Dem votes against religious liberty in schools : Lone Star Times

Dem votes against religious liberty in schools

by Matt Bramanti · 05/01/2007 2:02 pm

And why did Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) vote against protecting children’s right to express their religion?

Because then children might express their religion!

If the Senate approves it, student leaders will be allowed to summon Jesus Christ in prayer to help calm student nerves before a TAKS test, Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, said of the hypothetical situation before voting against the measure.

Or, a student leader can call on Allah if he or she is a Muslim. Or, a student leader can tell other students that it’s sacrilegious to pray to Jesus for comfort because “Jesus was not the son of God, Jesus was not the messiah,” Hochberg told his colleagues, noting some discomfort in their facial reactions.

Oh my goodness! If we allow kids to pray, they might actually do it!

“Under this legislation, students will be held captive to the expression of religious beliefs that they and their families may not share. Students will be able to promote their own religious views over everybody else’s, placing schools in serious legal jeopardy,” said Kathy Miller, president of the organization, which supports an agenda of religious freedom.

Whoa now. Let’s see how the Texas Freedom Network portrays itself:

A mainstream voice to counter the religious right

Hmm.

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Comments

13 Responses to “Dem votes against religious liberty in schools”

Dov on May 1st, 2007 at 2:04 pm

And if they express their religion are we going to have to allow the Muslims to do so in a special prayer room, with prayer rugs and do so 5 times a day ?

I am all for freedom to practice a religion yet Islam will hijack this if they can
twocute64001 on May 1st, 2007 at 2:05 pm

So they have freedom and we don’t ??????????????????????????
Lawrence C. on May 1st, 2007 at 2:15 pm

I’ve been fortunate enough to afford school choice for my children and avoid the cesspool of public education. It’s a crying shame that our political leaders won’t afford that privileged choice to their constituents. That’s one helluva predicament- being taxed against your will for a public education that isn’t a viable(or utilized) option. It’s a pretty strong indictment of the public school system when lots of folks will pay those ever escalating property taxes and choose to spend their own money to opt out of the system.
stwilhelm on May 1st, 2007 at 2:19 pm

Or you could be a traveler at the Kansas City Airport and be subjected to Muslims washing their feet in basins that are now provided for them. Evidently cabbies are wanting a place to wash their feet in order to prepare for Islamic daily prayers. Who paid — tax payers, of course!

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55417
Big45Iron on May 1st, 2007 at 2:26 pm

If I see one of those foot cleaning things at an airport, I plan to buy a couple of hot dogs and sit down right next to it. I’ll munch one, and offer them the other….after I dip it in their foot water.
dowjones25k on May 1st, 2007 at 2:36 pm

see i told ya if ya vote democrat it will piss the folks off quicker, the bad repooplican will be gone and walla!
SimpleSimon on May 1st, 2007 at 2:37 pm

4. Stwilhelm,

Are the floors at the KC airport more pristeen that any other airport? Seems like washing one’s feet in an airport bathroom sink and then placing them back on the indescribable floor is a waste of time.

Simple
Big45Iron on May 1st, 2007 at 3:15 pm

Plus if they don’t dry them off thoroughly, it’s a slipping hazard. Recommend they put the foot bowls on pigskins!
american woman on May 1st, 2007 at 4:46 pm

#1 yes they will hijack this if they can.
SimpleSimon on May 1st, 2007 at 7:00 pm

Matt,

Since when has ANYONE limited the ability of a student to say a silent prayer BEFORE, AFTER, or DURING a test?????

I suspect that any student who has taken an algebra or trig test has silently prayed BEFORE, AFTER, and DURING the test. Whether God answers prayers for passing grades on tough tests is another question.

Having a student leader get up before the group and lead a GROUP prayer is out of line. I really would not care if it was a Christian, Moslem, or Druid prayer. It smacks of trampling on the rights of others.

I have no problem if the students want to gather together in the hallway and say a prayer on their own. That is freedom of expression at its finest.

There are private schools available for the folks that feel that strongly about prayer.

On a personal note…I found that preparation and good study habits were far more effective in getting me thru a test than prayer.

Finally, I wish our legislators would spend their time working on a way to reduce our taxes than proposing legislation that has no hope of passing a Supreme Court challange.

Simple
GoodJobTim on May 1st, 2007 at 9:57 pm

So students can gather and pray but they are not allowed a student leader to gather them? I’ll consider your line of thought if we ban political discussion in school, after all what’s a poor conservative kid to do with all the liberalism flying around him?
vlou on May 1st, 2007 at 11:14 pm

One does not need to publicly display praying (i.e. folding your arms, bowing your head, closing your eyes, etc.). You can pray silently from your heart without displaying a physical form. Just find a quiet spot so you can meditate peacefully.
SimpleSimon on May 2nd, 2007 at 7:14 am

11 Tim,

What planet are you from? A high school student engaging in political discussion, whether it is liberal or conservative, would be regarded as ……well geeky. This is something most High School Students will try to avoid.

That was the case in the sixties when I was in High School and I think I am on firm ground thinking it is the same way today.

I suspect that the main course of discussions in the classroom are as follows:

1. Girls (if you are a guy)
1A. Guys (if you are a girl)
2. Music
3. Who is dating who
4. Who has just broken up.
5. Who is the hottest teacher
6. When is the next party
7. The old standard (Sex, Drugs, and Rock&Roll)

Of course I could be wrong. No doubt the kids are wandering the halls between classes grousing about the geo-political situation and isn’t that Fred Thompson a hunk……. Gosh…I just can’t wait to get to Civics class.

LMAO

Simple