The United States of America is renowned for upholding the fundamental rights of its citizens, which are enshrined in the Constitution. One such right is the First Amendment, which protects the freedom of religion and speech, among other things. However, recent events at the Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) have raised concerns over the upholding of these rights.
In 1944, Lt. Hunter Wood painted a masterpiece called “Christ on the Water,” which found its way to the Elliot See Conference Room at USMMA after the closure of an interfaith chapel in 1947.
Recently, Michael Weinstein, the president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, claimed that displaying such a painting violated constitutional law and demanded its removal. Surprisingly, Superintendent Joanna Nunan capitulated to these demands within three hours, covering the painting with white curtains during mandatory events.
This decision sparked outrage among those who believed that the USMMA had failed to uphold the First Amendment rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
Senator Ted Cruz from Texas criticized Nunan, saying, “Such obvious hostility towards faith has no place in America, let alone in one of our hallowed service academies.” Cruz also argued that the time or place restrictions are irrelevant here since this is not private speech but rather government display that meets all requirements set out by the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Rep Jim Banks from Indiana also sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg demanding action on this issue. However, Nunan decided to keep the painting covered during mandatory events, citing her “flawed understanding” of the First Amendment.
This incident highlights a much larger issue surrounding religious freedom and expression under the First Amendment, which is something that we need to protect now more than ever before. We must stay vigilant regarding this case and other similar ones occurring across America if we are going to keep up our fight for religious liberty.
It is essential to uphold the fundamental rights of all American citizens. The USMMA’s decision to cover the painting “Christ on the Water” is a clear violation of the First Amendment rights guaranteed by the Constitution.