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2014/02/24 22:38:06
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
A key committee in Alabama's House of Representatives has pushed through a bill requiring teachers and students at all of the state's public schools to spend 15 minutes every morning in Christian prayer, even though a majority of legislators present say they opposed the measure.
Alabama, of course, is a churchin' state, ranked the "2nd most religious state" behind its neighbor, Mississippi. Alabama is also home to Roy Moore, the state Supreme Court chief justice who fought to keep a massive stone sculpture of the Ten Commandments in the state court building.
But that stand seems lukewarm next to the current House measure's planned compulsion of religion among captive pupils. The bill passed through the chamber's education policy committee late last week, according to the Montgomery Advertiser:
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Hurst, R-Munford, would require teachers to spend no more than 15 minutes in the first class of each day to read, verbatim, opening prayers said before a meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin, R-Indian Springs, chairwoman of the committee, said she heard more votes in favor of the bill.
"It's what I heard as chairman," she said.
Only McClurkin and one other Republican on the panel actually voted "aye" on the bill. Two Republicans and one Democrat insist they said "no" to the bill in the voice vote; three legislators weren't even present for the vote. The House's clerk told the Advertiser that "the chairman of each committee has the discretion to decide the outcome of a voice vote."
McClurkin also voice-voted through a bill "that would allow students to initiate prayer in school and express their religious views in their schoolwork."
The sponsor of that bill told the Advertiser: "Every bit of this bill is already legal. It's just that no one knows it's legal."
What is this, Iran?!? As a proud libertarian I am appalled at this religious dictatorship and attempt to brainwash children into State-approved religious practices.
2014/02/24 22:41:20
Subject: Re:Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
would require teachers to spend no more than 15 minutes in the first class of each day to read, verbatim, opening prayers said before a meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
Could they do 0 minutes if they wanted and still count it?
"So, do please come along when we're promoting something new and need photos for the facebook page or to send to our regional manager, do please engage in our gaming when we're pushing something specific hard and need to get the little kiddies drifting past to want to come in an see what all the fuss is about. But otherwise, stay the feth out, you smelly, antisocial bastards, because we're scared you are going to say something that goes against our mantra of absolute devotion to the corporate motherland and we actually perceive any of you who've been gaming more than a year to be a hostile entity as you've been exposed to the internet and 'dangerous ideas'. " - MeanGreenStompa
"Then someone mentions Infinity and everyone ignores it because no one really plays it." - nkelsch
FREEDOM!!!
- d-usa
2014/02/24 22:42:57
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Actually, the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment applies only to the Federal Government. There were official State churches for nearly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
But, it is pretty stupid thing to do. I understand that they're trying to counter the atheist/gay/anti-christian stuff in society but this isn't the way you go about doing it.
2014/02/24 22:45:27
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
It will never pass the house, and if it does, it'll be struck down by the Supreme Court of Alabama. I'm one of the "churchin" people and I don't believe in forcing prayer on students.
Passing a committee that may or may not be led by a loon is not the same as passing the full house. This will go nowhere.
2014/02/24 22:46:30
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Breotan wrote: Actually, the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment applies only to the Federal Government. There were official State churches for nearly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
But, it is pretty stupid thing to do. I understand that they're trying to counter the atheist/gay/anti-christian stuff in society but this isn't the way you go about doing it.
How would you suggest countering the atheist/gay/anti-christian stuff in society? I have some atheist/gay/anti-christians that keep ruining my lawn and would love some tips.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Woops, sorry. I have rabbits. Rabbits keep ruining my lawn.
Any help would still be appreciated.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/02/24 22:47:05
2014/02/24 22:48:04
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
But, it is pretty stupid thing to do. I understand that they're trying to counter the atheist/gay/anti-christian stuff in society but this isn't the way you go about doing it.
Countering a shift in society by enforcing religious doctrine mandated by The State and taking away personal freedom is certainly not liable to help matters. Alabama's government is behaving like a dictatorship.
