Eat me, people--no matter what side you're on, too far is too far.

[silverthorne]

Link

People, people, people. The painting has been there for 30 years and not every kid coming out of that school during that time became a Zombie for Jesus. Chill the fuck out, okay?

And just because Verizon tends to erase their news within a day, here's the text:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Two civil liberties groups sued in federal court Wednesday to remove a picture of Jesus that has hung in a high school for more than 30 years.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the West Virginia American Civil Liberties Union say the painting, "Head of Christ," sends the message that Bridgeport High School endorses Christianity as its official religion.

"I frankly cannot understand why this school insists that it is doing nothing wrong," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "This is pretty clear constitutional law. Public schools cannot promote specific religious ideas."

A vote by the Harrison County school board on removing the painting ended in a tie this month.

"At this point, it's a matter that's pretty much going to be up to the board," Superintendent Carl Friebel Jr. said. "It's just going to be very interesting for me to see what the board wants us to do with it."

The suit was filed on behalf of Harold Sklar and Jacqueline McKenzie, whose children attended or will attend the school.

Comments

[ebonbird.livejournal.com]

Public schools cannot promote specific religious ideas

...I get mad at people who try to pretend that putting up a picture promotes religious ideas. How does one do the thing called 'educating' without referring to religious ideas? Religions is culture and history, and learning about/discussing/dissecting/honoring/critisizing religions, culture and history can't happen if one isn't taught to know what religious iconography or religions are. It's ridiculous. I am not one to claim that America is a 'Christian' nation (all the time).

Oh, GAG. I hate this business. I think any country that doesn't make it a point to have religion in its public schools is fooling itself. Also, promoting isn't the same as teaching. And I'd argue that secular humanism is a type of religion too. Blargh.