Poll: School District about to Get Sued

[BiscuitTrouser]

I can't recall a single incident when Atheists were the target of discrimination. I'm sure it happened all the time in the Mid-eval era and before that, but in modern history?

No arrests or murders in the news in the last century or so. Atheists have definitely had it much better than ethnic minorities in modern times.

Try harder man, ive researched two murders as it is. One committed by a teenager.

http://digg.com/news/offbeat/Murdered_for_being_an_atheist

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/06/27/indianola-police-charge-16-year-old-with-murder/

Thats page freaking one of google. I mean hell im not gonna lie the racial lynchings make this look like spit in the ocean but seriously. These were two people. One murdered by a sociopath in the name of god. Its scary reading.

 

[sunburst]

Try harder man, ive researched two murders as it is.

Well damn. I was going off the top of my head. Probably should've jumped on Google.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

Well, as long as the school isn't forcing kids to commence in prayer whether or not they are religious it's ok.

 

[Small Waves]

Sad. A waste of time and money. All on the emotions of a single hormonal teenager, who considers his own feelings to be of greater importance than the people around him.

This, is only sad.

Yeah, upholding the law is extremely sad. Damn hormonal teenagers; why won't you think of the greater good?!?!?1

Yes. Why doesn't he think about the greater good.

Laws are there for the protection of people. Is he really in need of protection from prayer?

Laws are also in place to prevent discrimination. Prayer shouldn't be seen ANYWHERE outside of private schools.

But this isn't a case of discrimination. No one said, 'Leave the room whilst we pray.' In fact it's inclusive. It's an invitation to share the experience. The statement 'Prayer shouldn't be seen ANYWHERE outside of private schools.' is far more discriminatory.

You got me there on the first point, but it still doesn't excuse to fact that it's against the law because public schools get money from the taxpayers and not from the students or the parents who are sending them to school. They are, by law, not allowed to force the student body to engage in any sort of religious practice or even teach it. This applies to every faith, whether it be related to Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hindu, a strange cult that praise raccoons, etc.

We have thousands of private religious schools around the country. If you want your graduation ceremony to incorporate a religious belief, enroll your child in a private school. They are not paid by the state because they are affiliated with a specific faith.

 

[tomme69]

Why wouldn't it be okay. You have the right to practice your freedom of religion wherever you please , plus its not like your disturbing anyone !

 

[Mercsenary]

yes, its a public area, you have the right to pray there as long as it does not interfere with the school teaching.

It's not even just interfering with teaching.

If you are a public employee and are acting in official capacity, you cannot take an action that would be seen as endorsing a religion. It is a violation of the First Amendment. Engel v. Vitale ruled it illegal for a school to compose an official prayer and mandate its students to recite even though you can refuse to do so.

 

[ImperialSunlight]

If this is a public school then this is absolutely ridiculous. Hell, I have a problem with us in Canada having to stand every day for our national anthem which has a reference to God. Religion has no place in a public school unless it is taught in a specified class that includes all religions equally and is completely unbias.

Edit: Of course, it would be fine if someone just prayed to themselves.

 

[Jake the Snake]

The law in the US says any kind of prayer backed/supported/encouraged by a public school or public school staff member is unconstitutional. The boy stood up for what was legal, and he stood up for what was right.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I don't understand why it would be a big deal one way or another. Much like the pledge of allegiance. If you don't want to, you don't have to participate. Now, I don't know the exact laws for this in his region and I didn't watch the video (I'm listening to music right now and I'm not in the mood to get upset) but I did see that whatever she said was probably hateful towards people who believe differently than her and it lasted for much longer than it probably should have but it doesn't matter. I can guarantee that if an atheist stood up there and for three and half minutes just complained about religion, the response would have been much different on both sides.

If it's a law, it shouldn't be, but that doesn't make it right. I can understand why the school should get in trouble for this, but acting like the kid is a hero or something is laughable.

 

[emissary666]

The constitution grants me the right of freedom both of and to religion. I don't care if you pray in your free time, but saying a prayer at my graduation is infringing on my right to be free of your religion, and I am in the right if I ask/demand that you stop.
As a former Satanist (symbolic; now atheist), I am very uncomfortable around people praying and ever since I was a kid I have been terrified of churches. Being silent while others are praying is not easy for everyone, I either get violently enraged or sent into a panic attack in this event. In a public school, it is illegal for the school to lead a prayer and, in both videos, the prayer given/held by of a school appointed speaker.

