Doug;

Actually, you did get my point - not all conservatives are extremeists, nor are all liberals, but both 'wings' have got a significant number of assholes parading around in costumes of various designs, all carrying the banner of intolerance.

I tried making a point earlier, but I believe it may have been lost in my stating - but others have come close to it as well.

I'll say it again. I'm not christian. I am probably just plain ol' agnostic. BUT, I also think that FOR THE ISSUE AS I HAVE SEEN IT PRESENTED IN THE COURT BRIEFS, the Supreme Court made the correct decision.

AS I HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE, the question asked was NOT whether the club should be allowed to proselytize, flyer, sacrifice, martyr or do anything else. The question that the court decided on was whether it was correct for the school to exclude this club from meeting on campus by virtue of the faith they profess. If this is in fact the question (and it is, as I understand the briefs I've read), then the court made the VERY right decision. As has been said before, by defending the rights of the unpopular and minority groups to do the same as other more 'mainstream' organizations do, you empower ALL groups.

Now... It DOES appear that there are satellite issues attendant on this case that while related to the main question, are not integral to the central issue that was decided. I consider this quite similar to the brouhaha over the 'medicinal marijuana' decision - which I also feel was correct GIVEN THE QUESTION ASKED (Not 'should marijuana be legalized' or any variant - the question asked was 'should state legislation take precedence over directly conflicting federal legislation', and their answer was 'no').

Now...

For anyone getting emotional over this, PLEASE try to take a step back and breathe. Then consider...

This decision did NOT legalize prayer in classroom, establish a religion, condone the dissemination of religious materials - or even permission slips - in class or any of the like. The decision simply said it's wrong to discriminate against a group holding meetings in a public facility that is used by other groups for meetings as well. This isn't even a groundbreaking decision. It's a fight that groups like the various gay/lesbian support clubs, the various ethnic support groups, and a host of other 'clubs' have fought over the years.

If you STILL think the court made the wrong choice... strip religion out of the equation entirely (after all, at no point was the Supreme Court asked to rule on religion). Replace Christian with "NAACP"... or "Young Republicans"... or "Red Cross"... or any of a number of other organizations. Pick one that you personally identify with. Now, tell me. Is it still wrong that the court would defend their using the school after hours for meeting purposes?

M