Here's the problem. Whether you agree or not, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled countless times on the separation of church and State. The pledge of allegiance is not allowed in a lot of places due to the word "God." In another generation the kids used to start their day with prayer. Then the Supreme Court said that violated the Bill of Rights. OK, so they changed it to a moment of silence for personal prayer/reflection. The Supreme Court said no. Then we were only left with the Pledge. That is still in flux. Our country has always been rather schizophrenic in it's approach to church of State issues, but they have been VERY clear on the issues involving public schools. If that is the ruling law in this country, whether I agree or not, then a mural like this is simply unconstitutional. Period. As a lawyer, that is the main issue for me.
However, the "God is Mexican" does bother me. Not because I have anything against anyone of any particular ethnicity. It bothersthe catholic in me. I cringe at the idea of God being ANY race, ethnicity, or in this instance, nationality. "Mexican" is a nationality. It is not a race. It is not an ethnicity. So, when I see this mural, I see it as saying that God is a citizen of Mexico. This does bother me. I would be offended as well if it said, "God is Hispanic," "God is Black," "God is Caucasian," or anything else because it is a statement of exclusion. It is essentially saying, "God is like me, not you, therefore I am better than you." That is not what God is supposed to be.
Tolerance goes both ways here. If those of us who are not of Mexican descent are to tolerate Mexican customs and Mexican holidays in the United States, shouldn't it work the other way as well? Should anybody really be putting statements of exclusion up ANYWHERE, yet alone on the side of a building that was paid for by the tax dollars of El Pasoans, regardless of their heritage?
Could Tess put "God is a Honky" on the side of her house? Yep. Cuz it's private property and not paid for by anyone else. Can I put "God is a half-Guatemalan and half-American mutt" on my house? Yep. Will it offend people? Absolutely. But the first amendment says we can do it. Can a public school put that up on it's wall? Nope. Not according to the existing caselaw.
~anonymous~
I feel this is extremely offensive. Not only should something along those lines not be allowed in the USA, but most definatley not on a SCHOOL BUILDING. This petition is geared towards having the mural removed, or if nothing else, the "GOD is Mexican" quote removed.
