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Part of Bill's incredibly stupid web diary. Read some more today, yerhear!
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In the USA, school children often pledge undying loyalty to their country. In the fifties, in a fit of patriotism against the godless-communists™, "IN GOD WE TRUST" was added to the dollar bills, and the words "under god" added to the pledge.
Just one slight problem, this pesky constitution, which requires that the government, including state schools (via the 14th amendment), keep religion separate from the state.
"It's not the place for government entities to have anything to do with religion." says the constitution. "Having schools endorse the idea that a country is under the domain of an Abrahamic god is right out. And if you don't like it, amend the constitution." Quite clear enough it seems, and as an Englander, it was a surprise to see the recent case put before the USA supreme court, disputing the presence of the words "under god" in the pledge.
The god fearing citizens of the USA cried in horror that anyone would think of changing the pledge. TV polls opposed this decision and the populace was enraged! "The atheists are loose! The atheists are loose! They've stopped our kids saying the pledge, and next they are gonna stop us singing God bless America!"
Atheists have not been a popular bunch in some parts. It's a commonly held feeling, including GW Bush, that atheists should be barred from public office. (They still want us to pay taxes, I notice.)
This should become the perfect means for getting Abrahamic religions established in the USA. The politicians get whatever the docile masses need to get behind this. "Here's a picture of some little children clutching their little hearts. Atheists want to destroy this! Don't you just hate them!"
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School is over for today. Done our work and done our play. Something something Thank you, heavenly father, amen. |
I only wish I had the ability to above all this. I was born and raised in England, which has established the Church of England, a branch of protestant christianity. I went to a church run primary school (ages 5 to 11) run by the local government, and we sung a prayer at the end of each day. It clearly stuck with me through life, as even now there's one line I can't remember.
I'd love to claim I was a radical, standing up for the rights of atheists by refusing to take part, maybe even raising my fist while everyone else takes part. Alas, I never really questioned this sort of thing until I was well into my teens, and my secondary schooling was in a non-religious school.
"Faith schools" for all the Abrahmic religions have got tax funding in England. The established Church of England gets to put a few of it's bishops in the house of lords, but that's just a few unelected rulers in a house of many unelected rulers. (And it's also a different rant.)
At least contracts and pledges made under duress have no weight, and it says here that American kids just go along with flow for an easy life, not really caring what they have just been told to say. So much fuss over so few words with so little meaning, and messing with those words makes baby Jesus cry!
I have to go now, the local atheist society is holding a bible burning in support of uncle Osama.