Keep your superstitions to yourself

Misssissippi Governor Phil Bryant:

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant last week advocated for nondenominational school prayer in front of an audience of teenagers, the Clarion Ledger reports.

"I don't think it hurt us at all," the Republican Methodist governor told about 300 high school students at the American Legion Boys State last Tuesday. "I think it built our character, and I think it is what we should continue to do."

Bryant, who attended both public and private high school, told reporters after the Boys State speech that school prayer would "let people know there is a God," adding, "those children should know that he does care about them, particularly within their classroom." Link

It speaks well of public servants who don’t understand the first thing about the Constitution and the First Amendment.

Number one, prayer in school may not “hurt us” but it’s blatantly unconstitutional.

Number two, forcing students to listen to a daily prayer will not “build our character” any more than forcing them to listen to a monologue from the Simpsons will. Prayer does not equal character-building.

Three, it is not the state’s duty to “let people know there is a god,” or that he “cares about them.” That’s why you have church. If your church isn’t doing its job, maybe it’s because the message is wrong. Forcing the issue into the public sphere isn’t going to fix that.

And finally, “should continue to do”? How about stopping this bullshit now instead?

What is it with the religious that they’re so insecure that want to force their message on a captive audience? It really shouldn’t be that hard for them to understand why some people would be against this kind of prayer. All they have to do is imagine what it would be like if we forced students to hear an Islamic prayer. You can bet they wouldn’t tolerate that.

This weekend, I attended Rachel’s high school graduation. There was no invocation, no prayer and no benediction. That was as it should be, and you know what? None of these things was missed in the least. They aren’t important, they aren’t necessary and the ceremony went along very well without them.

I’d be very unhappy if I lived in one of the bible-belt states.