The Thinking Minority

This article is great.

"We should recognize that what God really wants is for us just to stop learning."

Happy Birthday, JB!

So, what are you now, like, 40?

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I just created this LONG post about this:
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At least 31 states are taking steps to teach alternatives to evolution. A CBS poll last November found 65 percent of Americans favor teaching creationism as well as evolution while 37 percent want creationism taught instead of evolution.

Fifty-five percent of Americans believe God created humans in their present form, the poll found.
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And it's GONE. Blogger asked me to log in again, but didn't actually publish my post, and now it's GONE. GONE. And I don't have the patience to retype it all. Suffice it to say, I'm pissed.

Yeah, actually, the country is founded based on protecting the rights of the minority. I think James Madison said something about that in the Federalist Papers... And schools do not prevent discussion/arguments on religious topics, but the idea is, you can't FORCE someone to be subjected to a government sponsored/encouraged religion, which the pledge does. (The last time I checked, who discusses the pledge, anyway? Don't we just recite it like a bunch of retarded lemmings?) Anyway, the whole argument is retarded because that crap wasn't even added until 1954, so why not just tell Ike, Communism is over, we're not fighting "godless people" anymore.

Yes. We're a republic, not a democracy. You can't force the teacher (an adult who has been left out of your discussion) to recite a religious pledge.

/End Argument

Yes, these are children, who don't understand the difference between symbolic action and genuine faithful observance of religion. Thanks to the ruling, there's no chance that 9 western states will be able to teach those children how to tell the difference. We've swung to such an anti-religious extreme in this country that it's no longer politically correct to have substantive discussions about religious differences in public school. I find it pathetic that in a country which values freedom of speech and of religion that we would rather banish all traces of religion from our schools than teach students how to talk to each other about it. Shouldn't we be encouraging debate, not preventing the possibility of debate? Must we ask teachers, administrators, and even students to leave at home essential portions of themselves when they leave for school in the morning? Call me crazy, but that just seems un-American to me.

The first amendment prevents Congress from establishing a religion, but it also prevents Congress from preventing its free exercise. That same amendment also protects freedoms of speech, assembly, and petition. It does not say that any one of these rights is more important than the others. Does it make sense to resolve an apparent conflict of these freedoms to the satisfaction of a tiny minority of people, at the expense of the overwhelming majority?

Hm...not sure I agree with you, Scott. These are children we're talking about - can't trust that they understand the difference. And since reciting the pledge is mandatory (or is perceived by the student to be mandatory), I don't think the "under God" phrase should be in there. Seems like a pretty clear violation of the establishment clause. It's sort of the same reason that teachers in public schools can't teach religion in a mandatory course (and why "intelligent design" should NOT be taught in school) - they're an authority and a representative of the government, and school is mandatory - so you can't preach.

And really - how hard would it be to remove the words "under God"? Not hard. It flows just as well if you say "and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

You've got to be kidding me. This decision basically says that your freedom to express yourself ends as soon as anyone else is within range of hearing, lest you offend them. Any reasonable person can make a distinction between a genuine expression of religious faith and a symbolic expression of unity with one's fellow citizens. Those who cannot understand that should learn the difference (and we should be able to teach it in schools).

Just for the record, I think that we managed to surprise Scott at his surprise party.

I am now and officially certified PiMP. (Project Management Professional)

I have successfully completed the first step in my transformation into a lawyer....and possibly an adult....no, just a lawyer.
I got a 91 out of 150 on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). In Florida, you need an 80. My score, though not fantastic, is passing and that is all that matters.

Needless to say, I must drink.

Working 30 hours in a row is a blast!

RIP Gilligan

Reasons they call marriage an institution:
1. Getting into it requires commitment, and usually some paperwork.
2. Getting out requires professional help and can be very costly.
3. The longer you're in it, the more likely you are to stay.
4. You don't have to be insane to make it work while you're there, but it helps.