The use of the word “God”, prayers, and the Ten Commandments should be allowed at public gatherings and public educational institutions, as well as be permitted on government buildings and property.
YES or NO
Here we go again, planning to change national law with a proposition in the Republican primary, except this time the Texas Republican Party wants to amend the Constitution. Remember the First Amendment? Freedom of religion? Two hundred years of Supreme Court decisions? The audacity of this Proposition is breath-taking. Texans should decide the freedom of religion issue for this whole nation.
Texas Republicans want to use the word "God" at public gatherings. I have listened to speeches in Congress and in the Texas legislature. There is no absence of references to a Supreme Being. Problems begin when we look at schools, government policy dictates, and other situations where the power of the state is used to demand adherence to one religious viewpoint. None of us want our children indoctrinated in another faith. Why do we want to do it to others?
What happens if Muslims are the majority in a school district and want to use the word "Allah'? Or Buddhists? Want your child to pray to Brahman? I doubt a Hindu wants their child to pray to God, either. This is not a well-thought out proposition.
Any private person, student, or employee of government can pray at any time or any place. Only when the prayer is made as an official act of government is it disallowed. In Matthew 6:6, Christ said it was better to pray in private. I think we should follow Christ's command.
Texans say let the majority have its way. We are a democracy. Wrong. We are a democratic republic with a constitution designed to protect minorities. The majority is not always correct. Look at the history of civil rights. I would not negate our freedom of religion in order to make a public spectacle of prayer.
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 4!
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