Texas Signs ‘Merry Christmas’ Bill Into Law

[struggle4progress]

11:15 am, June 19, 2013
by George Brown
Students, teachers and administrators in Texas public schools can now wish each other Merry Christmas without fear of prosecution ... The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Dwayne Bohac of Houston, said .. “We hope that this is a fire that will take off and become laws in the other 49 states” ... http://wreg.com/2013/06/19/texas-signs-merry-christmas-bill-into-law/

[Happyhippychick]

1. "Without fear of prosecution"

[cbayer]

2. I forsee significant legal challenges here.

Religious symbols on public school property? Unless they include everyone who wants to be included, including atheists, they are really treading on thin ice, imo.

[Ilsa]

3. Oh, great, now they can also wish each other

A Happy Yule, Happy Hanukkah, etc, and get ready to sue for inclusion of other religious traditions besides just those of narrow-minded Texas legislators.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Now try greeting the principal with a hearty "Allahu Akbar!" and watch his reaction (nt)

[Iggo]

5. Idiots.

[skepticscott]

6. Would love to ask Rick Perry how many students, teachers and admins

have EVER been prosecuted in his state for wishing each other "Merry Xmas". The guess here is zero.

And could there be a phonier piece of staged horseshit than that photo?

[struggle4progress]

7. +

[Igel]

10. Prosecuted? Dunno.

But last winter some teachers in my school actually dared to put up stuff just before Xmas that wasn't "winter" related like elves and Santa Claus, Xmas trees, stockings, and snowmen. Lots of snowflakes. Red and green.

They were called in to some principal's office, told to take it down, and for those who escaped the dragnet we had announcements reminding us all that while there may be religious holidays no symbol that was religious could be used, religious greetings from students were to be replied with using a non-religious greeting, and no religious import was to be given to any of the symbols that were typically secular.

"Keep the Christ in Christmas" was banned. Xmas trees were fine, minus any mini-creches or the like. Amazing.

i guess this year, unless there's an injunction banning it, my district may not be such a stickler for keeping Xmas secular. (I keep waiting for finals to go through Dec. 27, with two weeks of winter break after that. It would make more sense. But school on 12/25, a *Federal* and a *state* holiday? Not to mention the political uproar that would ensue.)

Full disclosure: Don't keep Xmas. Haven't for 36 years. Keep Passover. If I want to take off Atonement or Passover I have to take a personal day, get permission at least two weeks in advance, and it counts against me. And don't even mention taking off 8 days for Tabernacles. Not ever gonna happen.

[el_bryanto]

17. Keep the Christ in Christmas was banned in a public sphere ?

Doesn't that make sense? I mean keep the Christ in Christmas is a specifically religious message. Maybe i'm misreading you, but I would think teachers proselytizing isn't really a good thing.

Bryant

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

15. How many students, teachers and admins have been prosecuted in ANY state for saying it?

[niyad]

8. the comments after that article are beyond ignorant.

so, gov goodhair, "freedom OF religion doesn't mean freedom FROM religion?" sounds like you are saying there is nothing to prevent you from shoving YOUR religion down everyone else's throat. oh, and by the way, that is OUR holy day you jerks stole. if anyone should be pissed, it is the pagans.

[pokerfan]

9. Checkmate, secularists!

And if it does every make to the Supremes, look for the RATS: (Roberts, Alito, Thomas & Scalia) to endorse it with who knows what Kennedy will do.

[TexasTowelie]

11. My response in the blogs when I see this headline in the newspapers (particularly in the more rural

areas) is to tell them that I don't want to inadvertently forget to wish them:

Ramadan Mubarac!

And to Republican Rep. Dwayne Bohac--be careful what you wish for because you might get it.

[Loudly]

12. Presumably also covers Happy Birthday?

[rug]

13. They should still be sued if the say "Howdy, y'all."

Just on general principles.

[Mariana]

16. The courts would be clogged until the end of time.

They'd have time for nothing else.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Hail Eris! All hail Discordia!