The Florida state legislature recently passed a bill that would allow Florida students to give “inspirational messages” at school assemblies and ceremonies.
Because school should be an inspirational experience, yes?
Except that critics see this as a thinly disguised Trojan horse (gator?) designed to squeeze aggressive Christian proselytizing inside the schoolhouse door. As Jack Romberg, a Rabbi, told WEAR TV:
“The so-called inspirational messages are only going to be written by those who are trying to convert people who don’t believe their way, to believe the way they want them to. Jewish children have been facing this kind of thing all the time.” Ah yes, the old nemesis: other people’s beliefs. Let a million lawsuits bloom! But here’s something the bill’s supporters may not have thought through: the law says that school personnel aren’t allowed to butt in on students’ messages. The kids, and only the kids, get to decide what “inspirational” means. So if a student wants to gather his fellows in the gym and give an inspirational speech about how Insane Clown Posse brought meaning to his empty life, who’s to stop him? What prevents that tattooed Goth girl from reading Burroughs’ “Naked Lunch” … during lunch? Naked? And what’s to keep some earnest young Padawan from enthusing about The Force?Inspiration comes from a million sources. TRMS supporters, please uplift us in the comments. (Legal and PG inspirations only, please. This is a school project.)
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