[Viva Le Dissention]

Do you really not see how this is an establishment clause issue?

Query as to whether saying the words "God Bless" is enough to trigger an establishment clause challenge, but if you argue that it falls under the free exercise clause, you're making the concession that it is religious, which brings it back under the establishment clause. Once you're there, see Santa Fe Ind. School Dist. v. Doe. You can't provide a PA system to someone to make a religious message.

The better argument is that "god bless" is not a religious message, and is not protected under the Free Exercise clause at all.

[exmarine]

The better argument is that "god bless" is not a religious message, and is not protected under the Free Exercise clause at all.

What part of "nor prohibit the free exercise thereof" do you not understand?

Establishment Clause? Does the student equal Congress, or saying "God bless" equal making a law?

The intend of the 1st amendment is clear - the founders made it clear. The "wall of separation of church and state" was invented in 1947 (Everson case) and did not exist before that time. If you say it did, then you need to explain why there was no restriction on religious speech or activity in school or anywhere else prior to 1947. That's 160 years of precedents pal.

[Steve_Seattle]

The Founding Fathers would be utterly amazed to hear the establishment clause invoked to prohibit the voluntary expression of a religious belief in a public school.

[Eastbound]

"You can't provide a PA system to someone to make a religious message."

Does that mean that military chaplains will now have to use megaphones paid for out of their own pocket?

Then there is always the question about even paying chaplains out of tax dollars. I suppose they could pass the collection plate and get by.

But wait! Shouldn't it also be illegal to preach on a battleship paid for with tax dollars? Time to keel-haul the chaplain. ;'<

Personally, I think it's hypocritical and dysfunctional of the 'powers-that-be' to allow the pledge of allegiance to the flag of our country in tax-funded schools while disallowing the mention of God under whose inspiration our country and our Constitution was founded.

Did we throw out the baby and keep the bathwater?