This Day in History March 21, 1972

I think this one is pretty appropriate in light of all the voting going on (and the important one that will happen this fall).  It was on this date in 1972 that the Supreme Court overturned an unconstitutional law in Tennessee which required individuals to be residents for one year before being allowed to vote.  They ruled that 30 days was plenty of time to establish residency for voting.  And I am extremely glad!

I know that the hot topic now is in voting is the requirement that some states have implemented of a photo ID.  Now, I don't want to sound racist nor bigoted, but I honestly don't see anything wrong with this law.  I am not a lawyer nor a politician nor an immigrant.  So possibly I do not understand the problem.  I have listened to both sides, and all I seem to be able to hear on the topic is that it is a money issue and that the ID's are difficult to get. Maybe I am being dumb here, but I never found that either was a problem.  Let's set the record straight.  When I became a teenager, I went and got a state-issued picture ID.  It didn't cost much.  I did not have a driver's license until I was 21.  Or maybe it was 22.  I had picture ID however.  I would be more than happy to show my ID in order to vote.  And correct me if I am wrong, but don't you have to show or somehow prove who you are when you register.  I think I had to put down the number on my license.  Or maybe all I had to do was say that I had a license.  I honestly do not remember.  I did it via the mail.  I only want legitimate people voting.

Well, enough about that.  If you would like additional information, please check out the following sites:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?linkurl=/legalres/judreslinks.html&graphurl=/art/backlink.gif&friend=wisbar&navby=case&court=us&vol=405&invol=330
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0781452.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1972#March_21.2C_1972_.28Tuesday.29

This Day in History March 8, 1948

I believe I have heard of McCollum Vx. the Board of Education District 71 court case, but I honestly knew nothing about it.  And it was on this date in 1948 that the landmark decision from this case was decided.

In good old Champaign, Illinois (I have been there since my ex is from Illinois), some religious groups (Catholics, Jews, and others) decided that the public schools could offer religious classes to students as long as it was purely optional.  This began in 1940, and it was McCollum who was an atheist and objected to it.  And perhaps she had a valid point.  Was this really an issue concerning separation of church and state?  Read on.

Well, the court ruled 6-1 that these religious classes were a violation of the First Amendment. Because students were being excused from regular curriculum if they opted for these religious classes, it was in violation of the separation of church and state portion of that amendment.

Now, I am going to step out on a limb here.  I know that people say that it is horrible that religion is outlawed from schools.  There was a time in this country when everyone was required to pray and to study the Bible.  There was a time when one could be expelled from their home if they disagreed with the church (take a look at the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Salem Witch Trials).  Although religion was mandated, did it really change the way people lived? I think a very real case can be created that would point out the evils of a church state.

I am not one who believes that religion should be preached in a public school.  I believe that a student should have freedom to worship at school in their way, but they should not have to do it.  My current issue is that all other religions today seem valid but Christianity.  The last I checked, if a student wishes to pray in a school of their own accord and they are not being disruptive, he/she has that freedom.  I get tired of religious tolerance except for Christianity.  But I'll get off my soapbox for the evening.

For more information, please check out:
http://atheism.about.com/library/decisions/religion/bl_l_McCollumBoard.htm
http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/333/203/case.html
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1949/1947/1947_90