Supreme Court rules in favor of public legislative prayers

[Pax]

At one point during Apollo 15, 3 of the 7 men who had ever walked on the moon were from Texas. Can you name any of them? I bet you can't!

Obviously, when I made my previous statements, I looked up where all of the twelve men were from. Being from Texas is not more significant than being from Idaho or Tennessee. Every person and every state has something to offer, That's why we are united. Also, as I said many times, what's important is that no matter what individual state we are from... We are all from the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. You don't understand this concept. Why? Maybe because you are not really American or Texan no matter how hard you try. You will never fit in.
"We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately." -- Benjamin Franklin.
This is the essence of being American. This is why Texas joined the United States. This is why Texans are Americans and you are not.

[Felch]

Here's to freedom of religion.

America

[regexcellent]

Satanists and wiccans pretty much only exist for the FUCK YOU DAD I'M A PAGAN NOW factor.

This is amusing, not upsetting.

[Elok]

I haven't said the pledge in years. When I first started as a sub, I'd do it, but after a while I said to hell with it, and nobody cares. Every morning I work, I stand up, face the flag, and say nothing. Sometimes my kids dutifully chant it anyway, sometimes they mumble it, sometimes they don't even stand up. Nobody has ever said anything about my ignoring it.

Bear in mind that these kids are generally intensely curious about me and my actions. They look at my badge, wonder how my first name is pronounced or ask me why I'm not smiling in the picture on it. I've lost track of the number of times kids have asked me why I wear my wedding ring on my right hand. Occasionally, someone will notice the chain for my cross (which I wear under my shirt--you can just barely see the glint of silver around my neck) and ask me about it. "Do you like hunting/fishing/[TV Show]?" "What phone do you have?" "What kind of car do you drive?" And, perhaps the most popular query, always from boys: "how long did it take you to grow that beard?"

But nobody cares, in the slightest, about why I don't say the pledge. Even co-teachers don't blink when I don't say it right in front of them. Because IT DOESN'T MATTER. Possibly in the year 2030 everyone who cares will have died out or retired, and they won't be doing it anymore. But more likely it'll still be going on; I don't think anyone even cares enough to formally stop doing it.

[Sava]

Satanists and wiccans pretty much only exist for the FUCK YOU DAD I'M A PAGAN NOW factor.

This is amusing, not upsetting.

Mainstream religion exists for the opposite reason. Big deal.

[Ben Kenobi]

Being from Texas is not more significant than being from Idaho or Tennessee.

Says who? You? Being from Texas is significant. To Texans. That Texans don't know the name of the folks from Texas who walked on the Moon I consider appalling.

You don't understand this concept.

I maintain that Texan residents and their accomplishments is fair game for a civics class in Texas. Learning about the accomplishments of Texas people is relevant material for a Texas history curriculum. It's why, for example, LBJ, and both Bushes receive more coverage than other, non-Texan presidents. It's why we do a field trip to the LBJ museum. The first Texan on the Moon was even from UT. Do you think that's not significant to a class taught here in Austin?

Why? Maybe because you are not really American or Texan no matter how hard you try. You will never fit in.

The curriculum actually backs me up here and says that it prefers, where possible, that Texans, and their role in America receive extra attention!

This is the essence of being American. This is why Texas joined the United States. This is why Texans are Americans and you are not.

And? What's wrong about highlighting the contribution of Texans to this great project?

I don't have a prejudice against religion

Oh? Then why is the issue you have to do with the pledge the fact that it honors God?

I never commented on whether or not the pledge should be taught in Civics classes. Nor do I want to come up with my own pledge when the original pledge will do just fine.

Well, then. That matter's settled.

I have served my country and am still serving. You are no one to tell me about the pledge of allegiance.

Be amusing for you to turn to a fellow vet and tell him that you dislike the pledge because it's got too much God in there.

[Pax]

Your curriculum backs you up. Not surprised. Most places have a state history class where they focus on such things. If your school teaches TEXAS CIVICS then so be it. From what I have gathered your school is ****ed up, has a ****ed curriculum and ****ed up teachers. I feel bad for the children.

Based on you betting/challenging me to name astronauts from Texas, It sounds like you think I am from Texas. I am not.

[Ben Kenobi]

Based on you betting/challenging me to name astronauts from Texas, It sounds like you think I am from Texas. I am not.

Which is also why you believe you can determine who is Texan and who is not.

[Pax]

Which is also why you believe you can determine who is Texan and who is not.

So you did think I was from Texas? Stupido.
You can't be a Texan because you are not American. It's that simple.
However, another person(not you) can come to the USA from anywhere in the world and become an American and a Texan. Just not you.

[Sava]

Texans are Texan first, American second. So I'll allow him the self-identifier "Texan".

[Ben Kenobi]

So you did think I was from Texas? Stupido.

Given your distaste for all things Texan?

You can't be a Texan because you are not American. It's that simple.

I'm also not telling people they aren't Texans.

However, another person(not you) can come to the USA from anywhere in the world and become an American and a Texan. Just not you.

The law says otherwise. Sure, at present I'm not an American. Yet.

[Ben Kenobi]

Texans are Texan first, American second. So I'll allow him the self-identifier "Texan".

Wow, what a benevolent gesture.

[Pax]

Given your distaste for all things Texan?
I'm also not telling people they aren't Texans.
The law says otherwise. Sure, at present I'm not an American. Yet.

LIAR LIAR. I've never said a bad word about Texas. I love Texas. Some of my best times were there. That's how I know you don't belong.

[Ben Kenobi]

LIAR LIAR. I've never said a bad word about Texas. I love Texas. Some of my best times were there. That's how I know you don't belong.

your school is ****ed up, has a ****ed curriculum and ****ed up teachers

Right. Mr. 'Never has a bad word to say about Texans'.

[molly bloom]

Moreover, the Founders argued then as now that it was essential for a civilized society to have a moral underpinning in Christianity if the republic were to survive.

Which Founders, where ?

Not this one, presumably:

The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious miracles?

John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson, June 20, 1815

Same man :

Indeed, Mr. Jefferson, what could be invented to debase the ancient Christianism which Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Christian factions, above all the Catholics, have not fraudulently imposed upon the public? Miracles after miracles have rolled down in torrents.

Hope you're teaching your pupils that.

And about the Treaty of Tripoli :

"As the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen ... it is declared ... that no pretext arising from religious opinion shall ever product an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries....

"The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or a Mohammedan nation."

1797