An East Texas district judge has given some high school leaders something to cheer.

Good for him, and for them.

Hardin County District Judge Steve Thomas ruled that the Kountze High School cheerleaders may display religious messages on their run-through banners prior to the start of their football games. He said the banners do not establish a state religion and that it does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution that prohibits such an establishment.

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/08/tx-judge-cheerleaders-can-keep-bible-verses-banner/

I’m with him on this one.

Here’s where I draw the line.

The kids want to display the banner containing Scripture passages. No one is forcing them to do it. Had the Kountze Independent School District ordered the students to put the messages out there – as agents of a government entity – that would violate the First Amendment that disallows government from taking such action. But since the students are acting on their own volition and the community supports their display, then – if you’ll pardon the mixed metaphor – no harm, no foul.

The case has drawn national attention. Some civil libertarians opposed the banners because they contend they foist religion on non-religious spectators attending these football games. C’mon, folks. No one forces anyone to read these banners, let alone adhere to their message.

Thomas’s ruling states: “The evidence in this case confirms that religious messages expressed on run-through banners have not created, and will not create, and establishment of religion in the Kountze community.”

The fact that the students are free to do as they please means they are exercising their liberties as citizens of a country that encourages freedom of expression.