TALLAHASSEE — The Senate is set to vote as early as Wednesday on a measure that deeply divides the chamber, allowing school districts to let students lead prayers at public school graduations, football games and other assemblies, as long as adults aren't involved.
The version of the bill (SB 98) set for a floor vote doesn't set out any limits on the inspirational message – messages that are sectarian, and those that are proselytizing in nature would be OK, drawing the opposition of some Jewish members of the Senate.
And, in deference to constitutional prohibitions on establishing a religion, just about anything would have to be fair game.
"Any inspirational message they want to do," Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, the sponsor of the bill, said during discussion of the measure on the floor Tuesday.
Presumably, if a district were to approve a policy, and a student wanted to take the P.A. system at a football game and offer a prayer to the Goddess of the Earth or to Allah or a Wiccan deity, they would have to be allowed to do so under the bill.
"Suppose a first grader wants to do an inspirational message to Buddha, to Allah? .Who decides who says what?" asked Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood.
As long as it is "inspirational," and being voluntarily delivered by the student, it would have to be allowed, Siplin said. The bill doesn't define "inspirational," nor does it let school districts do that. In fact, it clearly prevents school districts from choosing what students are allowed to say or not say, spelling out that school district personnel "may not monitor or otherwise review the content of a student volunteer's inspirational message."
"So the inspirational message my little children would be hearing would not be up to the family .? asked Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach.
That is correct, Siplin replied. It would be up to the students at her children's school.
And if she doesn't want her children to hear any "inspirational messages" at school functions, what should she do? Sachs asked.
"Since school boards are elected you can vote against them next time," Siplin responded.
The measure, which changed between the time it was heard in early committees and its arrival on the Senate floor, has a House companion (HB 317), but it has yet to get a committee hearing there. Some of the changes also alarmed opponents. Originally the bill was aimed only at secondary schools, but it was changed before reaching the floor to include elementary school students.
Another change opened up the prayers to any school event – originally it would have made it clear that prayers could only be offered at events students aren't required to attend. Now the bill would allow prayer at any school event.
Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, said she couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't want students to hear inspirational messages at the start of an assembly.
"Do you suppose opponents want, instead of to inspire little first graders, maybe they want to demoralize them?" asked Storms.
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Comments » 16
Chester writes:
We have 4,000 prison guards about to be laid off by Pink Slip dirty dick scott and this is all these clowns can come up with? Really important work dirty dick scott is performing. How does this geek sleep at night?
elnuestros writes:
My god doesn’t care if your team loses. He doesn’t even care if MY team loses.
Taliban-ers.
PAREIDOLIA writes:
So given what has happened over the centuries with such measures:
Whatever prayer is favoured by the overwhelming vast majority in the school; THAT prayer will become the prayer of the true god.
So back we go Florida; to the Middle Ages; as if florida ever left the Middle Ages at all.
artdude writes:
So I guess if a child wants to lead muslim prayers or any other religion that disagrees with the christians everything will be a okay, sure. Keep you religion in your pants you freaks.
PAREIDOLIA writes:
Let's take a look at PRAYER as it relates to EVERY faith; and apply it to how the clergy exploits prayer as a NUMBERS GAME.
Each day, hundreds of millions of people PRAY for something.
In a LOTTERY of this size it is only a matter of time before a random number of faithful realize their wishes simply because of the LARGE NUMBER of tickets (or prayers) in the pool.
The REST of the prayers are the losers; and we never hear about THEM.
(ie. A relative is near death and the family prays for recovery. The relative recovers, and BINGO; the lord heard our prayers.
Yet the fortunate ignore the thousands of OTHER deserving people in the same circumstances; who DIED after prayer.
(The Christian Scientists are notorious for this "racket".)
So each time a person PRAYS for something, that person becomes the holder of a PRAYER LOTTERY TICKET; and just like the millions of people in the FLORIDA LOTTERY, the faithful keep buying tickets in the hope that THEIR "prayer ticket" will be answered.
The occasional winner then gives hope to the rest: hence people keep investing in Prayer Lottery Tickets.
The same results would occur if the people of ALL faiths prayed to a ROYAL PALM.
That is why for thousands of years Native Americans continued to worship nature, and ancient Egyptians received good fortune after praying to the God of the Nile. They had their prayers answered too; or so they thought.
Prayer, outside of some psychological comfort; is all superstitious rubbish; and the outcome of any prayer; is no more valid then this weeks drawing of THE LOTTERY.
In the FLORIDA Lottery, the big winner is the STATE. (the House)
In the PRAYER lottery, the big winner is THE CLERGY (the House); hence the clergy keeps pushing prayer; AND the collection basket;
-as today's peasants perpetuate the superstitions begun by a long-dead religious dissident, a prostitute, and 12 outcasts of society.
naplesguy3206 writes:
What could possibly be wrong with allowing kids to say a prayer at special functions? I see nothing wrong with this, some say a prayer, some like Obama site the Muslim Quran three times a day. This is America, the Muslim Quarn can stay over seas in the middle east chit holes.
Is it possible that all the Far Left Dimwits do not have christian values? Could they all have been smoked by Obama the Leader of our fine country as well as the leader of The Muslim Brotherhood? Hmmmmmm
410 writes:
Keep your religion to yourself and nobody gets upset. Not everybody is religious and we have rights, too.
Colorado writes:
Just plain dumb and stupid.
derrina1 writes:
He said Christian values. Thanks for the laugh. If they really had values the all pedophile priests woul be out on the street instead of being passed around. Christians don't come from a place of moral superiority anymore than any other religion. Personal prayer is fine. Siting the Quran doesn't make it a prayer. Its called referencing. Not that you have a clue.
Shaawe writes:
Cristian VALUES? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Values like telling anyone who is not a Christian that their soul is doomed to go to hell? Let's see, Christian values. Oh yeah, the Spanish Inquesition? The Crusades? Witch burnings and hangings? The Christianizing of many Native American Indians against their will? All the cool things Columbis did in the name of Christianity? Yeah, real good values.
ravenhawk writes:
Hmm....I wonder if a child wished to say a prayer in the name of Allah it would really be allowed? Since so many people are of different religious and cultural backgrounds how would it be recieved by other student? Time will tell on this one, if passed.
KR writes:
I heard all students pray when one of their fellow students walks through the halls shooting.
raspberryberet writes:
What about all the gangs in schools? Their "inspirational message" is not something I would want my child to hear.
ex151b#232440 writes:
Not to mention every war was over religion one way or another
eagle1610 writes:
This could be the end... look at the types of people that prayed, quoted Bible verses, publically while in office:
Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Adams, Jefferson...
Are these the kind of people we should be looking up to?
Prayers in school... look where it could lead us!
eagle1610 writes:
Cristian, Columbis, Inquesition... - obviously you learned to hate but not to spell or think logically.
You bring up Witch burnings (400 years ago !) - as if that had anything to do with Bible teachings or prayer. 16 people died in the Salem witch trials (unbiblical, at that) - yet 50,000,000 died in the 20th century in the name of avowed atheism "first we must destroy all traces of religion & morality" Guess who said that?
What Christian religous wars are you referring to?
Crusades - That was Biblical? It was also economic and political.
Every war was over "religion"; Napoleonic, French-Indian, Revolution (Fr & American), War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, Spanish civil war, WWII, Korean, Vietnam,
Do not even think of the Irish conflict, the religous distinction was merely a demarcation not the impetus.
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