Is Declaration of Independence Unconstitutional?

The American Communist and Leftest Union is unconstitutional in that it is restricting First amendment rights.

First it was God, then the Ten Commandments, now the Declaration of Independence, and next it will be the American Constitution. Slowly, ever so slowly...they are trying to cleanse our nation of the very fundamentals that it was founded on.

I think if they push this issue, it will actually prove that they are trying to remove our history from the schools. They are trying to use this as a wedge for their own socialistic ideals. It is not a matter of freedom, it is a matter of their political agenda. You give them enough rope and they could hang themselves with this.

ACLU? I think it should stand for "American Crackpots Liberal Undermining".

The totality of the excerpts may suggest a religious agenda on the part of the teacher. Further, that could well be why only her materials were under review: she's been evangelizing in the guise of education.

If it was a teacher pimping for Islam or some other unfavored religion by too many Freepers, the outrage would entirely be directed at the teacher. Based on the source of the article, the gargantuan imbalance between opinion and facts offered therein, I believe this is another phony catalyst used to stir outrage.

Until there's actually some REAL information, I remain *HIGHLY* skeptical of the slant of the article cited.

I am an atheist too. One thing that is real sacred to me is the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the U.S.

Hard to consider teaching history without mentioning the motives and beliefs of the people that created it. I think social mores evolved over time, the most sensible ones surviving and being refined in the most successful long-living religions. Ones that would allow theivery, murder or incest would have tended to be weeded out over time. Christian morals, as interpreted by the self-reliant and independent people that founded America, have created the best country on the planet. Minus the theology, I am ripping them for my own. Why re-invent a complex system that works.

Moslims, on the other hand...those fanatics are dangerous anachronists.

the principle of the idea of separation of church and state was not to protect the state but to protect the church

The very reason the Pilgrims came here. The very reason that they celebrated Thanksgiving. They made it through.

You and so many others here have proven that the world really hasn't gone insane. There is only a minority that would like to revise our country's past and unhinge our future.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I share your skepticism. From the pleadings available on thesmokinggun.com, it looks like the teacher was under disciplinary action by the school since he was required to clear all class materials with the principal. What may have happened is that the teacher gave the principal a large stack of materials, and the principal summarily rejected the material without looking at its contents.

I would really be surprised if a school official publically states that they believe that the Declaration of Independence is inappropriate material for a classroom.

Folks the real story here is “Religious Right lies through their teeth”. And you suckers fell for it. Let me explain.

The Declaration was not banned in Cupertino. What was banned was a heavily edited handout with only the religious references in the Declaration – “nature’s God”, “Creator”, and “Divine Providence”. Also other handouts, that put together, show that this teacher was coming to class with an agenda to push – the “Christian Nation” line.

One handout had quotes from famous leaders regarding religion. One of the quotes, from George Washington, is now listed as “unauthenticated” by David Barton, a “Christian Heritage” proponent masquerading as a historian. Barton was the very guy who publicized these quotes in the 1990’s. Also in that handout, Jesus is quoted about the bible. Help me out here, what does that have to do with teaching the ‘religious, economic….etc.’ reasons that our nation was founded for that the teacher claims he was only following the California curriculum guidelines? Further, there is no countervailing opinions – for example, some of the things that Jefferson, Adams, or Paine said that would drive Jerry Falwell over the wall.

Another handout was the supposed “Washington Prayer Journal”. This document was rejected almost 100 years ago by the Smithsonian as not being an authentic Washington artifact – the handwriting did not match, and the spelling was too good. (Washington was a notoriously poor speller).

But what story was promoted by the Alliance Defense Fund and all the right wing radio talk show hosts? “Declaration was banned”. But when you look at it, it is clear the Declaration was NOT banned, and the principal was probably right to review – and reject – these supplemental materials being brought into the classroom.

So, the very people who want to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom violated one of them themselves – from ADF to Rush to Sean and the whole gamut of minor-city pundits : Thou shall not bear false witness, folks. I hope the CUSD board & the principal sues the pants off of the ADF, Fox News, Rush, & Hannity for slandering them.

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