Another opinion about marquee

I don't know what the Mesa Verde marquee said, but it may be that Lesli Marie Hogan has misread the Constitution and the First Amendment.

The First Amendment says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

WikiAnswers.com puts it more succinctly: "The First Amendment lists the people's personal freedoms. It guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly."

Mesa Verde Middle School does not make laws so we needn't worry about them establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Nor do we need to try to abridge the freedom of speech and freedom of religion of others just because we do not agree that a god exists.

By the way, Moorpark Acorn, about the letter headline, neither the First Amendment nor the Constitution mentions the "separation of church and state." No doubt you are aware, but too many people have been led to think this is the case. The phrase is just a popular and oft misused quote.

Daniel Gonzales

Moorpark