A bunch of people get bent out of shape about Hindus

[Big Swami]

Here's a Youtube vid. Apparently, the Senate opens every day with a prayer before getting down to business. The Senate has its own official Chaplain, but the tradition is for the Chaplain to step aside frequently and let other people lead the prayers. There have been clergy from many different religions leading prayers in the Senate, but this is the first time a Hindu has ever led the prayer.

And as you can see, 3 or 4 people in the gallery went absolutely ballistic, shouting stuff about Jesus, and had to be dragged out.

[WTFchris]

How can the senate open with a prayer at all? our kids can't even say the pledge because it says God in it. This makes no sense at all.

[Hermy]

How can the senate open with a prayer at all? our kids can't even say the pledge because it says God in it. This makes no sense at all.

What? WTF are you talking about. They say the pledge over the announcements every day at most schools.

[WTFchris]

What? WTF are you talking about. They say the pledge over the announcements every day at most schools.

They do? I thought they banned it in a bunch of schools. I don't have kids so I don't know first hand, but I do remember there being a big movement to eliminate the pledge because of that.

[darkobetterthanmelo]

The under God part got taken out, which is a shame.

[Hermy]

The under God part got taken out, which is a shame.

What? WTF is with you people the past week? You've all gone dumb on me.

[WTFchris]

The under God part got taken out, which is a shame.

Only in a few districts in California and Florida I think.

The Supreme Court denied an appeal to take it out entirely I think.

[Big Swami]

How can the senate open with a prayer at all? our kids can't even say the pledge because it says God in it. This makes no sense at all.

There's no legal bar against the Pledge of Allegiance anywhere. It's weird and creepy, but it's not illegal. The guy who originally brought the lawsuit against his daughter's school district was turned away at the Supreme Court because he didn't have full custody of his daughter, which means that he didn't have legal standing to be heard in court.

Also:

[Zip Goshboots]

Well, is the "Pledge" a prayer to a flag, a country, while God is who we're supposed to "worship"? It's the most blatantly bullshit mixing of church and state you can have. It's indoctrination of children. Get the whole fucking thing thrown out of the classroom. Let children be critical thinkers who make their own decisions regarding their allegiances and don;t force them to be robotic patriots, as that term is about as shifting as the sands of religion, and would depend on who is defining "patriotism" at any given time. Sheesh.

[WTFchris]

You mean you don't want kids blindly preaching their support of Bush and his illegal wars?

lol