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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArizona backs off on oath that would deny atheists right to graduate
Arizona is now backing off on a controversial bill that would require public high school students to recite an oath pleading allegiance to the Constitution in order to graduate.
As worded now, the bill has language that would, in effect, deny atheists or students of different faiths the right to graduate.
House Bill 2467, sponsored by freshman Arizona State Representative Bob Thorpe (R), would require high school students to take an oath to defend and support the Constitution.
The critical phrase comes toward the end of the oath: So help me God. ...................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1321095--arizona-backs-off-on-oath-that-would-deny-atheists-right-to-graduate
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)That oath also refers to absence of coercion or mental reservation. Given that it is proposed to be required as a condition of graduation, that part of the oath cannot be truthfully stated either.
RKP5637
(67,083 posts)reverend_tim
(105 posts)immoderate
(20,885 posts)Education is also free, right?
--imm
aquart
(69,014 posts)Why?
reverend_tim
(105 posts)It may not be accurate but it makes me feel better.
Demeter
(85,373 posts)reverend_tim
(105 posts)Demeter
(85,373 posts)I now understand what you said.
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)Keep this if that thing does pass.
Besides that, it would be taken under purpose of evasion in a way anyway. If one must take this to graduate and they don't believe in what they say...
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)writing, supporting, clarifying, hand wringing, causing distress, angst, and frustration, wasting bandwidth, discussion and arguments for an optional bill?
Good thing there is no real business to be accomplished *roll eyes*
Demeter
(85,373 posts)unfortunately, the old Kansas is still alive and kicking, too....
RKP5637
(67,083 posts)Via Meadia will be watching Kansas after the election to get some idea where the Tea Party would like to take the United States. We will also be looking to see how well these first experimental policy steps really work. And we certainly wont be the only ones; other states and governors will be paying close attention to what happens in Kansas. If these experiments work, many of these changes may soon go national.
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/10/11/kansas-the-new-tea-party-laboratory/
There is another link wherein the republican/Koch Brothers KS regime states even more specifically this will be the recipe for all of the US. That states will flock to be just like Kansas, something like that. Sorry, can't find the link now, it always turns my stomach just looking at anything from Kansas.
longship
(40,416 posts)Since they won't even do the flag pledge. I am not religious but agree with them that these oaths are silly.
As a school teacher in CA I never once recited the pledge when it came over the PA. Somehow, my students never noticed that I never said it. As a government employee I was, of course, required to swear allegiance to the US Constitution. I had no problem with that oath.
panzerfaust
(2,818 posts)The caption under this image on the publishing site is "Look at these westerners, Killing Muslim Childeren in Africa as a Sport valuing"
I do not know if the above is posed/true ... given that it is found on what seems to be on a conservative Muslim blog - it may well be staged. However, given the history of White Imperialism in Africa, it cannot be dismissed out of hand. In any event, it is the sort of thing that many on the Christian right would support - though not most mainstream Christians.
However, it is not the mainstream Christians who are pushing Christian Dominionist views such as those reflected in the proposed Arizona law, and I do know that this next bit of news from - well, from KANSAS, MO - is true:
"At the time of Mrs. Deatons murder Mr. Moore {Who at Leader Deaton's order killed Mrs Deaton} was attending the International House of Prayer University, the educational arm of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, an evangelical Christian group focused on missions and preparing for the end times."
"Tyler Deaton was a 'division coordinator' on the administrative team of International House of Prayer ..."
Somehow, I do not think that forcing all to sworn allegiance to the God of IHOP and Abraham is going to make the world a better place.