Atheists might not be able to graduate high school?

[Indyfan53]

Last edited Mon Jan 28, 2013, 12:21 AM - Edit history (1)

This is why it's important to vote. Arizona Republicans are planning to make kids take a military-style oath. If you refuse to say the last words, "So help me God," You will not be allowed to graduate high school.
[link:http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/01/25/arizona-republicans-propose-bill-that-would-not-allow-atheists-to-graduate-high-school/|

This is why it pays to be in a blue state.

If you got a problem with me being an atheist, too fucking bad.

[Kalidurga]

1. So tack this on the end...

And thank you Satan. That'll shut them up. Although I am partial to Lucifer. Satan seems to scare the funDies more.

[unblock]

3. or "so help me, god does not exist"

[Kalidurga]

8. Yeah that one too

Which ever one makes funDies heads spin the most.

[sarisataka]

40. Son of perdition. Little horn! Most unclean!

I do miss the old names. - Satan

[Renew Deal]

2. That won't last 2 seconds in a court.

[Nay]

38. It will take 3 seconds to have this law struck down by the courts. nt

[struggle4progress]

43. +

[Dreamer Tatum]

4. The whole oath is stupid; the last part is just insane

I love to ridicule atheists (because one tiny poke gets them going all day), but that is just dumb.

[Moonwalk]

16. Do you like to ridicule the LGBT community too when they argue about their rights? How about...

...women, blacks, and other minorities? I have to wonder why you enjoy poking at people who have to fight really hard to get their rights respected. I can only conclude that you've never been a science teacher fighting the school board over teaching creationism, that you are not a gay person who had their right to marry taken away by Prop. 8 which was passed by religious groups, and that you are not a woman threatened by religious groups wanting to take away your right to contraceptives or abortion.

Oh, and thank you for outing yourself. I'll make sure, after this, to put you on ignore. I hope the rest of the atheists here do the same. There is never any reason to waste time on a troll.

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. Atheism is a choice; minority status is not.

Exactly zero of your rights are infringed upon by those who choose to exercise religious freedom.

Nice try, however, and indeed thank you for proving my point.

[bunnies]

19. Is it?

There have been many studies which have suggested that a certain part of the brain is responsible for ones "religious" beliefs. Ever heard of the "God Helmet"?

Myself, I have never believed in god. It was not a decision.

[rhett o rick]

20. You are wrong and apparently lacking tolerance.

Minority status exists because one is in the minority. People that follow the Jewish faith are in the minority yet they can choose to be atheists or Christians. What you are saying, IMO, is that you can be intolerant of atheists because they "choose" to be in the minority. That's an intolerant rationalization. In fact it's the same rationalization that homophobes use.

"Exactly zero of your rights are infringed upon by those who choose to exercise religious freedom." Seriously? Did you even read the OP? You dont think rights are being violated when people are forced to pay homage to a deity they don't believe in?

[Lordquinton]

21. Do you poke Christians and Muslims as well?

Religion is a choice, so why not? they are even better than Atheists, or is it just too easy?

[EvilAL]

26. I'd say religion is a choice,

we are all born atheists.

[jeff47]

32. And now to Goodwin:

Those stupid Jews should have just chosen another religion to avoid the Nazis, right?

Repressed groups are repressed groups. Doesn't matter if the members of that group chose to join it or are born into it.

[A Simple Game]

39. Atheism is a choice? So you were born believing in a god? Which one?

Religion is a choice, not atheism. We are all born atheists.

I choose to be Agnostic.

[Heywood J]

47. You know what they say...

Gangs are for people who can't make it on their own.

[RKP5637]

54. I guess you're getting your kicks now reading the responses. n/t

[dlwickham]

28. as if atheists never attack people of faith on this site

what's good for the goose blah blah blah

[Logical]

48. Sounds like some atheist hurt your feelings and you are in payback mode. Which is fair I guess. n-t

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. This will struck down by the courts.

