Wut?
Well that’s what it says.
After a good amount of hoopla, Texas Governor Rick Perry is expected to quietly sign legislation allowing public schools to celebrate Christmas and other winter holidays plainly and explicitly without fear of lawsuits.
Why would he do it noisily? Do governors usually shout and scream while signing legislation?
Anyway, whatever. I’m not convinced there is much fear of lawsuits over celebrating Christmas and other winter holidays, but if you say so.
Naturally, not everyone in the Lone Star State is enthused about the the “Merry Christmas Bill” becoming law.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has opposed the legislation.
“We hope administrators and teachers remain mindful that it is of utmost importance that it’s parents who teach their children about matters of faith, not public schools” said ACLU spokesman Tom Hargis, according to Austin FOX affiliate KTBC.
Hargis added that the ACLU will surely keep a close eye on Christmas festivities in public schools next school year.
Oh hahaha nobody cares what they say. Civil liberties indeed – who wants civil liberties?!
Aron Ra, Texas director of a group called American Atheists, strongly criticized Rep. Bohac as the bill was percolating through the Texas legislature, according to the Dallas Observer.
I like that “a group called American Atheists” – as if it were so obscure no one had ever heard of it. I don’t think that’s the case.
He wants teachers to randomly be able to proselytize their religious beliefs by being able to put up religious displays in their classrooms, unrestricted, without any fear of litigation.” Ra said. “But what happens when it’s not a Christian that’s doing it? What happens when it’s a pagan trying to do solstice or Saturnalia? They’re using the same damn tree and they can cite where it came from.”
Ra has also argued that the bill will marginalize students who aren’t Christian — an issue he sees as a huge problem even in the absence of the “Merry Christmas Bill.”
Ra’s organization, American Atheists, was established in 1963 and bills itself as “the premier organization fighting for the civil liberties of atheists and the total, absolute separation of government and religion.”
Damn right. That’s why I’m a member.