Saturday, January 24, 2009



Must not be silent

We read:
"A federal judge has ruled that a state law requiring a moment of silence in public schools across Illinois is unconstitutional, saying it crosses the line separating church and state. "The statute is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion," U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said in his ruling yesterday.

The ruling came in a lawsuit designed to bar schools from enforcing the Illinois Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act. It was filed by talk-show host Rob Sherman, an outspoken atheist, and his daughter, Dawn, a high school student.

Gettleman's ruling was not a surprise. He had already ruled in favor of Sherman in two previous decisions.

As passed by the Illinois General Assembly, the law allows students to reflect on the day's activities rather than pray if that is their choice and defenders have said it therefore doesn't force religion on anyone. But Gettleman backed critics such as the American Civil Liberties Union, who say the law is a thinly disguised effort to bring religion into the schools.

Source

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

"...a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion...

Excues me? They aren't forced to contemplate ANYTHING. They are simply being asked to be respectfully silent. OK, maybe that breaches Freedom of Speech, but it is certainly NOT imposing religion.

And don't Atheists, Humanists, and intellectuals claim to be open-minded and embracing of contemplation? So the kids contemplate religion. Don't they have every right to come to their own conclusions? Or is non-contemplation to be forced on all of us? Sounds like a double-standard.

If parents would simply apply more discipline and control over their children, all of the little alleged ADD/ADHD/ACDC rugrats would be able to sit still for a brief moment. Sorry, it's not genetic, hormonal, or a chemical imbalance. It's parents being unwilling to take control over their coddled pussies of kids.

Anonymous said...

Even as an Agnostic, I think this is a stretch, although the name might need a bit more clarification (Illinois Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act). But it still comes down to one thing...
It is an individulas right to be offended or not offended. If ecveryone would stop worrying about what others thought on such personal matters and more about there own actions the World would be much better off, and that goes for both sides of this issue and mony others.

Anonymous said...

How is this Congress establishing an official religion?

Talk about stretching the meaning of some of the words in the First Amendment while entirely ignoring others!

Anonymous said...

The moment of silence is NOT what is Unconstitutional in this Act.

The stated purpose of this Act, and its implementation, are what crossed the line.

The Act is here.

The Act specifically gives the kids 2 choices - "prayer," or "silent reflection on the anticipated activities
of the day."

In transmitting the information on the 2 choices, teachers had to get into what "prayer" was - and that's where "mandatory religious instruction" comes in.

The presiding judge, who's decision now stands, ruled "The statute is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion.” - U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman

So getting young children to think is apparently the problem!

Anonymous said...

And all this based on the constituional seperation of church and state, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST!

Don't you wish you could take an important document, say your house mortgage, or work contract, or car loan agreement, and replace the things that are actually written there, with things that aren't?

Anonymous said...

Ah yes, "living contracts", where you or the other party might arbitrarily decide to alter without the other's consent what was agreed upon by both sides at the beginning. That would make deals REALLY interesting, and only a fool or someone who could afford to be ripped off would enter into them. Or "living rules" for a football game. If your team is behind by 4 touchdowns, you could just change the rules so that a touchdown scored in the last 2 minutes is worth quadruple its usual worth! Ditto the extra point. Of course the opponent who played by the rules all along would almost surely object...

Anonymous said...

a moment of silence

Just how long is a moment?

1-second, 10-seconds, 1-minute?

AND,

What exactly is Silence?

Does a kid, in the third row, blowing a fart break the moment of silence? I guess that would solve the religious problem but, then again, maybe it would ignite an enviromental issue.

OH, George Carlin. Why'd you have to go and die on me?

Anonymous said...

In the end, it's all about respect, a concept that the Left simply does not understand.