Dear Editor:
John Freshwater, a science teacher, was fired from his job of 21 years for teaching creation along with an evolution study. Teachers are permitted to teach evolution which is only a "theory" of which has never been proven. However, a teacher is forbidden to teach creation which is the truth according to the Book of Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." That is unless you do not believe the Bible, as Americans you have the freedom to believe or not believe. The article stated that John Freshwater had a Bible on his desk and he passed out pamphlets to his class containing information on creation. What is so wrong with teaching our children both sides of the equation? Is it alright for teachers to teach what is not even proven as fact?
Perhaps we need to go back and teach the basics of American history, or is that no longer allowed in school? The Pilgrims came to America from England to escape religious persecution. Our great country was built with God as her firm foundation and we have lost sight of that. Look at all the problems we have in our society today. God is not allowed to be in our schools or in government. Psalm 33:12 reads, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Maybe this is a reflection of all that is going wrong in our wonderful country.
The history of our nation acknowledges God in American government. Our nation's motto is "In God We Trust" that is printed on our money and is carved into many government buildings. The Declaration of Independence states, wherein the people of the United States appealed to "Supreme Judge of the World" and acknowledges that the "Creator" endowed all men with certain unalienable rights. Our Pledge of Allegiance says, "One Nation under God." National patriotic song "America the Beautiful reads (America, America, God shed His Grace on thee). We have National Days of prayer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Even the Ten Commandments are allowed to be displayed in some government buildings.
The separation of church and state is the opposite of what our forefathers intended. "The separation of church and state" is not mentioned in the Constitution. It is found in the First Amendment and simply reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." In other words, the state needs to stay out of the church's business. Our forefathers meant for the church to be protected from the state, not for the state to be protected from the church. John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other".
It is my opinion that Mr. Freshwater is the one whose rights have been violated. He was fired for exercising his freedom of religion and speech and for "displaying" his Bible on "his" desk. It is his right to have his Bible on his desk, how is that hurting anyone? I do not see how not removing the Bible from his desk is an act of insubordination. Mr. Freshwater is obviously a Christian man who stands on his faith and speaks the truth and we are commanded in Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Should we follow the world's views and always do what is "politically correct" (look how that is working out for people) or should we follow the rules of our Creator?
Reread the Ten Commandments. Is that not the way we should be living? But, this is still American and you still have the freedom to choose.
Melissa Householder
Calcutta