2014/02/24 22:48:25
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
This doesnt seem much worse than whats already normal in your odd country haha. It probably wont happen (but who knows, its america...)
2014/02/24 22:51:14
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Swastakowey wrote: Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
This doesn't seem much worse than whats already normal in your odd country haha. It probably wont happen (but who knows, its america...)
Americans are American, acknowledging that every morning is dear to some of them and by a series of degrees less offensive to me as a Libertarian than being forced, or worse still having my children forced, to adhere to a religion that isn't mine. It's as bad as Communism or Fundamentalist Islam!!
2014/02/24 22:54:00
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Swastakowey wrote: Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of the United States of America. And to the Republic. For which it stands. One nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all!
Stuck for life
"So, do please come along when we're promoting something new and need photos for the facebook page or to send to our regional manager, do please engage in our gaming when we're pushing something specific hard and need to get the little kiddies drifting past to want to come in an see what all the fuss is about. But otherwise, stay the feth out, you smelly, antisocial bastards, because we're scared you are going to say something that goes against our mantra of absolute devotion to the corporate motherland and we actually perceive any of you who've been gaming more than a year to be a hostile entity as you've been exposed to the internet and 'dangerous ideas'. " - MeanGreenStompa
"Then someone mentions Infinity and everyone ignores it because no one really plays it." - nkelsch
FREEDOM!!!
- d-usa
2014/02/24 23:03:10
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Breotan wrote: Actually, the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment applies only to the Federal Government. There were official State churches for nearly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
But, it is pretty stupid thing to do. I understand that they're trying to counter the atheist/gay/anti-christian stuff in society but this isn't the way you go about doing it.
I so hope that this gets passed so Alabama will lose all their federal education money and my district will wind up with more. Receipt of certain kinds of federal aid is dependent upon being a secular establishment (i.e. education money). While non-secular private schools can indirectly benefit from federal money, they are not allowed to be recipients. An entire state declaring themselves christian and all schools requiring christian prayer would violate federal requirements and place the entire state's federal funding at risk.
So, Alabama, please go off the rails on the crazy train so I can have more federal dollars in my school district.
This one:
McClurkin also voice-voted through a bill "that would allow students to initiate prayer in school and express their religious views in their schoolwork."
Is making the rounds in Oklahoma too; it's one of those form laws being pushed by one of the big conservative organizations.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/02/24 23:06:38
Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do
2014/02/24 23:04:53
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Swastakowey wrote: Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of the United States of America. And to the Republic. For which it stands. One nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all!
Stuck for life
Most of us can repeat the pledge.
I think you're referring to the National Anthem... even musicians flub it.
Live Ork, Be Ork. or D'Ork!
2014/02/24 23:05:10
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
welshhoppo wrote: Exactly why do you pledge to the flag everyday? Always confused me.
because the day you don't is the day the commies win
That's actually fairly accurate.
Unfortunate, but accurate.
d-usa wrote: "When the Internet sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending posters that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing strawmen. They're bringing spam. They're trolls. And some, I assume, are good people."
2014/02/24 23:05:53
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Swastakowey wrote: Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
This doesnt seem much worse than whats already normal in your odd country haha. It probably wont happen (but who knows, its america...)
No. We are not.
2014/02/24 23:08:29
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
We were forced to chant "Dia agus Mhuire dhuit, a Múinteoir!" whenever a teacher entered the room, as kids. Translates as "God and Mary be with you, Teacher" and is the traditional response after "Dia dhuit!" (god be with you).
I'm scarred for life, obviously.
But yeah, the idea that they'd lose their federal funding for 15 minutes of prayer is hilarious. I doubt it'll get far.
Swastakowey wrote: Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of the United States of America. And to the Republic. For which it stands. One nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all!
Stuck for life
Most of us can repeat the pledge.
I think you're referring to the National Anthem... even musicians flub it.
