>Freedom of speech intrinsicly contains the right to offend. That's why I am free to say something that might offend you, or visa versa. Using the notion of "being offended" as a legal justification for restricting speech and the free expressin of different ideas, which is what has essentially happened in today's legal and political circles, has opened a true Pandora's box with no end in sight.

First, let's clarify that there are no legal issues in changing the name of the mission. This was simply of case of courtesy (in which avoiding offending others is a paramount consideration). There are no free speech issues or anything else here.

Second, I agree with you 100% that free speech includes the right to offend.

>For example, I am offended that some want to scrub God out of public life. Based on the notion of wanting to avoid offending then I should have my way and God should be back in the public square. But, those in the minority want Him taken out as they as "offended", so He's gone.
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>Why are their rights more important than mine?

Their rights are not more important than yours. Both of you have the right to advocate your own positions and the right to be offended by the positions of others.

Being offended has nothing to do with the issue of God in public life. That has to do with the question of whether our government (through the use of public funds) advances the aims and beliefs of own religious group. When, for example, public schools required students to say the Lord's Prayer every morning (which Marshal remembers, but I don't), they were advancing (promoting?) Christianity, clearly a violation of the First Amendment.

However, there is nothing that prohibits schools from teaching _about_ religion, nor are individual students prohibited from praying in school, as long as they don't interrupt classes or otherwise, interfere with normal school operation. The same applies to public employees, where the caveat is that prayer must not prevent them or others from doing their jobs.

You and I have had this conversation, so we each pretty much know where the other stands. I'm not sure we need to rehash it, but I suppose I'm game if you are. <s>

Tamar