It's freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion...

Thanks to Dog Snot Diaries for this one.

LOS ANGELES - A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God — including the Declaration of Independence.

I don't understand what the obsession is these days with stomping out all references to religion in our society. Yes, we have people of different faiths, and those with no faith, but why does this mean we have to re-write our history? This nation was founded, in part, by people who were seeking freedom from religious oppression in their native countries. That's why we have freedom OF religion - you're free to worship, or not, in any way you choose. If you don't want to, you don't HAVE to. That's the key - there is no official state religion. That's all that the constitution provides for. NO official state religion. Got it? Good. I am not Christian. Does this mean I should feel my 'rights' are being violated if I hear Chrismas carols? If I see the red kettles of the Salvation Army? If my town puts up a Chrismas display or a Menorah? If I feel strongly enough that I want my religion represented, I could ask that the town have a Solstice display. In fact, my town does have one, right next to the creche & the menorah. But, it was erected as a protest by a local atheist - should I then be insulted that one of the symbols of my faith has been used by someone who professes to have none? Please. I drive through town, and admire the displays, and feel glad that I live in a place where people believe differently, yet respect each others' points of view. By eliminating all references to religion, we're not bringing people together, but driving us farther apart. Liberals are big on "embracing diversity", but what they've done through organizations such as the ACLU is try to eliminate that diversity & make everyone the same. How are kids going to grow up to respect other peoples beliefs & customs, if they're not exposed to them? Tolerance, another word the left likes to throw around, only applies to the issues THEY want to push on society. The last time a society outlawed religion was in the Soviet Union. How long before it's outlawed here? EDIT: Thanks to boy for Religion kept out of Thanksgiving stories.

Religion kept out of Thanksgiving stories By LAUREL LUNDSTROM, Capital News Service Maryland public school students are free to thank anyone they want while learning about the 17th century celebration of Thanksgiving - as long as it's not God. And that is how it should be, administrators say. Young students across the state read stories about the Pilgrims and Native Americans, simulate Mayflower voyages, hold mock feasts and learn about the famous meal that temporarily allied two very different groups. But what teachers don't mention when they describe the feast is that the Pilgrims not only thanked the Native Americans for their peaceful three-day indulgence, but repeatedly thanked God. Thanksgiving is usually taught as a part of social studies and emphasizes cultural immersion. "The Pilgrim Story is read in Spanish and English," said Alfreda Adams, principal at Mills-Parole Elementary School in Annapolis, where 70 Hispanic students attend. "We make sure that we celebrate all cultures." School administrators statewide agree, saying religion never coincides with how they teach Thanksgiving to students.

WTF?!? They "make sure they celebrate all cultures"? Just because they teach in English and Spanish? HUH? Can Alfreda Adams spell C-L-U-E-L-E-S-S?