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Thought for the Day: Freedom of Religion is Freedom From Religion

Imagine a news article on a day care center that starts as follows:
An investigation of XYZ Childcare Center, used by many in our community has found shocking evidence of neglect and abuse.  There is a total lack of adult supervision.  What toys and other educational resources are available are taken by the bigger and stronger children.  There is also substance abuse among the children, making them dangerous to themselves and others.  Many children have been found beaten to the point of broken limbs and even death.  When parents were asked if they had any idea of the conditions, they replied that they didn't understand, but since it was a licensed facility they felt they had no right to question the care.  Parents even told their children that they should just accept whatever was done to them.
Pretty over the top, I know.  Maybe believable, but only barely; more like something you'd read in a piece of fiction trying to make a point.  Now imagine I told you the author ended with:
Of course, we are not in any way suggesting that this center be closed or even forced to change their administration of the facility.  We support their right to run their organization any way they want.  Moreover, we fully understand why parents want to send their children there.  We simply felt it was important to make public why we don't send our children there.
Ok; that's ridiculous.  No one in their right mind would support such an awful institution!  Moreover, no reputable news service would publish such an outlandish article.  An article that details criminal behavior at the institution and then supports their right to continue that criminal behavior!?  That is obviously outlandish and unbelievable.

Tch, tch... did you forget where we live?  That article was published by CNN.  The article wasn't about a day care center, but about religion.  The arguments were the same old stale canards always leveled by people who are interested only in justifying their own behavior and then singing "la la la la la... I can't hear you" to be sure they don't have to deal with any facts.  What shocked me, though, was that last paragraph supporting the right to religion.  If they really believed what they were saying about the problems with religion, there is no way they could support and endorse it for others.  Unless, of course, they are really cruel, self-centered bullies who want what they can get any way they can get it.  Ah.  Now I'm the one forgetting where we live.
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