> > >
> > > a mandatory minute of silence in public schools jsut passed the Virginia legislatures.
> > >
> > > uni"what do you think about that?"peg
> >
> > I think it'll probably be overturned sooner or later.
> >
> > Stephen
>
> I just think the student will eventually end up talking through it, a regular scheduled moment of silence will just become routine and meaningless to most of them. I'd proable read or doodle myself.
>
> Speed'realist'ball

I think the biggest problem is the word 'mandatory'. American's have this notion that as a free people we cannot be made to do anything we don't want to do. And to a point I have to say that it is rightly so. The governments problem comes when people decide they don't want to do something *simply because* it's mandatory.

It's like wearing a seat belt. I admit that I don't wear one most of the time. And my logic is this, however flawed it may be. That's *my* choice. The only life I'm putting at risk is my own. I *do* make the kids wear theirs because they aren't old enough to decide that for themselves so that's *my* responsibility. But until it was made a law I didn't feel that way. In fact I have worn my seat belt *less* since it became a law. I don't wear it simply to defy the powers that be. If it were a law *not* to wear one I'd probably snap it everytime I got in a car.

The same can be said for school prayer. If there are laws *not* to have prayer, people will pray to defy it. If there are laws *to* pray, people will *not* pray to defy it. There is no way on this earth that everyone is *ever* gonna be happy about this. It is not going to be possible to please all of the people all of the time.

I agree that people of different faiths (including the faith of having no faith) should not be expected to pray to a deity that is not incorporated into their faith, or in a way that is inconsistant with their faith. No one should be *expected* to pray at all. Prayer looses it's power if it is not heart-felt. And God, or whom ever you might worship, will most likely not honor a prayer that is a result of forced homage. But I for one will defy any law that says I am not allowed to pray, wherever I may be. I can pray silently and I will be offending no one.

I guess the point I am trying to make with all of this is that trying to govern ones spiritual beliefs is like trying to rake leaves in a hurricane. It just isn't going to accomplish much. People are gonna worship as they see fit.

Drac