Consider for a moment our Constitution. In it are natural rights, natural laws and details of limited government to allow for free people to prosper through life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness. Now consider the current case before the Supreme Court, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, about a former high school football coach who lost his job after leading post game prayers at midfield. Richard B. Katskee, representing the Bremerton school district, told the Court that officials had an obligation to protect students from being coerced into religious activity they did not want ... and to remain neutral on the subject of religion. (emphasis added) Coerced? Neutral? Among the rights listed in the Constitution is a freedom of religion. Some like to translate that right, ever so falsely, as a freedom from religion. That is what this coercive, neutral stance is saying. Any display of religion is coercive to kids. Yet other activities in schools are purposely not neutral and schools are allowed, even forced to coerce kids. For example:

• Justice Thomas cited one: if the coach had taken a knee during the national anthem to protest racism, would that have been allowed?
• Teaching sex education to k-3, is that coercive?
• Education on gender and gender dysphoria, is that coercive?
• Celebrations of gay pride week, is that coercive?
• The discussion of transgender and schools advising kids not to discuss with their parents. is that coercive?
• Justice Alito cited another example: Would it be okay to wave a Ukrainian flag?
• Flying gay & transgender flags at school is allowed, but, not religious flags (or sometimes religious groups), are these coercive?

This list goes on.  'Not that there is anything wrong' with any of this. And, there is nothing wrong with religion, as a matter of fact, there is much right with religion. So, why are some coercion okay? The preference of certain activities over others is clear, and obviously inconsistent, in this case and in others.  Political issues are allowed to be used to coerce children. But, not Constitution rights. LGBTQ, gender, sexual and anti-American coercion is acceptable, even celebrated for kids to see. But, not religion. Just the mention of religion is coercive to some. Look at this picture. Surely you can see how awful this gathering was on the 50 yard line at Bremerton, HS. Aggressive, violent, disruptive,. Oh, no, that was the football game. This was calm, reflective, considerate, a show of sportsmanship and thankfulness. This is what our government and school districts do not want kids to see. You have to ask yourself why. This issue of religious expression is not the issue. Holding down religion breaks a bond in a society. In American society it breaks a bond of community, family, respect for individuals and optimism of something greater. With that bond broken, other things can take precedence in one's lives, families and community. Issues like parental rights, gender, LGBTQ, sexual dysfunction, public health lockdowns, political activism on things like race, gender or country. A defensive, victimized, negative perspective on life develops  from that religious void that is ripe for control by unscrupulous political leaders. Allowing some preferred things to be coercive while others are not, is the step before control. Once preferred coercion is ingrained in us, you cannot even bring a lawsuit like this. Outside of the obvious hypocrisy, the issue at hand is control, not religion. The Constitution says no law shall be passed that restricts the free exercise of religion. We have already done that, based on the flawed premises of the separation of church & state.  There is no government sanction of a specific religion going on at the 50 yard line, just free expression. And it not just schools where religious suppression exists. Director James Gunn Responds To Calls To Recast Chris Pratt Over Actor’s Public Christianity. Religious expression is now restricted across our society. Religion is protected in the Constitution and we should stand for that right and correct the unconstitutional steps already taken. But, remember, while fighting for the free exercise of religion as we should, religion isn't the issue. There is a bigger issue to of which to beware.  Eliminating religion in our society increases government control and decreases the American bond. More From The Washington Post (subscription required):