 

[DanielDeFig]

Individuals within a school should have the freedom to do whatever they want (within the limits of the law).

But under no circumstance should a public school single out one religion and integrate it into any of its policy or events.

 

[Phoenix_XIII]

This reminds me of when a Christian Club at our school (A damn PUBLIC school)put up signs all around th school that said in big letters "GOD IS REAL" because Atheists at our school decided to make a club for themselves since the Christians did it.

My buddy and I are Pagans so we would've torn the signs down immediately upon site but apparently teachers decided to step in first.

My opinion is, keep religion out of school, government, and everything. If you want to wear religious symbols, go ahead. Just don't shove your religion into my face.

On a related note, why does the Pledge of Allegiance force you to say "Under God" in it no matter what religion you are in school? I thought Freedom of Religion was what our country was founded on.

 

[Duskflamer]

Is it alright for a school to force a student to pray: No.

Is it alright for a student to pray in school on their own: Yes.

Is it alright for a school function to lead a prayer: Dubious, but I'd say it would be best not to. If students who don't want to participate can sit out it might be legal, but it's a bit of a grey area.

 

[Phoenix_XIII]

http://friendlyatheist.com/2011/05/20/this-district-is-about-to-get-sued/

I was Browsing Fark and i saw this article. it blows my mind that prayer is still such an integral part of a schools graduation ceremony when it has been deemed illegal several times by the supreme court. I myself am an Atheist, however i do believe people are allowed to believe whatever they want to believe in private, in public especially places built by and paid for by the Federal Government religion has no place. Your Thoughts?

EDIT:Imagine the poll says "is it okay for a public school to lead a prayer?" im a newb dont know how to change poll.

Press edit, scroll down, and when you see the poll, you should be able to change the title of it.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

As a Catholic, this really sickens me.

I believe that you should be allwoed to pray in school, and I feel that it's okay, if a particular student wants to, they can say in a speech "Thank you God for a wonderful year" however that is about it, I do not think that they should go on for any longer than that.

This story really just makes me angry, how dare the school do nothing about it when that girl went on and spoke for over three minutes.

And how dare that teacher say those things about Damon.

Times like this I hate being lumped in with other Religious people...

 

[Blind Sight]

This is a public school, correct? Not a private or specifically religious high school of any kind? If it is a public school then yes, there should be no collective prayers going on in general in my opinion (and also legally). The moment of silence suggested is the best way, individuals who are religious may privately pray at that time in any way they see fit. From the video included in the link, the Christian faith is playing far too large a role for a ceremony at a public school, to the point where that speech basically demonizes non-believers. Unless you have specifically chosen to go to a faith-based school religion should remain out of education. Of course, should you wish to bring up your own spiritual beliefs there is nothing wrong with that. But this institutionalized system of faith is sickening really.

He's standing up for his legal rights directly against a vast majority, and I salute him for it.

 

[crimson sickle2]

I believe that prayer shouldn't be forced by a school, it's supposed to be a place of knowledge, not of faith. If the school allows the students to not pray or it's a known religious, private school, then I'm fine with prayer being a part of a school ceremony.

 

[spartan231490]

Denied basic human rights, arrested, and murdered for their lack of faith. When? I'm honestly curious, because I can't recall a single incident when Atheists were the target of discrimination. I'm sure it happened all the time in the Mid-eval era and before that, but in modern history?

Torcaso v. Watkins [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torcaso_v._Watkins]: Maryland tried to revoke the appointment of a notary public because he refused to declare a belief in the existence of god. The case was appealed all the way to the US Supreme Court because Maryland courts continually ruled in favor of the law.

It was of course unconstitutional but such laws were common until the late 19th century. Several states technically still have them even today. And some idiots actually attempted to invoke one a couple years ago. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/14/critics-say-atheist-nc-city-councilman-unworthy-seat/] But they only did it to make him look bad. Because he's an atheist.

No arrests or murders in the news in the last century or so. Atheists have definitely had it much better than ethnic minorities in modern times.

That's actually unsurprising. I thought I would at least be surprised i hadn't heard about it, and then I remembered what the educational system is today, and I wasn't.