‘Inspirational message’ bill clears House panel

[rug]

khaughney on February, 13 2012 7:11 PM

From the News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE — A controversial measure allowing students to deliver “inspirational messages” at public school events passed the House Education Committee on Monday, leaving it one stop away from what could be the final vote on the House floor.

The bill (SB 98) passed the committee on a party-line, 9-6 vote, with Republicans arguing the measure would boost freedom of religion and speech while Democrats said it could become a vehicle for divisive messages and hate speech.

The measure — sponsored in the House by Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights — does not specifically reference prayer at school events, but would allow that as a kind of inspirational message, along with just about anything else. Adults would have no say over what could be said by students under the bill.

Van Zant acknowledged it would allow any type of speech – but admitted it was aimed, in part, at protecting students who want to give a prayer and have felt they’ve been unable to do so publicly.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2012/02/inspriational-message-bill-clears-house-panel.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Guess that would include atheist and pagan 'inspirational messages' as well.

[rug]

3. I'd like to hear a passage from Marcus Aurelius.

[Moonwalk]

4. And Satanists!

[elleng]

2. Try poetry!

I did, in college. Worked.

[bongbong]

5. It will be amended

It will be amended when it reaches the House floor to allow only "good Xtian messages, no Muslim terrorist stuff or FSM or anything else"

[edhopper]

6. It will allow

school authorities to deem which messages are appropriate.
We know in most cases that will only include Christians.
(I am sorry Mrs. Smith, your daughters atheist message would have been disruptive.)

[darkstar3]

7. Let's see...

First Amendment.
Lemon Test.
Full Faith and Credit.

Yep, in a world where our founding documents and laws are handled by anyone other than hard-line religious conservatives, they're fucked.