  Report this comment
Landon410
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:30am
these school admin people are idiots….
they just made a rule about religion while they were trying to not make rules about religion?
do they understand that? clearly they dont…

they are taking this 6 year old girls freedom of speech, thats a good thing for her to learn so young, lifes a B*tch, Public schools sucks, government only wants to bend you over, then take your wallet, then not even give you a thank you

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- autofixer
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:51am
  No they are not idiots they are revisionist progressives.
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 12:08pm
  They are being run by the unions and their Democrap politicians. The progressives need to be voted out (both parties) and the unions disbanded, or we will loose all our freedoms.
  
  Report this comment
rsanchez1
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:29am
Seems to me it was more the school butting into the child’s religion, and as a result violating the Establishment Clause in the worst way.

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orkydorky
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:26am
And what church is she representing by writing the word God in her poem? This has nothing to do with church and state and has everything to do with allowing her freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution. The school is wrong, period, no gray areas here!

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OBUMAURMAMA
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:24am
Keep yapping and you’ll not find anymore of us Vets to support you or yours but only ours and mine.
Slavery is now acceptable in Egypt under Muslim rule. You like that Muslim rule? Better be careful what you ask for.

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repairsea
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:23am
North Carolina has been invaded by racists radicals who attack the one true God and we are suppose to be surprised.

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Xiccarph
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:22am
Items 17 and 28 in “Communist Goals”, entered into the Congressional Record, Jan 10, 1963.

Yes, we are moving Forward…

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SacredHonor1776
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:21am
So free thought, but no free speech. You can’t speak up, you can only keep your moth shut. Brave new world…

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Pork_Anvil
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:20am
These stories are b.s. It’s just red meat tossed to the fanatical talk radio crowd, usually submitted by some wacky listener who misinterpreted the issue to begin with. Get a life!

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- fdraiden
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:29am
  Go to hell!
  
  Report this comment
- qpwillie
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:30am
  Yeah, I’ll bet that’s it, Pork. …And Obama loves America and MSNBC is the only place to find true news reporting.
  
  Oh, and a cute little bunny lays candy eggs on your lawn on Easter morning.
  
  Report this comment
- Popp40
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:34am
  @ Pork_Anvil….we get that you think articles like this are B.S. However, it is obvious that you and others like you do not know what the American Constitution says about Religion…..It says “Freedom of Religion” not “Freedom from Religion” that all atheists want to claim.
  
  So that means you are free to worship who you like….even all of the atheists…and yes atheism is a religion. It’s funny because I bet no one would have said anything if she would have said Allah. After all everyone knows that athiests will never go after muslims because they know muslims wouldn’t put up with this and would respond with violence. Atheists only go after Christians because they know we are taught to turn the other cheek.
  
  Report this comment
- LasVegasRon
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:46am
  Go troll another site!
  
  Report this comment
Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:19am
Surreal.

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- mike_trivisonno
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:28am
  Islamic Jihad.
  
  Report this comment
Granny58
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:19am
Separation of church and state? Fine! Get your state out of my religion!

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:42am
  You go, GRANNY!!!
  
  It is time to take OUR COUNTRY, OUR HERITAGE, OUR FAITH, OUR GOD back!!!
  
  Hear me leftists: you don’t like AMERICA? L-E-A-V-E! Take your money (none, too little or too much — check out current administration and congressional folks takes), your families (far too many), your godless lives OUT of OUR COUNTRY, GOD’S COUNTRY.
  
  Report this comment
- GuruMeditation
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:47am
  @kickagrandma: Agreed. But how? I am starting to think armed conflict is the only option and of course prayer with or without armed resistance. Any better ideas?
  
  Report this comment
afishfarted
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:18am
This is just one more example of public entities using a lame excuse to attack Christianity. I know there a lot of Christians in administrative positions. They have allowed themselves to become so emroiled in regulations and afraid of lawsuits that they loose common sense reasoning. Get a grip Amerika

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kaydeebeau
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:15am
ARGH!!!!!!!! Give me a break – I am so sick and tired of the assault on speech

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- oldguy49
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:21am
  north carolina seems to be incresingly in the news lately about this kind of thing…………….stay above the mason dixon line
  
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DrunkGOP_Hack
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:12am
Well here is a easy solution.
No more time off for teachers, for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and of Easter!

Let’s see how long the UNIONS would put up with Atheists and their BS!?!?!

UNIONS/Teachers – PUT UP OR SHUT UP! LOSERS!

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ResistSocialism
Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:10am
I bet saying Allah is just fine.

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- OKNative
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:20am
  I think you are absolutely right! So the school’s position is that if a student uses the word “God” constitutes an endorsement? It is not like the gril was praying. This is pretty shallow thinking by the school district in my opinion and it what is wrong with our society. This situation is not a “church versus state” issue, unless the administration makes it into one. Come on West Marion Elementary School administration, use some common sense!
  
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- Spirit 72
  Posted on November 30, 2012 at 11:22am
  Actually, it should be allowed. Free speech (with responsibility and accountability for your words and actions) should be protected. The state has assumed way too much “control”. Time to take it back!
  
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