Students must remember 'God' in Texas pledge

strathmeyer said:
The aren't forced to be silent?
Click to expand...

No more than they're "forced" to listen to a teacher's lecture. Disrupting either could get you sent to the principal, but it's not like disrupting a moment of silence carries the punishment of burning at the stake or having to say a thousand "Hail Marys".

Speaking as a guy who is unquestionably in favor of seperation of the church and state, I can't really see a problem with the whole moment of silence thing. As silly as I think prayer is, at least the moment of silence doesn't blatantly thrust a religous agenda in anyone's face.

On top of that, when I was in high school hardly anyone noticably prayed anyway. (No closed eyes, bowed head, or lips mouthing prayers). I'd say 99% of the students just use that time to furiously complete the homework that's due once the 30 seconds of silence is over.
 
For the sake of answering the OP: Yeah, this law is nonsense. I live in Texas and I'll fight this however I can. If I had kids right now and money wasn't an issue, they'd be in private school.

(apply Texas drawl) Our school system done broke. (cease drawl)
 
T'ai Chi said:
Better get rid of the moment of silence too. That might be endorsing religion because it is prayer-like, right?
Click to expand...

Better get rid of it because it is meditation-like and might allow satan to enter your empty mind.
 
fishbait said:
Good for your son. The world needs more like him.

However, the President was correct. The U.S. recognizes The Vatican as a sovereign state. The Pope exercises supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Holy See and the State of the Vatican City.
By U.S. law, the Pope is entitled to flag honors due any head of state.
Click to expand...

And this is why all catholic properties should not be tax exempt, their leadership is a political entity.
 
jimlintott said:
Can the Muslim kids just substitute Allah?
Click to expand...

There's no point. It's just a translation. It would be like the Hispanic kids substituting "Dios" in an otherwise English pledge.


I'm guessing that this one will actually manage to provoke the lawsuit that the atheists will win. The anti-pledge lawsuits lost largely because people figured that it was ok to just leave well enough alone, and students could skip the "God" part if they thought it was really important. Actually trying to change the law and ram it down their throats will, I predict, be seen differently.
 
T'ai Chi said:
Better get rid of the moment of silence too. That might be endorsing religion because it is prayer-like, right?
Click to expand...


Yes I agree - get rid of it. They can pray at home before school. Why do Xians feel the need to pray like peacocks?
 
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, who sponsored the bill, said it had always bothered her that God was omitted in the state's pledge.

"Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, 'You know what? We need to fix that,' " said Riddle, R-Tomball. "Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well."
Click to expand...

She's employing a grammatical bait and switch.
 
triadboy said:
Yes I agree - get rid of it. They can pray at home before school. Why do Xians feel the need to pray like peacocks?
Click to expand...

I never thought this as being a prayer thing. It just never occurred to me. I think it's just a way to acknowledge whatever happened. "This bad thing happened. Let's all take a moment to acknowledge it".
 
Ladewig said:
I'd like to propose a bill that prohibits lawmakers who cannot correctly speak English from interfering with what happens in Texas schools.
Click to expand...

I would like like to propose a bill that would make the entire state of Texas a nuclear missile/bomb practice range... effective immediately.

To paraphrase my favorite movie: "Nuke 'em from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

(Fundies seems to share a lot in common with the fictitious xenomorphs, what being parasites and all.)

"Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, 'You know what? We need to fix that,' " said Riddle, R-Tomball. "Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well."
Click to expand...
This stupid, Bible-beating, bitch doesn't know that the phrase "under god" was added to the U.S. Pledge (which, for all you hard core conservatives out there, was written by a socialist) in the 1950s as mindless political propaganda.

History is repeating itself, beseems. I hope this law and Riddle's political career get stomped, and stomped hard.
 
Last edited:
Reminds me strongly of the greatly amusing Loyalty Oath crusade snippet from Catch 22. ;)
 
This idiot is represents Tomball.


Enough said.
 
Good for your son. The world needs more like him.

However, the President was correct. The U.S. recognizes The Vatican as a sovereign state. The Pope exercises supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power over the Holy See and the State of the Vatican City.
By U.S. law, the Pope is entitled to flag honors due any head of state.

Created in 1929 to provide a territorial identity for the Holy See in Rome, the State of Vatican City is a recognized national territory under international law. The Holy See enters into international agreements and receives and sends diplomatic representatives.
Click to expand...

Soooo if the President of Uganda or Venezuela or Cuba dies, then our schools and government offices fly flags at half staff?

Susan
 
strathmeyer said:
Because the Supreme Court of the United States of America has already ruled that the phrase "In God We Trust" is not a religious phrase.
Click to expand...

Hmm, this might mean that the part of the Texas constitution requiring public employees believe in a supreme being might be legal.
 
"Here's your permission slip, son, so you don't have to say the God part in the pledge. Oh and have fun getting beat up and being called a Satan worshipper at school ."
 
HarryKeogh said:
"Here's your permission slip, son, so you don't have to say the God part in the pledge. Oh and have fun getting beat up and being called a Satan worshipper at school ."
Click to expand...

I was thinking about posting this thought to help our overseas friends understand how life in the southern United States works.
 
ponderingturtle said:
Hmm, this might mean that the part of the Texas constitution requiring public employees believe in a supreme being might be legal.
Click to expand...

Office holders, not public employees. And no, they're different. Ruling that "In God We Trust" is ceremonial deism is different from having a religious test for office that violates Article VI and applies to the states under the 14th Amendment.
 
UnrepentantSinner said:
Office holders, not public employees. And no, they're different. Ruling that "In God We Trust" is ceremonial deism is different from having a religious test for office that violates Article VI and applies to the states under the 14th Amendment.
Click to expand...

Hey Texas has the same restriction, no religious tests. You just need to believe in a Supreme Being.

[quote="Texas Constitution, Article 1 section 4]No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being. [/quote]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom