I am saddened to see that Paul Armstrong has once again allowed his obvious hatred of liberals to color his arguments. His emotionally charged attacks against liberals are neither becoming of a scholar nor do they do justice to those who support his views with worthwhile arguments.

Armstrong misses the point entirely – removing religion from schools is not about limiting and permitting freedoms, but about appropriateness of the setting.

School is not the place to be practicing religion. That’s not to say that religion should not be discussed in school, only that the mandatory observation of religious rites based on majority attendance is incompatible with the objective of education. The purpose of school is to educate, and peddling dogma diverts from that purpose.

If students wish to take a college class in which they perform the rituals or observe the traditions of a particular religion, I see no real reason to forbid that.

If parents want to send their children to a private Catholic school or to any other school espousing a religion, there is similarly no reason to forbid that.

The objection mainline liberals have to religion in public schools is that they are state institutions to which attendance is mandatory.

Having served in the military, I more than understand that the Pledge of Allegiance is about more than God. It is about patriotic nationalism, unity, liberty and universal justice.

The salute or hand over the heart signifies respect for the men and women who have fallen in defense of the ideals of the United States.

These are things that should be instilled in the hearts of American children. However, I believe also that the recitation of the Pledge should begin at an age when children can understand what the Pledge means and understand their right to abstain from participation.

The Pledge should never be disgraced by being obligatory lip service.

In sum, we liberals do not believe that restricting religious rights of either the majority or the minority is constitutional.

We believe that public school is a place to learn about, but not to practice religion.

The Constitution provides for the freedom of religion, not for the freedom to practice it in school.

If you want to practice religion, go to your place of worship or sign up at a private school. No worship today, class; we’ll be learning instead.

Isaac Gitchel

Senior

Counseling psychology and Russian studies