Not even Charlie Brown is safe from a society which is going out of its way to drive God, Christianity, and common sense completely out of the picture. Americans celebrate Christmas, because it is the birth of Jesus, yet any reference to Jesus is being struck from view or reference. Now, a school field trip has been cancelled simply because the students would be seeing Merry Christmas Charlie Brown at a local church.
The Little Rock School District received a complaint the other day. Was it someone upset over drugs in school? No. How about bullying? Nope. Maybe an outbreak of cheating? Not even close.
In this case, the complaint had to do with the fact that a field trip was scheduled for elementary school students to see a performance of Merry Christmas Charlie Brown at the Agape Church in Little Rock. Some teachers saw the performance, and thought it would be great to organize a field trip for the kids. However, a parent complained that the play violated her religious beliefs. In came the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers (ASF), and the rest is history.
As reported by KATV in Little Rock, the ASF “mounted a campaign to have the field trip called off.”
“We’re not waging a war,” said LeeWood Thomas, a spokesman for the group. “We’re basically calling a foul against the separation of church and state.”
The organization takes offense to students invited to a church for a field trip. Plans to present a version of the Christmas classic only compound the problem, according to ASF.
The free thinkers said they have consulted with the Appignani Humanist Legal Center in “correcting violations of separation of church and state at Terry Elementary School in Little Rock,” according to a release.
Here’s the television report:
KATV – Breaking News, Weather and Razorback Sports
Even though the report stated that the school still planned to go through with the trip, the church has now come forward and eliminated the matinee performances that the children would have used. Instead, the church now invites parents to bring their children to the church’s weekend performances.
But because of what this issue has become, as a church, it is not our desire to put hard working, sacrificial teachers and cast members in harm’s way. What we want said is that we love our city, our schools, parents and families. People are at the heart of the matter to us. While we regret the loss of students who will not get this particular opportunity right now, we have taken the school matinees off the table, and welcome parents to bring their children to our public performance schedule, Saturday, December 15 @ 2pm and 6pm, and Sunday, Dec. 16 @ 6pm.
To quote bible verses and song lyrics that apply, they reflect our heart toward the Little Rock School District and everyone involved – Peace on Earth, Good will toward men.”
Pastor Happy Caldwell, Agape Church
What about the majority? Does the fact that 99% of the families have no problem with this trip mean anything? In fact, as the television report stated, NO parent complained directly to the school. But even so, someone complains behind the scenes, atheists get wind of it, and the whole effort is shut down. This is insane.
I’m so tired of these assaults on Christmas, and I’m just as tired of people backing down and giving in. What’s that old saying? If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything. America is falling… fast!
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