Posted on 08/02/2007 8:14:32 AM PDT by SConservative
Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state's pledge of allegiance.
This year's Legislature added the phrase "one state under God" to the pledge, which is part of a required morning ritual in Texas public schools along with the pledge to the U.S. flag and a moment of silence.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, who sponsored the bill, said it had always bothered her that God was omitted in the state's pledge.
"Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, 'You know what? We need to fix that,' " said Riddle, R-Tomball. "Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well."
By law, students who object to saying the pledge or making the reference to God can bring a written note from home excusing them from participating.
But adding that phrase has drawn criticism from some who say it's unneccesary and potentially harmful to children who don't share the same religious beliefs. "Most Texans do not need to say this new version of the pledge in order to be either patriotic or religious," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. "This is the kind of politicking of religion that disturbs many Americans, including those who are deeply religious."
The revised wording in the Texas pledge took effect on June 15, and the Texas Education Agency sent an e-mail reminding school districts about the change earlier this week.
Officials with Houston-area districts say they will notify schools and parents about the new requirement.
Rebecca Suarez, spokeswoman for the Houston Independent School District, said a letter about the change will be sent home to parents when their children return to school. And a flier with the pledge's revised wording will be sent to each campus before classes start.
Texas has had a pledge of allegiance since 1933. In 2003, the Legislature required all schools to pledge allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags and observe a moment of silence every morning at the beginning of classes.
Texas isn't the only state that has its own pledge of allegiance. Other states include Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky.
Mississippi and Louisiana mention God in their pledges. And Kentucky lays claim to being blessed with "grace from on High."
The Tenth Amendment is a dead letter if we allow it.
A. We (if you are refering to Texas)don’t need or WANT illegals more than any other part of the country.
B. You need to study YOUR history.
Sovereignty was NOT lost due to the War Between The States, only the right of secession, and that is even questionable.
You should go away, Troll. or back to DU where you belong.
Before you are ZOTTED.
So try to secede again and see where it gets you.
The Constitution applies nationwide and that includes Texas. As I said before, if any state tries to ban personal ownership of firearms there will be a bunch of converts to the application of the Second Amendment to declare unconstitutional a state law.
Ooooh a threat from someone who can’t hold up his end of a losing argument. Go ahead and hit that “Report Abuse” link. Go right ahead.
I don’t have to do that.
Give you enough rope, and you will HANG yourself.
Like I said - empty threat.
Time will tell.
Do it now. ZOT me. All hat and no cattle.
“Today you have the illegal Mexicans who perform the same function so it seems you need them after all.”
No Mexicans working for free around here..
I don’t zot anybody, Bubba. We have moderators, and that is THEIR job.
As I said, I intend to sit back and watch you hang yourself.
When you do, I will be there. With popcorn. :)
God bless Texas...
Remember to take a breath every once in a while.
Did you ever notice how the stereotypical God-fearin’ gun-totin’ poster here wants the Second Amendment interpreted in the loosest possible fashion which he wants the First Amendment interpreted in the narrowest possible fashion?
Making anyone (little kid or not) say something, may or may not be an establishment of religion, but it certainly violates free speech rights. Surely the right to free speech includes the right to not speak.
A. Compared to the legals they are.
B. Slaves weren’t free either.
Confirmed by Barron in 1833 yes. Gitlow in 1925 incorporated the First Amendment to the separate and sovereign states. So before 1925 (almost 60 full years after the passage of the 14th by force and threat), that was the case, as it should be. The Bill of Rights was not intended to apply to the separate and sovereign states under the original intent of the Constitution of these United States.
Nothing irks me more than government forcing me or my children to worship God. I’ve got a damn good mind to just tell my daughter who is in public school that she can go stand outside the room if she wants to while the rest of the class goes through this politically driven kneejerk BS.
I paid for 8 years of a Catholic school education for my daughter. I’ll be damned if the state of Texas is going to tell her to worship the God the state of Texas selected for her to worship.
Are you really going to quote me law prior to 1861?
Next you’ll be citing Dred Scott as established case law.
All American citizens are promised rights by the Constitution. The states cannot take them away.
Actually I did two things. I quoted original intent, something 'conservatives' claim they're in favor of (which they never are), and the fact that the First Amendment according to SCOTUS did not apply to the states until 1925 (Gitlow) and then it was a Court that was Progressive leaning.
So we can assume by your disdain for such an argument that you are not a conservative and you support Progressive thought. In fact a liberal
A conservative believes in the Consttitution and Bill of Rights applying to all.
For census purposes do blacks still count as 3/5 of a person in Texas? Does Texas prevent them to voting? Do women vote in Texas? Those were part of original intent too.
In case you missed it, original intent can be modified by proper constituional procedure. That’s why there are a few amendments after the first 10.
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