Maybe we shouldn't have laughed...Maybe we should have became concerned?

[diabeticman]

Maybe this should have been a warning?

[elleng]

1. Of course you're correct;

the First Amendment does require some READING, after all!

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[freedom fighter jh]

2. She was right to ask, and I wish no one had laughed.

The separation of church and state is an *interpretation* of the First Amendment. Having been decided by the Supreme Court it has the force of law, but it is not explicit in the Constitution. If you don't know that, then you can't answer someone who points out that the First Amendment talks only about what Congress can do, not other arms of the State. It was, IMO, a reasonable question; if it had been answered, maybe that many more people would be able to argue for separation of church and state.

[Hoppy]

3. The 1st Amendment implies a separation of church and state. The actual sentence

comes from Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists.



---- but she's still a twit.