Growing up, you probably remember doing or saying something that got you in trouble and a common response was often "it's a free country!" The United States is a free country, in a sense at least. The First Amendment is always looked at as free speech, but there's more to it than just saying whatever you want. The First Amendment is clear in what it says, but sometimes it's interpreted by others to gain points politically.
"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."
The opening line of the First Amendment gives Americans across the country the right to believe in any religion or lack of religion they want, but the First Amendment also makes it clear that the United States will not make any establishment of religion and no religion will be forced on any American.
Over the last few years, the Republican party has taken a hard right turn in the political spectrum. The far right views of the Republican party are showing in all political aspects, whether its economic policy, social issues or foreign policy. The place where the extreme conservatism is showing the most is in their attack on science, education and facts and evidence.
The Republican base is growing in size with evangelical Christians making up a large majority. While conservatives often talk about their love for the Constitution, the Republican evangelicals seem to ignore many parts of the document and it starts with the First Amendment. Conservatives see the United States as a "Christian Nation," but the founders never intended for that to be the case. Some of the Founding Fathers were Christian, some believed in a higher power, but wanted no part of organized religion and others wanted to no part of either.
In Florida, the religious war on science and education is at the top of the "to do list" for the Republican party. In March of 2012, the state Republican party pushed through a bill that would make it legal to impose religious prayer in public schools. Traditionally, religious practice in public schools was not allowed, following the Separation of Church and State as described in the U.S Constitution and the words of Thomas Jefferson. In a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut on January 1,1802, Jefferson made it clear about the wall of separation between church and state.
"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."
Letting religious aspects into public, taxpayer funded areas will start to tear down the wall of separation. In March of 2012, the Republican controlled state Senate in Tennessee passed HB 368, also known as the "anti-evolution" bill. The bill would promote the religious story of "creation" to be taught side by side with the scientifically proven theory of evolution. Nearly 99% of all scientists back evolution, and the remaining one percent who side with the story of "creationism" are often evangelicals who to school to gain a degree. Forcing the stories of the Bible into a science classroom does nothing but distort facts and reason and take away proper education from millions of American children.
In many Christian private schools, they often use history books like U.S History from a Christian Perspective. These radical right wing textbooks don't teach accurate history, but instead push an extreme form of conservatism that only distorts proper history that is being forced on many American children. This education is now being attempted to be put into pubic schools, as the Texas State Board of Education has revised many of their history books to eliminate much of Thomas Jefferson's impact on America and claims that Communists were a legit and major threat to the country. Many historians have spoken out about these changes saying that they are "historically inaccurate and that they would affect textbooks and classrooms far beyond the state's borders."
