I didn't say anything about the law. I haven't read the bill. The question you asked was about the text of the 1st Amendment and Perry's comment on it not specifying "freedom from religion". I showed why I think that the 1st Amendment does cover freedom from religion. I have no stance, yet, on the particulars of the bill.
On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 6:24 PM, C. Hatton Humphrey <[email protected]>wrote: > > On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 4:19 PM, Judah McAuley <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > > A law saying that we must allow religious displays on state property is > > establishing religion as a function of the state. It does not specify one > > religion over another (though in practice it almost always comes to that) > > but it still establishes religion. > > > > > (*buzzzz*) please try again! > > I read the text of the bill. It's amazingly short and to the point. No > where does it *require* religious displays. The word "may" is very strong > in it. > > When it comes displays, the law specifcally states "more than one religion" > or "one religion and at least one secular scene or symbol." > > Here's the text, it's from > http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/billtext/html/HB00308I.htm > > A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a school district's recognition of > and education regarding traditional winter celebrations. BE IT > ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. > Subchapter > Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.920 to read > as follows: *Sec.** **29.920.** ** **WINTER CELEBRATIONS. (a) A > school district* *may educate students about the history of traditional > winter* *celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer* > *traditional > greetings regarding the celebrations, including:* *(1) "Merry > Christmas";* *(2) "Happy Hanukkah"; and* > *(3) "happy > holidays."* *(b)** ** **Except as provided by Subsection (c), a > school district* *may display on school property scenes or symbols > associated with* *traditional winter celebrations, including a menorah or a > Christmas* *image such as a nativity scene or Christmas tree, if the > display > * *includes a scene or symbol of:* *(1) more than one > religion; or* *(2)** ** **one religion and at least one > secular scene or* *symbol.* *(c)** ** **A display relating to a > traditional winter celebration* *may not include a message that encourages > adherence to a particular* *religious belief.* SECTION 2. This Act > applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. SECTION 3. This > Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the > members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, > Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for > immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. > > Until Later! > C. Hatton Humphrey > http://www.eastcoastconservative.com > > Every cloud does have a silver lining. Sometimes you just have to do some > smelting to find it. > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Order the Adobe Coldfusion Anthology now! http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Coldfusion-Anthology/dp/1430272155/?tag=houseoffusion Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:364687 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
