Posted on 12/28/2009 11:38:49 AM PST by Patriot62
The Issaquah School Board may consider eliminating the Pledge of Allegiance at its regular business meetings.
At their Dec. 9 meeting, school board members were asked to eliminate the pledge from their meetings by parent Matthew Barry.
“The words ‘under God’ in the pledge are offensive to your atheist residents in this school district,” Barry said at the meeting. “A study from last year, The American Religious Identification Survey, indicates that 15 percent of Americans aren’t religious. In Washington, which is one of the most nonreligious states, 25 percent aren’t religious. So, I think it is safe to assume there are atheist taxpayers, parents, students and maybe even a few teachers in this school district.”
School board members couldn’t take action or discuss the item since it wasn’t on their regular meeting agenda, but they said they would take the item under consideration for a future agenda topic.
“It is inappropriate for the school board to ask atheists to stand and proclaim they are ‘under God,’” said Barry, a self-proclaimed atheist. “Atheists don’t believe in gods, so they certainly don’t think they or the nation are under a god.”
Barry said other residents with different religious beliefs might also find the pledge offensive.
“If the school board were asking Jews, Hindus and other non-Christians to stand and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the messiah, I’m pretty sure we’d all agree that’s inappropriate,” he said.
“It’s none of the government’s business what our private religious beliefs are, if any, and certainly none of the government’s business to ask us to stand and publicly proclaim what those beliefs are,” he added. “Most would agree it’s even worse if the government asks someone to stand and say something that contradicts their belief system.”
“If I understand his logic correctly, simply because something is offensive and unnecessary, it should be removed,” said Jared Spataro, a parent and Boy Scout Leader whose Scouts presented the colors that night. “I’m very proud to see us stand up and very proud to see my Scouts lead us in the pledge tonight and talk about God.
“We don’t necessarily say that everyone needs to believe in the same God, I think he referenced Jews and Hindus and others, but we do teach our boys, especially in the Scout program, that belief in a higher authority is important as an aspect of our community, and as an aspect of who we become in the community and how we contribute there.”
Barry said he wouldn’t have a problem with board members asking meeting participants to cite the original version of the Pledge of Allegiance, which didn’t include the words “under God” and was recited from 1892-1954. The words “under God” were added in 1954, Barry said.
Right now, schools within the state are required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and hold flag salute exercises at the beginning of each school day under the state’s revised code No. 28A.230.140.
However, the law recognizes that students can’t be forced to participate: “Students not reciting the pledge shall maintain a respectful silence.”
School districts aren’t required to recite the pledge for school board meetings. In fact, the Lake Washington School District doesn’t require the pledge at board meetings, Barry said.
Since the pledge is irrelevant to the board’s work and is offensive, even if it is voluntary, it should be eliminated from the board meetings, he added.
“I understand many things we do are offensive to people,” Spataro added. “But just because a small group of people, or even a large group of people, are offended it doesn’t mean they are right.”
He’s probably in a perpetual state of rage from Thanksgiving on, with all the Christmas stuff everywhere.
Not to stand up for this atheist jerk, but the newspaper is putting words in his mouth. He's not saying non-Christians would find it offensive, he's saying that if he says it it's like making a Hindu praise Jesus.
So he's a godless liar. Not only does he lie about what FemiNazi means, he lies about the endorsement, because Limbaugh doesn't endorse candidates.
What’s it take to change my FR handle? Everone has a limit....
Oh barf...
Yep, we definitely need to protect ourselves from guys like you, Matt.
Nicely put. I’ve often said that the Freedom From Religion Foundation and people like this Barry jerk are to atheists as Fred Phelps is to normal Christians. Attention whores with a mean streak a mile wide.
Glad to hear it. I’ve known enough atheists and agnostics to know that people like this Barry twit are the Fred Phelpses of atheism.
Yukon Cornelius would be an awesome Freeper name.
Hence, atheism is a religion... against religion.
Actually, when the "majority" rule, us conservatives and libertarians have as much to fear as this moron.
This jerk should go move to Cuba. People in this country who find our national symbols to be offensive simply do not belong here. We the people who love this country should not be made to hide that love simply on the account of anti-US rear ends like this person who get their fur rubbed the wrong way when it comes to being patriotic.
Yes, folks, they met on the day named after the god Woden of Norse mythology. We must take action to protect the separation of pagan temple and state. We must run around and scream and shout like the atheists.
Did Barry say something about this offense to his anti-religious sensibilities? Or did he just do like normal people do and not let it bother him? I think he should fast from all food on days named after pagan deities to show his commitment to the cause.
.
As Barry has consciously chosen not to run and win any office or position for public he has a legal right to only one (1) vote
Opinions are not votes - Barry can have his own opinions - but not his own facts or self-proclaimed rights
Next November 3rd Barry can then choose or not choose to exercise his right to vote one (1) time
That is all
— I have spoken
— That is my final answer
(In Barry I do not trust)
Yes, Mr. Barry, you need to protect yourself from us you enemy of humanity.
“The Brookline MA School Board wanted to remove the Pledge as well. But their reason was; “we aren’t raising little Americans”.”
No they are raising little Marxists.
Brookline, Ma. upper middle class to super rich......sheesh.
“What’s it take to change my FR handle? Everone has a limit....”
First you must get permission from Sionnsar.
Then Sionnsar takes it to committee.
Usual turn around time = 24 hours.
It's been many years now, but I recall that he flew out to speak at John's announcement of his candidacy. Without recalling what he said, that could be construed as an endorsement.
That 24 hours is of face-to-face committee meeting time and does not include breaks. *\;-)
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