"I want prayer in all the schools throughout the United States of America," said Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley. "I think there is a greater majority of people who want prayer in our schools."
http://www.txcn.com/...
Corley waved off questions about school prayer being at odds with the First Amendment. "I personally don't think church and state need to be separated," he said. He also said that "our forefathers founded this country on a belief in Jesus Christ."
I was listening to the severe weather update on our local Houston talk radio (radical right) station yesterday and heard this story. The news isn't anything stunning at this point...Fundamentalist wants to bring CHRISTIAN prayer back into schools. Said individual doesn't believe in "separation of church and state". Throw in his "Our nation was founded on God and Christianity" and we've rounded out the same tired argument they've used for years.
What rang out to me was when in this audio clip the Mayor said, something to the effect of, "The majority of the people want this and as far as I know in this country, Majority Rules!"
What, are we on the playground at recess?!! I guess "as far as you know", isn't that far!
From the US gov site http://usinfo.state.gov/... (emphasis mine)
Principles of Democracy:
- Majority rule is a means for organizing government and deciding public issues; it is not another road to oppression. Just as no self-appointed group has the right to oppress others, so no majority, even in a democracy, should take away the basic rights and freedoms of a minority group or individual.
- Minorities -- whether as a result of ethnic background, religious belief, geographic location, income level, or simply as the losers in elections or political debate -- enjoy guaranteed basic human rights that no government, and no majority, elected or not, should remove.
- Minorities need to trust that the government will protect their rights and self-identity. Once this is accomplished, such groups can participate in, and contribute to their country's democratic institutions.
- Among the basic human rights that any democratic government must protect are freedom of speech and expression; freedom of religion and belief; due process and equal protection under the law; and freedom to organize, speak out, dissent, and participate fully in the public life of their society.
- Democracies understand that protecting the rights of minorities to uphold cultural identity, social practices, individual consciences, and religious activities is one of their primary tasks.....
....
7 There can be no single answer to how minority-group differences in views and values are resolved -- only the sure knowledge that only through the democratic process of tolerance, debate, and willingness to compromise can free societies reach agreements that embrace the twin pillars of majority rule and minority rights.
In other words Mayor, The majority has a RESPONSIBILITY to protect minority rights...which you are so clearly violating. Especially if what you are claiming is the need to go back and look at the Founders' intent.
Encyclopedia Brittanica also points out: Democratic institutions > Toward representative democracy: Europe and North America to the 19th century > New answers to old questions > Majority rule, minority rights, majority tyranny
The fear of "majority tyranny" was a common theme in the 17th century and later, even among those who were sympathetic to democracy. Given the opportunity, it was argued, a majority would surely trample on the fundamental rights of minorities.
Luckily this "brilliant" plan in Brazoria is a non-binding resolution.
However, according to KHOU, right now in Texas current law permits a moment of silence and Austin lawmakers are considering a bill that would in affect reinstate structured prayer.