# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 314
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6261 "2012-08-09T16:27:22Z")
Doesn’t this part violate the separation clause? “that the General Assembly and the governing bodies of political subdivisions may extend to ministers, clergypersons, and other individuals the privilege to offer invocations or other prayers at meetings or sessions of the General Assembly or governing bodies” Wouldn’t this make those attending government functions be forced to listen to the politician’s minister of choice, unless done in a completely unbiased manner? I’ll give 5 to 1 odds that it’ll be a cold day in hell before an imam gets to do the invocation. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6262 "2012-08-09T16:41:23Z")
Kids at Louisiana charter schools will now be learning that humans lived alongside dinosaurs and that the KKK was mostly a force for good, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Kenneth Parcell. [http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/louisiana-using-pro-klan-books-in.html](http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/louisiana-using-pro-klan-books-in.html) ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6263 "2012-08-09T16:44:40Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > Doesn’t this part violate the separation clause? > > “that the General Assembly and the governing bodies of political subdivisions may extend to ministers, clergypersons, and other individuals the privilege to offer invocations or other prayers at meetings or sessions of the General Assembly or governing bodies” > > Wouldn’t this make those attending government functions be forced to listen to the politician’s minister of choice, unless done in a completely unbiased manner? I’ll give 5 to 1 odds that it’ll be a cold day in hell before an imam gets to do the invocation. Even better, wait from the wailing from the good Christian folk of Missouri when Muslim students start bailing out of classes for their call to prayer. After all, the voters just said nobody can stop it! Can’t they even read what they’re voting on? Or does “Almighty God” mean just the God of good, moral Christians and absolutely nobody else? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6264 "2012-08-09T16:51:35Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Even better, wait from the wailing from the good Christian folk of Missouri when Muslim students start bailing out of classes for their call to prayer. After all, the voters just said nobody can stop it! Can’t they even read what they’re voting on? Or does “Almighty God” mean just the God of good, moral Christians and absolutely nobody else? Actually, I hope the members of some obscure religion choose to sacrifice a goat before an algebra exam. That would be hilarious. (Except for the goat.) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6265 "2012-08-09T16:52:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Dumb, but still not necessarily unconstitutional, and I still don’t see anything resembling what **legalsnugs** ’ article makes the measure out to be. I tend to agree. I saw this yesterday, and after reading through the list of stuff in the amendment, my first thought was, “Great going, geniuses! You’ve written an amendment that simply restates the rights you already have.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6266 "2012-08-09T16:59:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Students are (rpobably) [already allowed](http://www.law.fsu.edu/journals/lawreview/downloads/334/ramsey.pdf) to “opt out” of assignments that violate their beliefs. Damn, I should have converted to Nonhomeworktarianism. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6267 "2012-08-09T17:02:45Z")
I could have been going to “church” instead of detention. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6268 "2012-08-09T17:11:14Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Nor do I. Anyone want to take a look in here and see what in particular is objectionable? This is the meat of the amendment, I don’t think I missed copying anything germane: > > > [@](#): > > > > Section 5. That all men and women have a natural and indefeasible right to worship **Almighty God** according to the dictates of their own consciences; I’m not sure how comfortable I am with a state legislature taking it upon itself to confer omnipotence upon a deity. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6269 "2012-08-09T17:21:03Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > Doesn’t this part violate the separation clause? In reality, yes. Legally, no. Congress has religious invocations too. > [@Frostillicus](#): > > Kids at Louisiana charter schools will now be learning that humans lived alongside dinosaurs and that the KKK was mostly a force for good, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Kenneth Parcell. > > [http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/louisiana-using-pro-klan-books-in.html](http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/louisiana-using-pro-klan-books-in.html) Sweet Jesus Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6270 "2012-08-09T17:29:27Z")
We must never forget the valor of Nathan Forrest, who terrorized Federal supply lines with his brigade of velociraptor riders. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6271 "2012-08-09T17:33:44Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > We must never forget the valor of Nathan Forrest, who terrorized Federal supply lines with his brigade of velociraptor riders. Well, it sounds stupid when you put it like that. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6272 "2012-08-09T17:34:20Z")
Well, look at it this way: classes will spend the whole semester watching the documentaries _Birth of a Nation_ and _The Flintstones_\*, so they’ll never have time to look at the textbooks. \*female students will doubtless be excused from these showings to make sure they don’t get any ideas about dressing up all slutty like Betty Rubble. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6273 "2012-08-09T17:36:58Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Even better, wait from the wailing from the good Christian folk of Missouri when Muslim students start bailing out of classes for their call to prayer. After all, the voters just said nobody can stop it! Can’t they even read what they’re voting on? Or does “Almighty God” mean just the God of good, moral Christians and absolutely nobody else? I’m going to guess that they’re banking on anything but christian worship being labeled licentious or inconsistent with the good order, peace or safety of the state, or with the rights of others. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6274 "2012-08-09T17:42:44Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Or does “Almighty God” mean just the God of good, moral Christians and absolutely nobody else? Well, duh! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6275 "2012-08-09T17:47:33Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > Even better, wait from the wailing from the good Christian folk of Missouri when Muslim students start bailing out of classes for their call to prayer. After all, the voters just said nobody can stop it! Can’t they even read what they’re voting on? Or does “Almighty God” mean just the God of good, moral Christians and absolutely nobody else? I suspect the good Christian folk of Missouri would be perfectly okay with it if all the Muslim students left class. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6276 "2012-08-09T18:01:07Z")
Catch-22. Your kids tell you they have been praying they don’t have to take the class. What do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6277 "2012-08-09T21:06:16Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > . . . Or does “Almighty God” mean just the God of good, moral Christians and absolutely nobody else? It might be a bit troubling to followers of gods, plural, or of followers of gods who are not omnipotent. Or followers of goddesses. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6278 "2012-08-09T21:37:56Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > Aaaauuuuuggggghhhhh! I just can’t stand it! How can people be SO frigging stupid? > > [Article](http://www.politicususa.com/missouri-votes-to-allow-christians-to-discriminate-against-non-believers.html). > > Not only is [Constitutional Amendment 2](http://prayeramendment.org/) unconstitutional, it goes against what Jesus Himself said: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:5-6 > > Not just completely unAmerican, but also completely unChristian. What is happening to our country? Somebody please tell me this is parody… This is what happens when a referendum is held during a primary involving only one party instead of during a general election. Might have passed anyway, but given the subject and the primary, it was a sure thing. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6279 "2012-08-09T21:44:35Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > Kids at Louisiana charter schools will now be learning that humans lived alongside dinosaurs and that the KKK was mostly a force for good, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Kenneth Parcell. > > [http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/louisiana-using-pro-klan-books-in.html](http://www.americablog.com/2012/08/louisiana-using-pro-klan-books-in.html) And how is the United States supposed to compete with the rest of the world when we’re intentionally turning our children into morons? ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/6280 "2012-08-09T21:52:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I suspect the good Christian folk of Missouri would be perfectly okay with it if all the Muslim students left class. At least one (and probably more) would just as soon see them all leave the state, given that someone just burned down the mosque in Joplin, Missouri. No freedom of religion, there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=313) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=315)