[Mariana]

49. Eventually. In the meantime... nt.

[temporary311]

6. Wouldn't this exclude

Jehovah's Witnesses as well?

[dimbear]

37. Exactly. Any group that refuses to swear oaths would be cut out.

It's as if the Republicans are just begging to be hated.

[MineralMan]

7. In the first place there are people who are not US Citizens

attending public schools. Both permanent resident aliens and green card holders have children in those schools. This is an awful idea, and won't survive a court challenge.

[WinkyDink]

9. All it takes is one parent to sue.

[tblue37]

61. Idiots keep costing schools and localities money to fight lawsuits

they are bound to lose, even as the schools don't have enough money to cover adequate teacher pay; nurses and counselors;books, material, and equipment; cleaning services and grounds maintenance, etc.

[Flashmann]

66. Idiots keep costing schools and localities money to fight lawsuits they are bound to lose

Which gives them cover to call for deeper cuts,that they can then blame others for.....

[kimtjj195_tx]

10. This scares me

I really do hope this plan backfires on their asses. Religion, ugh.

[RKP5637]

56. Religion has been the scourge of mankind from day one. n/t

[unblock]

11. completely aside from the so help me god part, it's silly to coerce support for the constitution

as a requirement for graduation from high school.

for servicing in the government or the military, entities that derive their power and authority from the constitution, sure.

but for high school graduation???

of course it would have zero beneficial effect. it would convince absolutely no one to be any more loyal to the constitution, nor would it convince anyone to believe in god. it's 100% ineffective at whatever it's nominally attempting to accomplish.

what if someone fully supports and defends the PEOPLE of america but believes that the constitution should be scrapped in favor of a different form of government that would work better for the PEOPLE of america? is that so disloyal to the PEOPLE of america that, of all things, they should be denied a high school diploma???

hardly. this is just yet another stupid, self-serving republican serving up a big ol' plate of nationalist jingoism to advance their own selfish political interests.

[alphafemale]

14. Belief in a deity is not required for military service.

There is even a standard Arlington tombstone engraving. It's a molecule or something I think.

The military academies are turning into Jesus camps though, so I hear.

[unblock]

35. agreed -- i was only referred to the part about supporting the constitution.

[jeff47]

33. It's also the exact opposite of the point of the Constitution

The entire point of the Constitution is to create a government that supports the people.

The government should be swearing an oath to us, not us swearing an oath to the government.

[unblock]

36. very well put!

[Fumesucker]

12. Religion is a tradition in America

If you don't like tradition in public ceremonies you should really just keep it to yourself.

We had a major flamewar here only a couple of days ago about religion in public ceremonies and now here some atheist is agitating the damn guano again.

Haven't you people learned your place yet?

[Curmudgeoness]

29. Bwahahaha. I was worried about you for a minute, Fumesucker.

[Silent3]

46. And, gee, it can be any religion's God...

...as long as it's a God. Isn't that inclusive enough? Let's all sing kumbaya!

[RKP5637]

57. Too far to scroll, BP when up! lol n/t

[AzDar]

13. Since I have a son who will be graduating next year, and is, like me, an Atheist...

I look forward to suing the fuck out of these crazy, god-bothering morons.


I hope it passes, I really do.

[RebelOne]

15. Is there a link to this story? n/t

[handmade34]

51. ....

http://legiscan.com/AZ/text/HB2467

AN ACT

AMENDING TITLE 15, CHAPTER 7, ARTICLE 1, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES, BY ADDING SECTION 15-701.03; RELATING TO SCHOOL CURRICULUM.


(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-701.03, to read:
15-701.03. Graduation requirement; constitutional oath
BEGINNING IN THE 2013‑2014 SCHOOL YEAR, IN ADDITION TO FULFILLING THE COURSE OF STUDY AND ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER, BEFORE A PUPIL IS ALLOWED TO GRADUATE FROM A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STATE, THE PRINCIPAL OR HEAD TEACHER OF THE SCHOOL SHALL VERIFY IN WRITING THAT THE PUPIL HAS RECITED THE FOLLOWING OATH:
I, _________, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THESE DUTIES; SO HELP ME GOD.

