In Florida, Senator Gary Siplin's "inspirational message" bill is sparking controversy. Senate Bill 98 will allow public school students to bully one another with religion. And which religion is it whose adherents feel the incessant need to stand before religiously diverse crowds and beseech their deity on behalf of all present? Christians, of course.
You don't see Wiccans insisting on praying in large groups before every meeting or meal. Or Muslims, whose prayers are on a stricter schedule than the willy-nilly pleas of Christians. Jews have too much respect for religious freedom to expect everyone to join in. Agnostics, atheists, and Humanists have no need to stand up in front of everyone and have them bow their heads in deference and listen to them explain reality.
No, it's only Christians who require every other person within earshot to hear, and respect, their prayers.
SB98 will allow "students who are responsible for organizing any student-led portion of a student assembly" to "have sole discretion in determining whether an inspirational message is to be delivered." This small group of students will "choose the student volunteers who will deliver an inspirational message," but they will have no responsibility for the "preparation and content" of said message.
This is about freedom of speech, according to Siplin and the bill's supporters. What it's really about, and we all know it, is school prayer. Siplin and conservatives want students to be able to pray their Christian prayers over the loud speaker at school events.
Opponents of the bill worry about hateful messages being delivered or making some children feel marginalized by racial or religious messages. But what are the chances that the elite group of students charged with organizing the student-led portions of assemblies will hand over the mic to the outspoken atheist or Wiccan on campus?
Still, proponents don't see a problem.
Representative Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland) told John Kennedy of the Palm Beach Post: "What scares me the most is those who think we need to direct what students think."
And Representative Charles Van Zant (R-Palatka), author of the more obviously prayer-driven HB317, said, "We need to open up the schools to free speech so that students can say what's on their minds, without censorship from the administration."
This is, of course, ridiculous. Students already have free speech. Freedom of speech does not include being able to use student assemblies to spread your religious faith to your fellow students. It does however allow students to do so during the school day.
This bill is an attempt to address the Christian need to have everyone at a gathering bow down to their god. Whether it be because of a biblical commandment, or simply the insecurity of their faith, Christians don't consider themselves free unless they get to force everyone else to acknowledge, and defer to, their religion.
This bill is about nothing else but letting the bullying majority of Christians impose their religious beliefs on a captive audience. And as soon as one brave Wiccan, or Muslim, or atheist manages to get hold of the mic, these bloviating legislators will start redefining religious freedom and freedom of speech...again.
Dianna Narciso writes commentary. Her irreverant and highly-opinionated blogs can be found through her website: Atheist View.
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