Jessica Ahlquist had added an interesting twist about religious expression in public schools. Seeing that small segments of society can counter-balance the limited funding of public schools is something remarkable. It is not that public schools could be out-spent but it could be out-maneuvered. This case of atheist vs. believer litigation points to just that. How important is it for the school to support a religious banner in the face of litigation costs? Not very important in any fiscally responsible mindset. How important is it for atheists to remove a religious banner in the face of litigation costs? It depends the level of offense those atheists feel.
Can a situation like this ever escalate? Yes. I can see a similar situation balloon out of control if religious believers where to give manpower, energy, and most importantly money to keep a religious artifact on campus displayed in a religious manner. Undoubtedly, if that were ever to occur the courts would have to way in and have a further say in the on-going discussion about the separation between church and state. Hallelujah.