In their ritual of showing off how virtuous they are, some PA representatives are trying to again force their version of their religion on others in HB 1640, aka “National Motto Display Act”. The sponsoring representative is Chris Dush (such a name, miserable to grow up with and certainly appropriate now). The rest of the sponsors are: DUSH, BAKER, V. BROWN, FARINA, GROVE, KAUFFMAN, MAJOR, McGINNIS, MILLARD, MILNE, REESE, SACCONE, STAATS AND ZIMMERMAN. Pretty much the usual suspects, who need to show their constituents that they are indeed trying to make a theocracy. Of course, they can’t be honest about it. No, they hide under the skirts of nationalism. They intentionally lie to try to force their religion on others. I guess they must not have read the bit in their bible that says lying is bad and lying “for” their god isn’t good either (Romans 3)
HB 1640, titled the “National Motto Display Act”, is nothing more than an attempt to force religion into schools, using a phrase put on money (in a desperate attempt to curry divine favor during the US Civil War)and on the US motto in hysterical fear over Communism. Political leaders decided that we should curry favor with one god, out of fear of the “goddless Commies”, as if putting the word God on money and the motto would make them, what, burst into flames? Again, we have some Christians trying to force their version of their religion on others, now through the backdoor of patriotism when they now present HB 1640 for a vote. It seems that intentional dishonesty is what some Christians try to get their way
There is no place for sectarian nonsense in schools as a display to be respected as the authors and supporters of the bill want. Let the history of such silly attempts be told in history books. This attempt tries to force a single religion’s claim onto all Pennsylvanians, onto our children and ignoring any parent’s right to teach their own children about their own religion, or lack of one. The Pew Research Center has that here is around 70% Christians in the US (and we know that is far smaller since most of those Christians are sure that those Christians who don’t agree with them aren’t Christians at all). That means around 30% of us have no trust in the Christian god. This attempt at theocracy and petty nationalism has no place in our schools. These Christians can have whatever they want in their homes and churches, they have no right to force the rest of us to participate in their religion.
This idiocy is why voting matters.
PS – had some formatting issues.
PPS: with much thanks to Ron, here is the amendment offered for this stinker: Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE McCARTER Printer’s No. 2388 1Amend Bill, page 4, by inserting between lines 1 and 2 2(d) Referendum.–Prior to a school district posting the3motto under subsection (a), it must conduct a nonbinding voter4referendum on the question of displaying the motto and which 5explains any possible cost or the potential cost of any6potential exposure to litigation as a result of displaying the 7motto.
Nah, they don’t know that they are wrong and completely anti-Constitutional, do they? Ooh fuck, don’t blame *us* if you get sued.
Club Schadenfreude 