Posted on 05/06/2002 4:17:35 PM PDT by Michael2001
A 12-year-old Rock Island girl will be in federal court today to prevent her grade school from printing her winning yearbook cover design without the words she wanted: “God Bless America.”
The original, winning entry by Marissa De La Rosa included that phrase, but the school made her erase those words and replace them with “Proud to be
an American” after being told she had won, according to a lawsuit.
Marissa and
her father, Joseph De La Rosa, filed the suit in U.S. District Court, Rock Island, against the Rock Island-Milan School District, Ridgewood Elementary School Principal John Frieden and an unnamed school nurse.
She is asking today for a temporary restraining order to prevent the school from printing the yearbook.
“I want the school to publish my original design with ‘God Bless America’ in it instead,” Marissa, who attends sixth grade, said in a statement filed with the lawsuit. “I do not think it was right for the school to make me change my design.”
The Quad-City Times was unable to contact Marissa, her father or their attorney for comment Monday.
An attorney for the school system, in letters to Marissa’s attorney filed along with the lawsuit, said he would “vigorously defend the district.”
Allowing “God Bless America” on the cover of a public school yearbook would be “tantamount to the state sponsorship of religion, which is forbidden,” Eric Schwarz wrote in the letters. In addition, one student does not have the right to dictate what is to be placed on a yearbook cover that would be distributed to all students, he wrote.
The school district, he said, would agree to substitute another student’s work on the yearbook cover if Marissa does not want the modified version printed.
Marissa’s teacher announced during the week of April 1 that the school was holding a contest to see which student could come up with the best design for the yearbook, according to the lawsuit.
Her design included the slogan made popular by the Irving Berlin song, “God Bless America,” court documents state. “Marissa chose the slogan because she felt it in her heart,” the court papers continue.
It is believed the entries were judged by teachers. Marissa’s was selected as the school-wide winner.
Marissa and her father, Joseph De La Rosa, were in the school office April 4, waiting to see Principal John Frieden, court documents state. Marissa was going to be gone from school for a week to attend her sister’s wedding in Florida, and her father wanted to talk with the principal about the absence. The school secretary then told Marissa her design had won the contest.
“But then she told me that I would have to erase the slogan, ‘God Bless America,’ and replace it with the slogan, ‘Proud to be an American,’ ” according to court papers.
De La Rosa “immediately objected,” the lawsuit states. A few minutes later, the school nurse came and asked Marissa if she could follow her into another room. The nurse told her to change the phrase, according to court papers.
“I did not answer the nurse, but I did just what I was told. I believed that I had to, because the school nurse told me to do it,” Marissa said in her sworn statement. “Besides, I was new at the school, and I did not know the nurse very well, and she was an adult. I try to do what I am told to do by adults when I am at school.”
De La Rosa said he requested copies of his daughter’s original design and the changed design before leaving the school. The nurse and the secretary, he said in a statement, said they personally agreed with him, “but that because they were a public school, they could not have a cover that had the world ‘God’ on it.”
This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But, once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
Humanist garbage cannot dictate free speech or freedom to practice religion.
Doesn't the word "God" also "support" Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, etc? I always thought it couldn't support just one religion... Then again I don't get into these discussions much and don't really know. Just my $.02.
Why can't these intellectual giants simply post the artwork as it originally appears, and write a tiny disclaimer on the bottom of the cover, or inside the book? Why must they destroy every view of America that does not fall in line with their insane and impossible vision?
Yeah, and they don't know which witch is which. {;~)
From the 'Read the Letter' link---
"Additionally, to date the Supreme Court has never held that the expression of patriotic sentiments, such as "God Bless America" slogans or recitation of the pledge or the national motto, on public school grounds is subject to special restriction because those sentiments may be couched in common terms used by people of faith. And, in fact, one United States Court of Appeals, outside of the realm of expression of patriotic sentiment and inside the arena of religious observances and celebrations, has held that the Constitution is not violated by the performance of Christmas carols, even with religious content."
********
Time to stop being 'cowed' by the priests and priestesses of the 'religion of the left--Mother Earth', to the exclusion of 'Our Father-God' .
I am told that the great bus boycott in Alabama was cause by a black woman whose feet were tired. I am told that Communism began to crumble in Eastern Europe because of an electrician in a shipyard. On the other hand, prayer in schools was outlawed because of one very nutty and determined atheist.
What was your question?
They must not have received the ACLJ letter from the State Superintendent of Schools. And how cruel, a 'nurse' saying to 'strike' God.
I sympatise with your feelings but I have to disapoint you. There is no free land on the Earth left. If you want to MOVE to another country, you need to apply for the permanent visa (what might be very hard) or you will enter as a tourist and stay there illegally (what might not so good).
You better try to keep your country in good shape and yes to be blessed by God.
"God bless America - this message does not reflect the desires of any particular religion and is not an endorsement of any particular religion nor does it encourage the reader to partake in any religious activities despite the possibility of eternal damnation."
A)I am not the author of the article I was merely quoting it.
B)I don't know about you but, when I sit on my deck drinking a beer and enjoying the summer day I feel pretty damn free.
Unfortunately now I cannot enjoy this freedom since I have a hayfever and I need to stay indoors.
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