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Spirit of freedom
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By Tribune-Review
Published: Friday, November 16, 2012, 8:56 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Spirit of freedom
The recent controversy over the stated purpose of a stone monument has brought the national debate over the separation of church and state to our quaint community.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles donated the Ten Commandments monument to help eliminate juvenile crime during the 1940s and '50s. The messages in commandments five through 10 meet this requirement. These messages are needed now more than ever to help guide our youth through our confusing and fragmented culture.
Since the monument is located on school property, it gives some the idea that the school district is promoting a religion. What if the monument were not on school grounds? Would the plaintiffs still have a case?
The district should sell the parcel of land back to the F.O.E. or donate the land, thus taking the monument off district property. This would defeat the argument that the school district is choosing one religion over another.
We think this compromise respects the wishes of both parties. Connellsville Area School District needs to remind everyone our country was built on the spirits of freedom and cooperation and this solution will demonstrate that to our community.
Brett C. Baumgartel
Uniontown
The writer is a career transition instructor for Private Industry Council, Uniontown. The letter was submitted on behalf of the entire Connellsville Carnegie Free Library Career Transitions/GED class.
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Apparently, Thou Shalt No Lie is not in your list of morals. There is good reason why the monument has to move and to go around the law does not change that reason. Besides no court has accepted your “solution”. As for the monument itself, this one was donated in the 1950’s and was given by Cecil B. DeMille to promote his Hollywood blockbuster with Charlton Heston as Moses.
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