jmvizanko
Uber Tool
So my boss sent me the following email:
New School Prayer
Now I sit me down in school,
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God,
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow,
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall,
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy, our Senior King.
It's inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
To which I replied:
First off, "under god" wasn't added until 1954. Why the original, founding pledge wasn't good enough for the theocrats is beyond me.
I'm all in favor of allowing prayer in school, as long as it isn't taking up class time, although the time would better be spent teaching more science. After all, in no small part thanks to religious fanaticism, antiscience attitudes are rampant in this country and severely hindering scientific education and progress in this country relative to others.
If we are going to display and encourage the ten commandments, why not display their punishments, which in all cases, even not keeping the sabath and dishonoring your parents, is death. You could say that Jesus negated this with the "cast the first stone" bit, but then he contradicted himself by also stating in Matthew 5:17 that he has come to affirm the law, and that it is not to be altered.
But more fundamentally, why is it such a tragedy to respect that there are children, and adults, in this country and our public schools, that don't believe what you do? Not everyone illogically believes in an intelligent, loving god that thinks people deserve to burn in hell forever for not believing, through no chosen fault of their own, in the correct unknowable idea.
The founding fathers were brilliant in recognizing how personal and important faith is to the individual. Our FIRST amendment in the bill of rights beautifully suggests that we should maintain a respect of that, and allow free exercise of religion, and also not tyrannically impose the beliefs of even the many, onto the few. Why take a backstep from such a brilliant, freedom inducing concept? Its precepts like these that have made our country the most free nation on earth. If you want a theocracy, look no further than Iran.
Am I out of place replying with my two cents at work, if he's the one that pandered this crap to me? Did I leave anything out? Any thoughts?
New School Prayer
Now I sit me down in school,
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God,
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow,
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall,
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy, our Senior King.
It's inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
To which I replied:
First off, "under god" wasn't added until 1954. Why the original, founding pledge wasn't good enough for the theocrats is beyond me.
I'm all in favor of allowing prayer in school, as long as it isn't taking up class time, although the time would better be spent teaching more science. After all, in no small part thanks to religious fanaticism, antiscience attitudes are rampant in this country and severely hindering scientific education and progress in this country relative to others.
If we are going to display and encourage the ten commandments, why not display their punishments, which in all cases, even not keeping the sabath and dishonoring your parents, is death. You could say that Jesus negated this with the "cast the first stone" bit, but then he contradicted himself by also stating in Matthew 5:17 that he has come to affirm the law, and that it is not to be altered.
But more fundamentally, why is it such a tragedy to respect that there are children, and adults, in this country and our public schools, that don't believe what you do? Not everyone illogically believes in an intelligent, loving god that thinks people deserve to burn in hell forever for not believing, through no chosen fault of their own, in the correct unknowable idea.
The founding fathers were brilliant in recognizing how personal and important faith is to the individual. Our FIRST amendment in the bill of rights beautifully suggests that we should maintain a respect of that, and allow free exercise of religion, and also not tyrannically impose the beliefs of even the many, onto the few. Why take a backstep from such a brilliant, freedom inducing concept? Its precepts like these that have made our country the most free nation on earth. If you want a theocracy, look no further than Iran.
Am I out of place replying with my two cents at work, if he's the one that pandered this crap to me? Did I leave anything out? Any thoughts?
