There are three problems with the position stated in Mr. Rapozo’s letter of Oct. 3 (“Ruling was start of moral decline”). First of all, it is the parents’ job, not the schools’, to raise children to be honest, upright, moral
There are three problems with the position stated in Mr. Rapozo’s letter of
Oct. 3 (“Ruling was start of moral decline”).
First of all, it is the
parents’ job, not the schools’, to raise children to be honest, upright, moral
citizens.
The second is the hazy definition of the word moral. Believe
it or not, there are a lot of opinions out there about what is moral behavior.
My question is, whatever happened to the Golden Rule? Can we agree that
the basis of any moral code should be to treat others with dignity and respect,
as we ourselves wish to be treated?
The last problem is related to this:
No one will admit the truth we all know, that religion and morality have very
little to do with one another. Simply watch what is happening in the Middle
East any day of the week. And if your argument is that the problem is that they
aren’t Christians, there is a long list of atrocities that have been committed
in the name of Christianity. I’m sure most Ku Klux Klan members consider
themselves to be very religious Christians.
Schools should certainly
reinforce Golden Rule ideals, and I will concede that it is very possible that
many fail at this task right now. But each of us simply has to get past the
idea that our personal beliefs should be forced on everyone else.
This
country was founded as a nation of individuals, each of whom has the right to
his or her beliefs, as long as those beliefs do not impose on the rights and
freedoms of others. You may teach your own children any religion you choose,
and they are free to pray in school themselves as much as they choose. Forcing
other people’s children to submit to organized prayer is nothing but a form of
tyranny, and thus the Constitution has been correctly
interpreted.
Laurie Henneman
Kapa’a
