Freedom of religion was one of the founding concepts on which our nation was established. Yet today we increasingly see this notion skewed and severely misinterpreted by the left.
For instance, Pope Benedict XVI recently came under intense pressure and scrutiny for his comments calling the violent elements of Islam "evil and inhumane." Obviously his statements were intolerant, offensive and indefensible, but the responses to his comments are even more revealing.
Many liberals and moderate Muslim organizations vehemently denounced the comments. Yet when Islamic fanatics decided to burn down and loot churches and even kill a nun, these groups hardly seemed to care.
Let's examine this for a second: the pope makes an idiotic statement, and everyone jumps on him for doing so. Fair enough. Radical Muslims raid churches, even some Protestant ones (somebody forgot to study the Reformation), and we soon go back to talking about how George Bush is instituting theocracy here in our own backyard.
This behavior is as formulaic as a John Grisham novel: condemn fundamentalism of the "I hope you read this Bible, because it can save your soul" variety, and ignore fundamentalism of the "I'll blow up your church and crash planes into buildings, you infidels" variety. There needs to be some sort of equivalence here with our criticisms. I'll concede that sometimes the pope can get out of line, sort of like grandpa at the dinner table, but let's not ignore the real threats to religious freedom.
Freedom of expression in our public schools has often followed a similar line of reasoning. Liberals have interpreted it to mean that one must be free from any sort of religious expression. I can see how a practice like mandatory prayer to Jesus is offensive. However, our interpretation of the role of religion in public spaces has at times gone as far as disallowing voluntary student Bible study or prayer groups.
Meanwhile, partisan political expression in schools goes unchecked. Recently, after visiting one of my old high school teachers, a somewhat devout Catholic, he complained how irritating it was that he couldn't place a cross in his office while another man he shared an office with was able to litter his side with liberal slogans and stickers. He had a rainbow keychain, a "more trees less Bush" sticker and my favorite, a "vote for your vagina" sticker. I was tempted to ask him how his vagina would sway his vote on the upcoming election, but alas he was not to be seen.
Many Christian groups are castigated for their desire to influence youth in schools today, yet the same is not said of the political zealotry this other teacher demonstrated in advertising for the liberal agenda. Often, when I engage in debate with somebody on this topic, they cut off any discussion and call on "separation of church and state," as if this is sufficient reasoning to prohibit any kind of public religious expression. When subscribers to this anti-religious doctrine can freely censor certain "hate speech" and become abortion apologists with such fervor and ease, it is disingenuous for them to pretend they are not infiltrating schools with their own dogmas.
Freedom of religious expression has always been one of the most important American traditions. Even as a Christian, these values are consistent with my personal core belief that one needs to someday come to Christ by his own volition. Liberals insist that this point is a fundamental value, yet it appears a difficult one for them to follow up on, as instead it has turned into a means to attack Christian believers.
--Kane Kim is a senior economics major from Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
