Freedom Writer - December 1994 [ref001] Canada honored by PEARL _Editor's_note:_This_artic

Freedom Writer - December 1994

[ref001]

Canada honored by PEARL

_Editor's_note:_This_article_is_the_text_of_a_speech_given_by_Sen._
Howard_M._Metzenbaum_(D-OH)_at_the_National_Coalition_for_Public_Education_
and_Religious_Liberty_(PEARL)_conference_held_at_the_National_Education_
Association_building_in_Washington,_DC_on_September_22,_1994._The_
organization_honored_school_administrator_Ben_Canada_with_its_National_
PEARL_Award._

By Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum

We may be able to enjoy occasional victories. But the fact is that 
we cannot count on the courts to defend church-state separation any 
more. We need to take this fight to other places: to the Congress, 
to the statehouses, to the town councils, and into the schools. 

Just as Dr. Ben Canada did when faced with a challenge in his own 
school system. Dr. Canada is one who stayed true to his principles. 
Dr. Canada is one who would not shirk his responsibility as an educator 
to protect every student's rights. Dr. Canada is one man who would 
not cave in.

Remember what we are up against. Remember what individuals like Dr. 
Canada must contend with. The Religious Right -- a well-funded, well-organized 
network -- will do everything it can to bring down the wall between 
church and state, and to bring down the Dr. Canadas of this country. 
And the Religious Right has plenty of clout with which to pursue its 
agenda.

There's the Christian Coalition, the American Family Association, 
and the Christian Broadcasting Network. The Religious Right also controls 
the Republican Party apparatus in states such as Texas, Minnesota, 
and Virginia. We truly are facing a veritable army of ideologues. 


I believe that we need to be clear, absolutely clear, about one thing 
as we make our stand for religious freedom. Our fight is not with 
religious people. Tens of millions of Americans devoutly practice 
their faiths every day. We are not fighting against them. In fact, 
we are fighting for them. Religion in the home, in houses of worship, 
or in other private settings, is truly a wonderful thing. We are not 
fighting religion or religious people. Our fight is with those who 
would make religion a part of our government's day-to-day affairs. 
We have to match them at every level. We have to be just as organized, 
just as unified, and just as politically savvy. 

The U.S. Senate, where I've proudly served for 19 years, will be different 
in 1995. No one is sure just what it will look like. We all know there 
will be new faces. But many of the senators whose church-state views 
I have opposed for 19 years will still be there. And you can count 
on them to continue their assault on the separation between church 
and state.

We all know their song. We've heard it all before. "Don't worry," 
they say. "We don't want much. Just a moment of silence. Just let 
students lead their own prayers in class. Just a few vouchers for 
religious schools. Just let teachers lead Bible studies now and then. 
Just let us edit your textbook list a bit." We have heard it all before, 
and we will hear it all again. It is a siren song that has lulled 
Americans into a state of apathy regarding their religious freedom.

The church-state battles rarely make us popular. They are never easy. 
They are often tiring and discouraging. But what's the alternative? 
If we let up, if we relax our guard, the floodgates open wide. The 
first crack may be on a moment of prayer, or on curriculum restrictions. 
But the crack will widen. We can't afford that. We can't afford to 
skip any battle over issues of fairness and freedom. And it's not 
fair to ask someone at the local level to go up against the Religious 
Right alone. Dr. Canada stood up, and he should know that I stand 
with him, and that everyone in this room stands with him as well.

Last November, one of the principals in Dr. Canada's school system 
took it upon himself to use a 5th Circuit decision as justification 
for daily student prayers over his school's public address system. 
The principal was repeatedly told that such action was not only inappropriate, 
but clearly unconstitutional. Yet the principal did not relent. Dr. 
Canada took the only appropriate action under the circumstances. He 
suspended the principal. Throughout the storm of controversy that 
followed, Dr. Canada was brave enough and committed enough to stand 
his ground, and to stand up for the essential freedoms we hold so 
dear. 

I have said we need to stand together in the church-state fight. This 
is how we will win our battles. But before standing together, each 
of us must resolve to stand alone, if need be. Dr. Canada stood up, 
and to a great extent he stood alone. If we as individuals can stand 
up like Ben Canada did, then we truly will be unbeatable when we stand 
together. 

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