Battleground: Monroe, Ohio

The Decline of Internet Civilization by Eric Power

There is a heated debate going on in the town I called home for the last 12 years. Monroe, Oh is verging on a civil war over an issue that has been at the forefront of the town's (and my) attention for the past few years. In 2004, the newly-built conglomerated school campus opened for business, leaving the century-old building and 29-acre campus empty and slipping further into disrepair. 10 years have now passed since the transfer, and the building is on the verge of being condemned. The Board of Education of Monroe has waffled between letting it rot, selling it, repurposing it, or gifting it to a private or municipal entity. Since 2011 (at least that was when my awareness came into being on the matter), my church, Monroe First Church of God, has been interested in purchasing the 29-acre site, encompassing the old high school and all the surrounding outbuildings. We have outgrown our current home; this facility would really allow our congregation to "stretch our legs" and hopefully increase our community outreach as well. The controversy stems from the fact that the BOE would be selling the property to a church, hence violating that well known clause in the Constitution, say it with me now, the Separation of CHURCH and STATE. Oh...hey wait a second...I've got my handy pocket Constitution right here...Bill of Rights....1st Amendment...okay okay...oh! Oh, uh...no never mind....hmmm...dagnabbit! Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit, it seems that there is no such thing as the Separation of Church and State in the Constitution of the United States! Don't believe me huh? That's okay, I understand; it's a deeply grounded myth...go ahead, look it up...yeah I'll wait...