I can only remember the words if I'm singing it
"So, do please come along when we're promoting something new and need photos for the facebook page or to send to our regional manager, do please engage in our gaming when we're pushing something specific hard and need to get the little kiddies drifting past to want to come in an see what all the fuss is about. But otherwise, stay the feth out, you smelly, antisocial bastards, because we're scared you are going to say something that goes against our mantra of absolute devotion to the corporate motherland and we actually perceive any of you who've been gaming more than a year to be a hostile entity as you've been exposed to the internet and 'dangerous ideas'. " - MeanGreenStompa
"Then someone mentions Infinity and everyone ignores it because no one really plays it." - nkelsch
FREEDOM!!!
- d-usa
2014/02/24 23:10:29
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Still weird that it's a thing, but I can't judge- our school system (at home in Ireland) is allowed to discriminate against anyone who doesn't uphold a "catholic ethos"- openly gay, atheist or protestant teachers can be fired.
The UK has Faith Schools which have similar exemptions.
America is not the only place with weirdness in the schools.
From kindergarten through graduate school, I was never once forced or even asked to pledge my allegiance to anything during school. It never even happened around me.
Now in Boy Scouts, we pledged to all kinds of things all over the place.
2014/02/24 23:21:39
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Swastakowey wrote: Arent you guys forced to pledge allegance to your flag every morning, coming from someone in a country where we half heartedly sing the national anthem once a week in primary school (then never again) and most people barely know the first part of our anthem you guys seem very extreme as it is.
I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of the United States of America. And to the Republic. For which it stands. One nation. Under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all!
Stuck for life
Most of us can repeat the pledge.
I think you're referring to the National Anthem... even musicians flub it.
I find national anthems boring in general I don't understand why America hasn't given their's a facelift and embraced the Jimi Hendrix version.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/02/24 23:21:49
2014/02/24 23:23:03
Subject: Re:Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Ouze wrote: As soon as some kid asks his teacher to be excused so they can go wash their feet and ask which direction Mecca is, this will be the end of it.
Why?
In fact, I'm pretty this is already done in some public schools.
Live Ork, Be Ork. or D'Ork!
2014/02/24 23:31:28
Subject: Re:Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
In fact, I'm pretty this is already done in some public schools.
Yep. Student initiated/led acts of faith are a different story.
Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others; Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected; Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it; Refusing to set aside trivial preferences; Neglecting development and refinement of the mind; Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do
2014/02/24 23:43:18
Subject: Re:Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
Ouze wrote: As soon as some kid asks his teacher to be excused so they can go wash their feet and ask which direction Mecca is, this will be the end of it.
Why?
In fact, I'm pretty this is already done in some public schools.
Because Fox News will run a special on OBAMA'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT sponsoring SHARIA LAW IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Are your kids being converted to Muslims???
lord_blackfang wrote: Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.
Flinty wrote: The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock
2014/02/24 23:57:00
Subject: Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.
All powerful Lord, as our Nation struggles through the difficulty of winter, we realize that there are forces greater than ourselves. In all things, we are more successful when we humble ourselves before You and each other.
Bless those who have been adversely affected by ice, snow, and cold. May the kindness of strangers and goodness of all Americans quickly restore our Nation to wholeness and holiness.
Bless the Members of this Chamber. May those who serve in this body continue to do so with honor, patience, and genuine care for all Members. Give them wisdom, give them joy in their office, and give them the lasting memory that they have served their country well.
We ask all this in Your Holy Name.
Amen.
Nothing's as fiscally conservative as passing legislation that is clearly unconstitutional and then spending many, many taxpayer dollars defending it in court, losing all the way.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/02/25 00:14:16
lord_blackfang wrote: Respect to the guy who subscribed just to post a massive ASCII dong in the chat and immediately get banned.
Flinty wrote: The benefit of slate is that its.actually a.rock with rock like properties. The downside is that it's a rock