Who's Right?

Okay, so I tried to make the title a little tricky by saying "Who's Right?" meaning one of two things; possessive 'who', such as, who's right is it? and the other as a conjunction, 'who is', such as 'who is right?' But I realize that probably the proper form of the possessive ought to be 'whose' as published in Merriam-Webster. But I guess either could be correct... anyways, moving on.

A Wisconsin student is suing Tomah High School, where he attends as a senior, after he received a zero by his teacher on a personally expressive art assignment. The boy alleges that others were allowed to create demonic images and that the school houses numerous religious symbols from various religions, including Buddhist and Hindu figures, Michelangelo's "Creation of Man", a drawing of the Grim Reaper, and other such objects. (view article on FoxNews.com)

"We hear so much today about tolerance," said David Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group representing the student. "But where is the tolerance for religious beliefs? The whole purpose of art is to reflect your own personal experience. To tell a student his religious beliefs can legally be censored sends the wrong message." (view source)

The boy received multiple detentions after tearing up an agreement signed at the start of the class that prohibits students from making anything with any violence, blood, sexual connotations or religious beliefs in artwork. In the lawsuit, it is claimed that Millin, the art teacher, told the boy that he gave up his constitutional rights when he signed the agreement at the start of the semester.

Later, the assistant principal, Cale Jackson, told the boy his religious expression infringed on other students' rights.

This is the part that most upset me. This boy's religious expression "infringed on the other students' rights." And how is his infringement on their rights not rather an infringement on his right to religious expression? If he, or anyone for that matter, is denied religious expression because it is viewed as offensive to others then how is that not personally offensive to that person who wishes to express their religious belief? Is that not also an infringement of rights?

So what do we do? Where should we stand? Are we all pushing on either side of the fence? If we allow religious expression for one group, it infringes on the religious (or anti-religious or non-religious) expression of another. If we take away prayer in schools for Christian students and then allow prayer times for Muslim students, is that fair? If the Jews request time from work with holiday pay for a Jewish holiday are they then required to work on Christmas or at least take time off with no pay when the office is closed for the Christian holiday? Or maybe should we instead allow Christians an extra few days of holiday vacation to supplement their Christmas vacation in order to equalize the holiday allotment for Jews and Christians alike?

I could go on and on with various examples of religious 'bigotry' citing situations regarding using "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer in schools, 10 Commandment Tablets being taken off of lawns of courthouses, etc.

Where does it end? Or does it end? At what point will we give up all rights altogether just to appease another group, whilst yet stepping on the toes of others. Why is it the governments 'duty' to step in on matters such as these? In my opinion, it is not. Let bygones be bygones. You worship your way, I will worship my way. You can pray when you want to and I can pray when I want to. We can all say "one nation, under God" whether you believe in my God or no God at all. Why do we have to be offended at every little occurrence or pronunciation or expression of religious belief?!

I claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of [my] own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

**disclaimer- I DO NOT support extremism in religion to the point that it harms the lives of others in order to cleanse the world from sin. (Yes radical Islam, I am talking about YOU) In the event of such action, I claim the privilege of defending myself, my family, and my country from such radicals and extremists with lethal force if necessary.