Today we get a two-fer from the Great State of Texas. Yes the perennial favorite Rick Perry and a second contender Senator Robert Nichols have decided freedom from religion is not implied in the First Amendment. Yes, you are free to have your own religion is their idea of an interpretation. But they are free to impose their religion on you.
In that vein they will now force Jews in Texas to say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Chanukah or Happy Holidays.
Isn't that special?
Current Republican governor of Texas, Rick Perry attacked nonreligious Americans during a signing of the "Merry Christmas" bill this week, insinuating that Americans don't have the right to be secular.
Alongside state Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), Raw Story reports that Gov. Perry signed the new bill into law which will allow public schools to display religious holiday greetings and references.
“I’m proud we are standing up for religious freedom in our state...Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion.”
Nichols also doubled down on the statement made by the governor, attempting quote the nonreligious Thomas Jefferson to validate the new law.
“I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said the price of liberty is eternal vigilance...One of those freedoms is the freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and as the governor was saying the Constitution refers to the freedom of religion, not the freedom from religion. So, challenges to these freedoms that we enjoy can come in a lot of different ways..They can come in very large ways like the war on terror or our freedoms can be taken away in small ways like the removal of a Christmas tree from a classroom.”