Arizona Republicans Propose Bill That Would Not Allow Atheists To Graduate High School

[Ellipsis]

Wow...


beginning in the 2013‑2014 school year, In addition to fulfilling the course of study and assessment requirements prescribed in this chapter, before a pupil is allowed to graduate from a public high school in this state, the principal or head teacher of the school shall verify in writing that the pupil has recited the following oath:

I, _________, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge these duties; So help me God.

http://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2467

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/01/25/arizona-republicans-propose-bill-that-would-not-allow-atheists-to-graduate-high-school/

[jberryhill]

1. " that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion"

...well, except for the part about the state requiring it.

These people are jackasses of the highest order.

[socialindependocrat]

2. I'd just take to oath, sing and walk out the door

Common people!

What kind of RX, Nazi bullshit is this?

If you pass the tests - you get your deploma!

What'll happen to them - Are they going to get primaried?

This should be thrown out by the courts.

[tanyev]

11. If three people do it, they may think it's an organization.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

3. Take the oath, get the diploma, then remember that as an atheist "so help me God" means nothing.

In a practical sense, this "oath" doesn't hurt anything except all those twisted underpants.

[Lionessa]

5. The oath itself is ridiculous. And your suggestion is how all these lame

laws and rules get to continue regarding not just theism but also wars and occupations and marijuana and so many others. It's better, imo, to fight stupidity, not roll with it.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

6. I'm not saying to oppose the measure or work to undo it.

I just don't think it's worthy of outrage and irratinoal ranting. The oaths passage is meaningless in effect on reality... it's a symbolic measure at best. Thus, repealing it will bring no real world change and cna only be symbolic at best.

So, by all means, work to remove it. I'm just saying it's not worth getting all up in a tizzy for.

[Lionessa]

8. You suggest it is meaningless because you don't foresee the likelihood that the nuts in AZ

will find some way to load Arapiao's jails up with post-graduates that didn't uphold their "freely given" oath.

[catbyte]

9. If people let bullshit nutball religious laws like this go unchallenged, it will only

encourage them to enact even more heinous, intrusive laws that WILL bother you. I say nip this crap in the bud.

[quaker bill]

13. First, they are fully encouraged

second, opposition or "persecution in the name of their faith" is what spurs them on and it is what they seek. They are like little boys pulling pranks for attention. Sometimes you have to give it to them. However it would be better behaviorism to be completely unimpressed.

What we need to figure out is how to collectively express disappointment rather than anger.

[Ellipsis]

10. It's not outrage it's disbelief.

It's presumptive. It's classic "are you still beating your wife positioning". It creates controversy where there is none. It politicizes a students graduation.

[Ellipsis]

7. I agree, I doubt this will become law.

I am as of late dumfounded as to all the insane things going down in Arizona... one would have to think the bulk of their elected officials see this for what it is. A lapel flag wearing pols with a polarizing agenda.

[Lionessa]

4. Taking an oath akin to a citizenship or military oath just to graduate an educational

system is entirely horrible, the God aspect only makes it that much worse.

I would be rue even today to speak those words, regardless of the God aspect as I often find myself less than pleased to be associated with the reality of principles this country displays.

[Dirty Socialist]

12. I Love The Smell of An ACLU Lawsuit in The Morning

Smells like...FREEDOM.

[grantcart]

14. Well even the Republicans are not going to pass a bill this idiotic.

Or . . . . .