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Christians deserve tolerance as much as anyone
Colo. case reflects bigotry toward a group commonly associated with it
BY BROOKE NALAND
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Religion, as it relates to public life, is a highly controversial
topic.
When the terms "freedom of speech" and "freedom of religion" are mentioned, many of us forge that the rule applies to everyone-including those groups of people traditionally thought to be the main sources of the bigotry we are fighting against.
When Erica Corder, one of 15 valedictorians at Lewis-Palmer High School in 2006, gave her commencement speech, that became painfully clear. You see, during this speech, Corder had made a statement encouraging the audience to get to know JesusChrist, and consequently, her principal, Mark Brewer, said that she would not receive her diploma unless she made a public apology. As of Aug. 31, she has filed a lawsuit against the school, stating that this action was in violation of her first amendment rights.
Generally, when the topic of religious bigotry is brought up, it seems that what comes up for many is intolerance on the side of conservative, fundamentalist Christians.
However, this is a gross oversimplification. It is my belief that all sides are guilty of this bigotry; liberals are just more able to hide this fact behind their commonly-accepted cultural image of tolerance. This is not to say that I believe there is no intolerance from those on the more conservative or Christian side (as there is a distinction between the two that must be made), or that all liberals and non-Christians are intolerant, but I do believe that we are being just as bigoted in not allowing Christians such as Corder to freely express their religious views as they would be in not allowing others to express theirs.
The bottom line is this: If we are to expect tolerance, we are to give it, and schools such as Lewis- Palmer High School should not get up in arms when someone wants to openly advocate their religious views. After all, it's just her opinion, and people can choose to make of it what they wish.
