When is the Separation of Church and State Ignored?

The simple answer to that question appears to be when the religion is Islam. Some schools appear to be going out of their way to disregard the so-called separation of church and state when in regards to Muslims. Separation of church and state does not appear in the constitution, but that’s an argument for another day. If we are going to live in a country where we acknowledge a seperation of church and state, shouldn’t that mean all churches?

Decisions by public schools and colleges to provide special prayer times or to make other allowances for Muslim students have raised eyebrows.

In a time when liberal, politically correct groups feel the need to pander to Muslims they are afraid not to give them rights not afforded to other religions.

Here’s one example:

In one instance, the University of Michigan is preparing to spend $25,000 to install two footbaths at its Dearborn campus to accommodate Muslim students wanting to wash their feet before prayers.

How about putting a cross up at the end of that path so Christians will have a place to pray? That’s not going to happen, is it?

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, a group that frequently sides with the ACLU in such disputes, believes the decision to spend the money on the footbaths singles out one religion for special treatment.

“There are serious constitutional questions when you have non-neutral accommodations available that’s not equal to everyone,” the group’s assistant legal director, Richard Katskee, told Cybercast News Service. “There is no particular religious appearance to footbaths, but they serve no secular use. It’s like building a church on campus and saying its okay because everyone is allowed in.”

Wait a minute, did I just side with the ACLU? This can’t be right, can it? While I never agree with the ACLU or other liberal groups like the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State they do have a point.Why should the Muslim religion be singled out as a religion we must embrace and accept, even on college campuses? What’s good for one religion should be good for Christians also.

A university statement calls the footbaths “a reflection of our values of respect, tolerance and safe accommodation of student needs.”

Tolerance of Muslims is politically correct so they embrace that ideal, what about tolerance of other religions. We can’t have them in public places. Crosses are being removed from memorials, the Nativity scene is not allowed to be displayed in public, and even private buisnesses are afraid to say Merry Christmas to Christmas shoppers.

The footbaths in Michigan are similar to one that will be provided for students at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Yet at that same college, the administration reportedly banned a campus coffee cart from playing Christmas carols last year and warned faculty and staff to refrain from displays that represent a particular religious holiday during December.

But there’s no double standard. What about tolerance in this case?

Here’s another example:

Another school stoking controversy in this area is Carver Elementary in the San Diego Unified School District, which provides students with a 15-minute break each afternoon at what is traditionally a Muslim prayer time.

A break for prayer time? How can they get away with this? Here is their answer:

District spokesman Jack Brandais said students aren’t required to pray during this time.

So, it’s just coincidence that the breaks fall in line with Muslim prayer time? I don’t think so.

So there you have it, while Muslims are being granted rights that other religions don’t have, Christians are being minimalized by banning public displays in an attempt to eradicate them. Why is the left trying to minimalize Christians? Because those of faith disagree with many of the positions of the left. Abortion, gay marriage, and such. Because they are trying to appear tolerent of Muslims during a time of war in the middle east, they are willing to overlook the fact that Muslims disagree with them on the same issues that Christians do, and that Muslims record on woman’s rights is downright woeful.

Read the whole article here.