Originally posted by Bike2112:
Freedom of religon INCLUDES freedom FROM religon.
Um... NO.
I have a right to proclaim my faith. It's called freedom of speach and is quite deliberately listed as the FIRST AMENDMENT to the Constitution.
What the constitution on the subject of the separation clause outlines is a specific intent to prevent the establishment of a national or official government sponsored religion. A faith in God as a non-denominational, un-specified, generic reference such as in the pledge, and the prayers that begin each congressional session, are not the establishment of religion to be imposed on others. Anybody who does not wish to participate is welcome to ignore the proceedings while their counterparts seek personal guidance from their respective deities. Observance is NOT required, & therefore does not violate the separations clause.
The right to free speach allows me to express nearly anything short of endangering the public or treasonous activity, so I can pray in a public school or in a government building, I just am not allowed to require others to follow my example. It does not guarantee that I have an audience, but I can talk all I want; to .... nobody.... or anybody that will listen.
As a good Catholic, I have my faith. As an American, I must not impose that faith on my fellow Americans. What a great country - for both of us. 
Currently, there is a 'separations' battle going on about faith based organizations getting reimbursed for helping shelter & feed refugees from Katrina. If these organizations were school districts like we have in Florida, they'd get their money, no doubt about it. To deny the reimbursement because a religious organization provided the services is discriminatory. To my knowlege, nobody was turned away, reguardless of their faith - or lack there of. Barring proof of such an event, any of these organizations that apply for reimbursement should get it. Period.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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