Alabama forces children to pray in theocratic dictatorship move.

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**hotsauceman1**

Jesus, Does that mean I have no right to killing the worms in my intestine because im their host?

**MeanGreenStompa**

Cheesecat wrote:
Monster Rain wrote:
I personally enjoyed the hyperbolicious thread title.

It would appear that this flavor of click-bait gets the most eyeballs.

Well, considering some of MGS's recent posts I'm not too surprised .

Could you expound on this?

**Frazzled**

Gentleman_Jellyfish wrote:
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

We had to pledge allegiance to the Texas flag. Suck it commies!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Da Boss wrote:
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.

Holy crap, the Irish are singing Klingon. Hold me, I'm scared.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

H.B.M.C. wrote:
And again America continues to fixate on things that just aren't important. "On noes! School prayer again! We must makes the childrens speak to God all the time otherwise the gays will cause more cyclones and terrorism!"

Hey guys: Your economy is fethed. Get your damned priorities straight and deal with that first.

Yes I realise I'm conflating several things in that mock-quote above, but these are some of the day-to-day minutia that America seems utterly unable to move past.

Aussie talk. The only thing keeping ten thousand tanks from invading you is your killer drop bears and anti amphibious great white sharks. One day we'll get you my pretties, you and your little dog too!

**WarOne**

More stupidity from elected idiots done via the dumbocratic way.

**Cheesecat**

MeanGreenStompa wrote:
Cheesecat wrote:
Monster Rain wrote:
I personally enjoyed the hyperbolicious thread title.

It would appear that this flavor of click-bait gets the most eyeballs.

Well, considering some of MGS's recent posts I'm not too surprised .

Could you expound on this?

Sorry, having looked though your posting history I confused you with someone else in the microwaved kitten thread although this statement "We're a virus mutation away from full extinction, sooner or later, then the world can repopulate the niches we've made vacant with new and exciting

species, although hopefully without ever again producing something so utterly douche-like as the human being" from the sea world thread comes across as pretty silly to me. So I am wrong for the most part and apologize.

**Captain Fantastic**

What is stopping them from refusing? The second a school decides to take action against a child for not praying, their parents can just pursue legal action and the whole thing falls apart.

I was that kid who didn't say the 'under god' part of the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school. It's not hard to just refuse and refuse to be swayed. 15 minutes is a long time too. Who prays that long, besides alcoholics and people in prison?

**Ouze**

d-usa wrote:
sebster wrote:
Interesting that in another thread where people were talking about the 2014 election being the Republicans to lose, and that it would take something as boneheaded as the 2012 rape comments to lead to a defeat. I think more than a few Republicans read that and thought 'challenge accepted'.

They are trying!

(Too lazy to start another "Republican says stupid thing" thread)

I read that article earlier, before coming on dakka, and although no sound escaped me, my lips silently formed the word "bingo".

This was pretty much the exact thing that was referenced in the other thread Sebster mentioned.

**d-usa**

Ouze wrote:

I read that article earlier, before coming on dakka, and although no sound escaped me, my lips silently formed the word "bingo".

True Story:

DakkaDakka Bingo has cross-market potential as Facebook Bingo

**sebster**

d-usa wrote:
They are trying!

(Too lazy to start another "Republican says stupid thing" thread)

I suspect the RNC is sending out memos to evreyone in the party saying "Please be good, just for 12 months. And if you're from one of those states, please, please don't say anything to the media for the next 12 months. Please."

**dogma**

djones520 wrote:

Don't know why you edited. The part you took out what responsible for the title, not the Gawker. They had something completely different.

I typed out several arguments that were significantly less kind and, as a result, retroactively deleted any statement that could be construed as impolite.

I like posting here, and so try to play by the rules.

**Bullockist**

Captain Fantastic wrote:
15 minutes is a long time too. Who prays that long, besides alcoholics and people in prison?

Ted Haggard does after seeing a prostitute.

**whembly**

d-usa wrote:
sebster wrote:
Interesting that in another thread where people were talking about the 2014 election being the Republicans to lose, and that it would take something as boneheaded as the 2012 rape comments to lead to a defeat. I think more than a few Republicans read that and thought 'challenge accepted'.

They are trying!

(Too lazy to start another "Republican says stupid thing" thread)

*Stamps Dakka Bingo*

We need one for Democrats too:
Va. Dem. says NRA are decendents of the KKK and gun owners like 'little kids,' guns need to be titled, registered

**MrMoustaffa**

whembly wrote:
MrMoustaffa wrote:
MeanGreenStompa wrote:
http://gawker.com/alabama-legislators-pass-bill-requiring-school-prayer-e-1529495374?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

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.

So we're ignoring that little clause of "Separation of Church and state" now?

