To the editor:

The article “High school papers test freedom” (Journal-World, Feb. 29) raises several issues that could be addressed. For example, if the students “have sex (55 percent), talk about sex and think sex,” what about the short- and long-term impacts on the health of both the individual students and society? Or why are abstinence-based programs considered to be religious and therefore not accepted?

But I want to address the freedom of the press issue. If a student publication were to devote an entire issue to the life, death and resurrection of Christ, whether it was from a historical, cultural or religious perspective, as the editors might decide, what would be the reaction of the school officials?

We already know based on actions taken against faculty and students for what they display or wear. Hence there is no freedom of speech unless the speaker adheres to the politically correct agenda. Or to put it another way, we do have a state-sponsored religion. It is secular humanism. And unless the individual follows its philosophy in public arenas he has no freedom of speech or expression.

Mike Easterday,

Lawrence