Yes, on I believe July(or June, it started with a J) 10th(Correct day #), in Texas(How ironic) it was Jesus(Gee-zus, not Hei-sus) day. And guess who made it, Yup, George W. Bush.
Yes, the timing of this is questionable, but it’s not like the Hillary Clinton thing, this is proven. In Texas, there was a Jesus day.
I don’t see any valid arguement behind this, but to give every religious figure a day, (Buddha day, Muhhamed day, etc.) then you have to give Athiest and agnostics a day too. And Hindu’s get more days too. (Polythiestic)
This has to be a 1st admendment violation, it is saying that Jesus (The cornerstone of Christianity) deserves a day, but other religious figures don’t.
I’d have to disagree with you there, PowerpuffKue. I’m not saying whether it’s right to recognize Religious figures with a state celebration or not, but I don’t think that having a Jesus Day necessarily implies that “Jesus… deserves a day, but other religious figures don’t.” Nor do I feel that, the way the Government is currently set up, all Religions should be treated equally.
Here’s an anology. February is Black History Month. Does having one of these imply that other minorities are not worthy of their own Month? The truth of the matter is, Blacks are a much larger part of this country than, say, Australians. Similarly, Christians are a much larger part of this country (and especially Texas) than, say, Hindus.
You don’t think all religions should be treated equally? That’s pretty big of you to say one religion should be treated better/worse than another.
(I’m wondering if you meant “are” instead of “should be”)
I see what your saying, it’s unreal to give every religous figure a day, as is giving every racial minority a set of 28 days. But it is realistic(and constitutional) to not give any religion a day. The fact that the Texas government has decided that the Christian messiah should be recognized throughout the state with his own day is unconstitutional, and that is the main arguement against it.
Saying that every religous figure deserves a day was the only way it would be fair to have a “Jesus Day”.
LoL, yes I remember christmas. But there is at least some sort of “semi-tradition” around it, and it wasn’t “made” by the government, they just give time off for the “season”. (Which included Hanukah(I prolly spelt that all wrong, let me apologize now).
Yes, it’s stupid. No, it’s not a first ammendment violation. No one is preventing anyone from saying anything about their respective God (or lack thereof.)
I don’t see how this “Jesus Day” nonsense violates any of that. Christmas is recognized as an official holiday in every state, does that violate the first ammendment? I don’t think so.
I don’t don’t believe in Jesus. Where’s my day? I want a day for people who don’t believe in a fictional moral authority in the sky. Good point about X-mas too. About 50 days or so a year are devoted to the time of celebration for Jesus’ “birthday.”
Bush has proven to be an idiot through his pitiful knowledge of foreign policy, a hypocrite through his stance on drugs given his own past and an exclusionary zealot through his proclamation of “Jesus day”.
Shudder
This is the best the republicans have to offer?
(Don’t get me wrong, Gore is an idiot and hypocrite too. :))
Ah, now that’s different. I’m not going to debate whether it’s appropriate to give any Godhead a holiday, because I don’t have a well-formed opinion on it. If I had to pick a side, though, I think I’d probably be with you.
Now, when I said what I did earlier, I meant to include, “Assuming that we agree that the law, as currently instated by the US Government, is desirable…” You see, I was assuming the role of judiciary, interpreting the laws that are there, rather than giving my opinion of what laws ought to be there.
Except, even if you don’t believe JC is a God, or the Messiah, (in fact ESPECIALLY if you don’t believe JC…), then Jesus was still a great historical MAN, one of the MOST influential of all time.
However, this does not mean we should have an extra Holiday for Him, as he was not an AMERICAN historical figure. I could see a 'Day", ie a “NON-holiday”, tho, and I would support that.
Christmas is for Christ, but it is also for "yuletide’, and various other winter solstice holidays, which you can celebrate as the Spirit moves you. With “Santa Claus”,
“Ruldolph” and “Frosty”, it has turned into a mostly Secular Holiday anyway, which is OK, as long as you CAN put your own meaning on the day.
I’m sure that ‘Jesus Day’ will observed with much the same reverence that ‘Secretaries day’ currently enjoys. It won’t be an issue until the government wants to make an official holiday of it.
The current test used by the Supreme Court to determine whether something violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment is called the “Endorsement Test.” The question is, would a reasonable person, aware of the historical context of both the State of Texas and Jesus, view the passage of an official “Jesus Day” by the State of Texas as endorsing any particular religion?
Were it to be challenged in a Federal court, I’d say the outcome would probably be, “Yes, an official Jesus Day would be viewed by a reasonable person as endorsing Christianity.” Thus, it would violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
It is unquestionably in violation of the first amendment. Arizonans may remember the recent brouhaha when our own governor recently tried to declare a Bible Week. It was slapped down pretty durned quick, thanks to the aforementioned Endorsement test.
As an atheist, I do not think it is in violation of any laws. Violation of good taste? yes.
However, we have a Columbus day, why not a jesus Day. Here in SF we recently had a Joe O’donaghue day. Doesn’t mean anyone is support catholics. He just happens to be a big philantropist (he’s also a major asshole). They can easily justify that it is not a religous holliday. They can justify that the people wanted a Jesus day and they provided one. They can say, if people wanted a Mohhamed day, or a Judas day, or a King Wilhelm the 4th day, we would also provide it.
I think you’re wrong there. As has already been mentioned, at least one other similar declaration has been ruled unConstitutional. I think there have been others, though I’d have to search around for info to back that up. Right now, I’m not in a position to do that, so you’ll either have to rely on my memory or not.
I’m pretty sure the First Amendment applies as much to the Texas state legislature as to the feds, John, via the 14th Amendment. Then again, the Texas Constitution says atheists can’t serve on juries or hold public office, so who knows?
The link would seem to suggest that the state’s action is in support of a “Jesus Day” that was organized by someone else; it appears that this “Day” was already going to happen. I’m not sure the State of Texas is actually doing anything here.