Also, the news site is gawker. I thought they were a really sensationalist website that posted a lot of crap. Are they a trust worth source for this?

Now where is that clause written again??

The First Amendment?

Not sure if you're messing with me right now or serious

EDITing for clarity. Not trying to sound like a jerk, but I thought that this was a major thing covered in the First Amendment and then Thomas Jefferson clarified on it. It's been a while since I took US history though so I might be getting some of this wrong.

**azazel the cat**

Huh. The chair of Alabama's education committee can't count to 3.

That doesn't bode well for American exceptionalism.

**sirlynchmob**

welshhoppo wrote:
Exactly why do you pledge to the flag everyday? Always confused me.

To instill a sense of nationalism into the kids so they're easier to recruit when they're older.

**Ahtman**

sirlynchmob wrote:
welshhoppo wrote:
Exactly why do you pledge to the flag everyday? Always confused me.

To instill a sense of nationalism into the kids so they're easier to recruit when they're older.

I suppose we do it for the same reason you still have the Queen.

**StarTrotter**

whembly wrote:
d-usa wrote:
sebster wrote:
Interesting that in another thread where people were talking about the 2014 election being the Republicans to lose, and that it would take something as boneheaded as the 2012 rape comments to lead to a defeat. I think more than a few Republicans read that and thought 'challenge accepted'.

They are trying!

(Too lazy to start another "Republican says stupid thing" thread)

*Stamps Dakka Bingo*

We need one for Democrats too:
Va. Dem. says NRA are decendents of the KKK and gun owners like 'little kids,' guns need to be titled, registered

Please continue, *tosses popcorn into mouth* Come on guys I need three more stamps to get a bingo here!

**Stephanius**

Ouze wrote:
whembly wrote:
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???

.

ROFL. Now we guess which part of the population is more likely to believe such hogwash without question or evidence. =]

On the original topic, it makes a lot of sense to make school prayer mandatory. In young years indoctrination is very powerful and many people's religion or politics are simply copy pasted from their parents. From a recruiting point of view it is smart to get them while they are young and gullible. It is much easier to push through political or religous agendas when the demographics shift in your favour. What better characteristics than unquestioning faith and loyalty could a politician ask for in their voter base?

**Ma55ter_fett**

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:
We're not forced to pledge allegiance to the flag. Any student can opt out at any time.

At my old middle school several teachers would write home to your parents if you didn't stand up and pledge allegiance.

**Mr. Burning**

Ma55ter_fett wrote:

At my old middle school several teachers would denounce you and your entire family to Mcarthy if you didn't stand up and pledge allegiance.

Fixed.

**Kilkrazy**

The Forces of Reaction and Authoritarianism are ever vigilant for signs of backsliding in the youth population.

**dogma**

whembly wrote:
*Stamps Dakka Bingo*

We need one for Democrats too:
Va. Dem. says NRA are decendents of the KKK and gun owners like 'little kids,' guns need to be titled, registered

The title of that article is just as bad MGS' thread title.

You should feel bad for linking it.

**Soladrin**

Soo... what happens if you don't pray?

**CptJake**

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.

So, if I am reading this correctly, the teachers will read a prayer used as an opening prayer by either the House or the Senate. Though it would be good if some explanation as to the historical significance of that prayer (what was going on in the world/country which prompted it) was given, the fact remains, they are not compelling any child to pray at all, nor are they really praying. They are reading historical record.

Is it silly? A waste of resources/time? Perhaps.

Is it forced prayer? Not if the part I quoted is accurate.

**Kilkrazy**

Why not satisfy the requirement by reading 15 minutes of heavy goods vehicle tachograph regulations, then?

**CptJake**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Why not satisfy the requirement by reading 15 minutes of heavy goods vehicle tachograph regulations, then?

Not sure there are cases in the congressional record of that being used to open the daily business at the House or Senate. Perhaps you can find some.

**Kilkrazy**

Are you suggesting that because a prayer has been said by the senate, if it is said in a school it is not a prayer?

**Frazzled**

Soladrin wrote:
Soo... what happens if you don't pray?

Then you fail that pop quiz in math. duh!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

CptJake wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
Why not satisfy the requirement by reading 15 minutes of heavy goods vehicle tachograph regulations, then?

Not sure there are cases in the congressional record of that being used to open the daily business at the House or Senate. Perhaps you can find some.

Wait, wait, the House and Senate do business? Come on,who's kidding whom?

**Soladrin**

Frazzled wrote:
Soladrin wrote:
Soo... what happens if you don't pray?

Then you fail that pop quiz in math. duh!

Who needs math anyway?!

**H.B.M.C.**

I think there are significantly bigger problems with the American school system than whether the kids can pray or not.

Again America: Priorities.