In its June 1 editorial, “Sin, Vice, Virtue in Ascent application,” The Durango Herald lauds the First Amendment’s protection of the separation of church and state, and the right to a free press. The Herald criticizes the application for references to Christianity, sin, morality and vice. It appears the Herald is in favor of the First Amendment as long it favors the message.
Discussion of religion is allowed in public schools and is a right protected by the Constitution. Schools run from it because it has become controversial and has fallen from 21st-century public favor. The First Amendment has been twisted from its original intent to protect people’s right to practice the religion they choose without government interference. The Herald purports to support the First Amendment, but this editorial suggests only to the extent it agrees with the issue. It agrees with choice in education provided it agrees with the choice. The First Amendment was not written to protect us from people who agree with us, rather quite the opposite.
Mike Foutz
Bayfield