[11 Bravo]

18. I'm a Christian. I believe in God. And if I lived in Arizona I would ask one of my children ...

if they wanted to refuse, just so we could sue the ever-loving shit out of the state! If they declined (and I would never attempt to coerce either of them), I would find another way to bring that idiocy before a judge. I'm pretty sure God would forgive me.

No one should ever be required by the power of the state to acknowledge a religious deity in which they do not believe.

[FourScore]

22. Thank you. n/t

[RKP5637]

55. Exactly!!! Next will be pledging allegiance to the republican party to graduate. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

23. Jehovah's Witnesses would be none to happy, too

This whole nonsense is simply dog whistles for the wacko right-wing fringe and is dead on arrival.

[RedCappedBandit]

24. I am never going to Arizona.

[RKP5637]

63. I added Arizona sometime ago to my list of states never to set foot in. I guess I have to

fly over them, but that's it ... no way am I ever going to enter, they are just too weird and frankly dangerous places to be.

[Cha]

25. The AZ gop is outing themselves as

as stupid demagogues that ends up backfiring on them like a mofo.

[Initech]

27. This idea is completely insane, but that does scare the crap out of me.

[RKP5637]

64. Next will be a requirement to pledge allegiance to the GOP for graduation. n/t

[obamanut2012]

30. Totally illegal

[Warpy]

31. This is clearly insane and unconstitutional

and wouldn't get this far even in most of Dixie.

If Arizona passes it, it will stand only as long as the first atheist kid is denied a high school diploma.

[Brigid]

34. Anyone who completes the requirements for graduation . . .

Cannot be denied that diploma. It's that simple. This won't survive a Constitutional challenge--if it passes to begin with.

[Mariana]

50. So they make taking this oath one of the requirements.

That is what this proposition intends to do.

[BainsBane]

41. this cannot be constitutional

It won't stand legal challenge.

But WTF is with Arizona anyway?

[cordelia]

42. So very, very wrong.

This will never stand. Just can't.

[JoeyT]

44. It won't hold up in court,

but I feel horrible for the family and kid that challenge it. They're going to be getting an unbelievable amount of death threats, and probably stuff a little beyond. (Bricks through windows, smashed up cars, etc). Just like always happens.

[RKP5637]

67. Yep, religious people are always so pleasant, so wonderful, always thinking of others.

Anyone tells me they're religious I don't trust them one bit. Some of my worst business transactions have been with the supposedly religious. I don't trust them one bit, not at all.

[teach1st]

45. In order to protect our constitution...

In order to protect our constitution, we have to destroy it.

[samsingh]

52. what do repugs not understand about 'the land of the free'?

[JackRiddler]

53. Athiests shouldn't graduate.

Not if they can't spell atheist.

[Silent3]

59. What if they're just athier, not the athiest? n/t

[Indyfan53]

69. OH! That's embarassing!

Thanks for catching that.

[Buzz Clik]

58. Even beyond the "so help me God" crap, this borders on brainwashing and indoctrination.

Thoughts of Chairman Mao, anyone?

[RKP5637]

65. And, that is precisely what they want, a brainwashed population of serfs, lemmings and

guppies.

[NYC Liberal]

60. I would simply add after I was done "…even though it doesn't exist" or something similar.

What are they going to do? Once I'm done saying their little oath I can say whatever I want to.

[Yo_Mama]

62. It's unconstitutional and can never be enforced.

I guess it's some sort of symbolic thing.

[Riftaxe]

68. An oath to graduate from high school

is utter nonsense.

I cannot imagine a rational electorate allowing it to be permitted, or let their Representatives even finish their terms.

For the brief term such a law were in existence if it were to come to pass, graduates can console themselves that the degree is just a certificate of attendance anyways.