Texas High School Agrees to Stop Banning Muslim Students' Prayers

Agape Press ^ | 1/31/06 | Jim Brown

[Zack Nguyen]

I have no problem, constitutionally or personally, with their prayers. I am a Christian and can cite many reasons why I firmly believe Islam is wrong, but before they law they should have the right to practice.

[wagglebee]

I agree, their right to freedom of religion trumps my disgust with their deranged and evil theology.

[Mamzelle]

Bump. Does this mean a "call to prayer" in public schools as well?

[infidel29]

All this time I thought it meant "kill the infidels and die in the process so you can go to 'paradise' which is actually whorehouse with an open bar."

You know, I never really looked at it that way until just now. Islam does kind of have a "Beavis and Butthead" reward scale for eternal bliss.

"You mean all we have to do is, like, blow some people up and we get to, like... do chicks?"

"Heh..heheh... yeah, matryrdom is cool..."

[El Gato]

What I would like to know, is why they didn't allow prayer decades ago,

Decades ago, like when I was in school, they did. It's only the past few decades 3 at most, but more like 2, that they banned school prayers. Even a single decade (and a little more) when my kids were in school, they allowed individual or student led prayer.

I have no problem with the Muslims praying in school as long as they do it between classes. No pulling out the old prayer rug in the middle of Algebra class.

[mumps]

I'm sure they can round up an old "porta-potty."

Classy. I'm sure Jesus would be proud.

[MadJack]

I'll have to forward this to our school board. They seem to have trouble with any sort of religious expression. If it's okay for the Muslims, it should be okay for the rest of us.

[El Gato]

Now the Muslims are going to demand a special prayer room,

That would be respecting an establishment of religion. Unless the prayer room is open to all students, there is a violation. I suppose it would be OK if they used it at different times, but given the diversity of religous groups present, I doubt that would be practical.

I'll bet there are more Hindus at Berkner than Muslims, and more Buddhists than either.

[lowbridge]

Where is the American Criminal Liberties Union in this matter, yelling "Separation of Church and State?"

They dont want to get their heads cut off.

[TXnMA]

Was it Richardson or Plano that banned red and green colors at Christmastime a year or so ago? (Under the guise of "Separation...")

[Chgogal]

Ping!

[Melas]

I'll bet there are more Hindus at Berkner than Muslims, and more Buddhists than either

Doubtful. Berkner is where my kids would go if they weren't homeschooled. Believe it or not the vast majority of Asians and Indians in this area are Christians.

[little jeremiah]

Interesting to see if this has any ramifications/ripples. Are only Muslims going to be allowed religious expression, or will this right be extended to all believers in God? Hmm?

[Irish Queen]

The two prayer times probably add up to 40 minutes of missed class time. Those students who choose to be out of the classroom for prayer, or doing the Hoke-poke should attend a forty minute study hall at the end of the day.

[BJungNan]

A Texas high school has agreed to allow its Muslim students to pray during school hours. L.V. Berkner High School in Richardson had told its 30 Muslim students that praying on campus violated the U.S. Constitution's establishment clause, or the so-called separation of church and state.

Anyone that allows a school administrator to tell you that you can not pray in school deserves to be led to the slaughter. I'd love to be back in high school again. When they tried stuff like this, we laughed and did it that much more (always kept our grades up though).

[varon]

What I would like to know, is why they didn't allow prayer decades ago, before all of the jihadists showed up.

Because the Christians and Jews didn't threaten to blow up the school if they weren't allowed to pray!

[Schwaeky]

Much as I despise the religion of piss, a classroom that is not being used (cycles around from hour to hour in most schools should be more than sufficent), and the concerned students should know when to be able to go if such an accomodation is granted.. For that matter, what intrusion on establishment/free exercise is it for a interfaith chapel on-site where the students can go to pray...