Va. Proposal Would Make Prayer a Right

[GOPFighter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30695-2005Feb16.html

RICHMOND -- Del. Charles W. Carrico Sr. is convinced that judges and school principals have been misinterpreting the words of George Mason, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson concerning religious freedom. So he has written an extra paragraph to help, and he hopes it eventually will become part of the Virginia Constitution.

snip...

Carrico's proposed amendment would recognize explicitly a right to pray in public places, including schools. Last week, the House of Delegates approved it 69 to 27."

snip...

Another supporter is Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William). "There is now a poisoned environment for religious expression that the founders never, never desired," said Lingamfelter, who voted for the proposal.

Poisoned environment for religious expression??! Sheet, I can't go anywhere in public without encountering a fish on the back of a car, or religious bumper sticker, or cross, or similar religious objects. They're everywhere. Just how fricken hostile can this be? I'm in Virginia frequently and I've never seen the police dragging a poor Christian away for praying in public.

[rogue emissary]

1. Living in Northern Virginia's suburbs . . .

. . . you can't go four blocks without passing a church. It appears Lingamfelter is trying to go to the hard right of Santorum. Lucky for the nation he's only a state representative. Unlucky for me he's my county rep.:puke:

[progressoid]

2. Oh fer chrissakes

Is there a self-flagellating clause?

[Deep13]

3. Prayer is already a right!

:mad: :silly: :wtf: :spank: :shrug: :grr:
Goddamnit!! The First Amendment already prohibits state interference in religion. Nothing ever decided by the Supreme Court limits a person's right to pray in school. Nothing! The prohibition is on state orchestrated prayer in public school. In other words, teachers (state employees) cannot lead the class in prayer. Nothing prevents a student from praying before class starts or during lunch or during recess or silently during the class. Further, if schools permit student-initiated extracirricular activities on school property, the administration may not discriminate against religious organizations.

[Book Lover]

4. Yes, but none of that makes them feel like victims

Hence, this legislation.

[Deep13]

5. Maybe we should round up some lions.

Evangelical Christianity really feeds on that victim crap.
:freak:
If they do not cast themselves as the spiritual martyrs in a hostile world, they have no purpose. That whole pick-up-your-cross stuff is really nuerotic.
:nopity:
I suggest that if they really want to be martyrs and victims we give them what they want and start passing out nails.
:think:

[Book Lover]

6. As much as that makes the bad part of me smile

the mom in me thinks I should tut-tut you for that.

[fshrink]

7. These people will only be satisfied

when prayer becomes a legal obligation. That's where they're heading with all the sinuous detours typical of their historical hypocrisy.