Arizona Repubs want their high school seniors to swear an oath to god to graduate?

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 11, 2007
Messages
20,569
Reaction score
4,814
Location
youtu.be/QRruBVFXjnY
Website
www.ifoundaknife.com
Link, from Legiscan

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-701.03, to read:
15-701.03. Graduation requirement; constitutional oath
BEGINNING IN THE 2013‑2014 SCHOOL YEAR, IN ADDITION TO FULFILLING THE COURSE OF STUDY AND ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER, BEFORE A PUPIL IS ALLOWED TO GRADUATE FROM A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STATE, THE PRINCIPAL OR HEAD TEACHER OF THE SCHOOL SHALL VERIFY IN WRITING THAT THE PUPIL HAS RECITED THE FOLLOWING OATH:
I, _________, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THESE DUTIES; SO HELP ME GOD.

I guess some of these foreign exchange students are gonna be just screwed.
 

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
9,316
Reaction score
1,064
Age
72
Location
Out side the beltway...
Even if it passes, the Supreme Court will toss it out on numerous grounds.

And what God do they want the seniors to swear an oath to?
 

cornflake

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 11, 2012
Messages
16,171
Reaction score
3,734
Is there some sort of contest between Arizona and Florida for most batshit crazy state?
 

Magdalen

Petulantly Penitent
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
6,372
Reaction score
1,566
Location
Insignificant
What a load of carp! The very term "requirement" negates the possibility that the obligation is taken "freely". And what Willibee said. Is there something funky in the water out west or what?
 

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 24, 2006
Messages
40,775
Reaction score
5,947
Location
Some personalized demiplane
That's them realizing that their primary power base is getting old and dropping dead of concentrated stupid. They need to start indoctrinating more youth, stat!
 

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian
Staff member
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
Messages
16,876
Reaction score
5,189
Location
Near the gargoyles
Website
www.alessandrakelley.com
Swearing to uphold the Constitution? I thought that was the President's job. Or Congress'.

It's pretty nasty to quire a loyalty oath just so kids can graduate. Heck, I don't think even police officers have to swear that. The swearing by the Judeo-Christian god is only the icing on the cake.

I am afraid that it is no surprise that this legislation is being proposed in Arizona.
 

Amanda R.

She who must be obeyed
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 17, 2012
Messages
216
Reaction score
18
Location
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Website
www.twoamericansinchina.com
It's against the law to force children to pledge allegiance to the flag any more, and they think they can force young adults to swear an oath to God? It's completely unconstitutional. So glad I'm not an AZ resident. I am legally an FL resident, but AZ really takes the crazy prize on this one.
 

Gregg

Life is good
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 29, 2008
Messages
3,725
Reaction score
247
Age
77
Location
In my house on the river
Seems the author of the bill (Thorpe) is backing off a bit:

"Thorpe said he is planning on offering an amendment to the bill when it goes to committee that would make taking the oath optional rather than mandatory."

Doesn't make the original idea any less stupid.
 

Mara

Clever User Title
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 21, 2009
Messages
1,961
Reaction score
343
Location
United States
How can people this stupid, evil, and anti-American keep getting elected to positions of any sort of power?
 

Ari Meermans

MacAllister's Official Minion & Greeter
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
12,853
Reaction score
3,051
Location
Not where you last saw me.
How can people this stupid, evil, and anti-American keep getting elected to positions of any sort of power?

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” ~ Edmund Burke

First, you take a contented populace, then you make them fearful. You tell them of the dangers that surround them. You tell them of those who would destroy their way of life, their very beliefs. You begin to put faces to those dangers. You never let up until every face they see is that of a potential enemy. Then, when their fear is great enough, you tell them you have the answer and that you can protect them. Once they believe you will protect them, they'll accept every depredation as being for their safety.

It's a simple and effective formula that has worked throughout history.
 

Ken

Banned
Kind Benefactor
Joined
Dec 28, 2007
Messages
11,478
Reaction score
6,198
Location
AW. A very nice place!
I, _KEN_, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME; THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THESE DUTIES; SO HELP ME GOD.
 

vsrenard

Watching the Whales
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Messages
1,288
Reaction score
118
Location
SF Bay Area
Website
www.vanithasankaran.com
The God part is patently ridiculous, and offensive, but I find having to swear to uphold the Constitution equally so. Effectively they are telling students not to challenge laws they see as wrong and cloaking it in patriotism.
 

Snowstorm

Baby plot bunneh sniffs out a clue
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2008
Messages
13,722
Reaction score
1,121
Location
Wyoming mountain cabin
Apparently they're going straight from the Prom to Boot Camp.

That's exactly what I thought!

Oh for crying out loud. I love it when state legislators have a state that's in such great shape they have nothing else better to do. /sarcsasm
 

Don

All Living is Local
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
24,567
Reaction score
4,007
Location
Agorism FTW!
“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” ~ Edmund Burke

First, you take a contented populace, then you make them fearful. You tell them of the dangers that surround them. You tell them of those who would destroy their way of life, their very beliefs. You begin to put faces to those dangers. You never let up until every face they see is that of a potential enemy. Then, when their fear is great enough, you tell them you have the answer and that you can protect them. Once they believe you will protect them, they'll accept every depredation as being for their safety.

It's a simple and effective formula that has worked throughout history.
That all sounds eerily familiar. Have you read Michael Crichton's State of Fear? I swear there's a professor or similar who makes almost that identical speech at one point. :)
 

MattW

Company Man
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
6,326
Reaction score
855
[Godwin]

How long before they are asked to swear to defend the person of the Fuhrer Rush?