The 10 Commandments and your Public Schools

A school district in southwestern Virginia is re-posting copies of the Bible's Ten Commandments in all county schools, despite concerns that doing so is unconstitutional.

The five-member Giles County School Board voted unanimously to restore the framed, 4-foot-tall, biblical texts after parents and local ministers complained about their removal from the district's five schools and its technology center. The decision was made even though the board's attorney advised that such Christian displays represent unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

Wash Times

I simply don't understand. There is no statute, regulation, ordinance or code that prohibits or restricts an individuals right to practice the mainstream religion of their choice [I'll leave aside smaller belief systems that involve peyote, marijuana, etc..].

What motivates fervently religious people to be desire images or reminders of their faith to be placed on property that belongs [theoretically anyway] to the populace as a whole? Why is the prohibition on mandatory prayer in school viewed as an attack on their religion? I say 'their' because I simply don't see Hindu's, Muslims, Jews, etc...up in arms over that subject. Is there some sort of internal restriction that I'm not aware of, that prevents students from praying silently to themselves during school, or praying before or after school?

What is the need to make sure everybody knows that the Christian religion exists? Are there merit badges? Extra credit points?

I really don't get offended when I see a public display of religion, but I cannot understand the vitriol and offense by those who are stopped from ensuring their faith is anywhere one may see. Would they feel the same way if government decided to endorse and advertise certain commercial items? Wouldn't that be similar?