|
Proposed Resolution #7
for the U.S. Congress
and the Legislatures of
the Several States:
Recitation in the Public
Schools
In the face of
the debate
over prayer in the
public schools, all
local school districts
are free, if they so
choose, to include in
their school days a
public recitation or
acknowledgment of the
following words from the
Declaration of
Independence:
"We hold
these truths to be
self-evident, that all
men are created equal,
that they are endowed
by their Creator with
certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit
of happiness. That to
secure these rights, Governments
are instituted among
Men, deriving their just
powers from the consent
of the governed."
We recognize that the
word “Men” as used in
the Declaration is
understood in its best
literary sense as
inclusive of all
humankind – men, women
and children. It was
this commitment to
unalienable rights as
endowed by God that
enabled the United
States to overcome
inherited evils.
Especially, it has
allowed us to legally
emancipate blacks and
women to fully
participate in our
democratic republic. And
the same is needed for
Native Americans. These
words from the
Declaration form the
basis for the U.S.
Constitution’s concept
of civil rights.
We believe that such
a public recitation
addresses two equal
concerns among the
citizenry:
-
It is not a prayer,
and it is completely
free of any
establishment of
religion in accord
with the First
Amendment; and
-
It reflects the
historical belief of
our nation’s founding
fathers that human
rights are given by
the Creator, the
expression of which is
consistent with the
free exercise of
religion in accord
with the First
Amendment.
We also believe it
would be good to have
the recitation of the
First Amendment itself
in the public schools:
"Congress
shall make no law
respecting the
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.”
_____________________________________ |
