Not allow Atheists to graduate from HS? GOP says yes!

[New West Guiana]

GOP getting crazier and crazier and scarier.

A group of Arizona politicians — all Republicans, of course — have proposed a law (House Bill 2467) requiring public high school students to recite the following oath in order to graduate:

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.

Kevin Bondelli adds:

… graduating high school is not the same thing as voluntarily accepting the responsibility of a public office or admission to the legal bar. A high school diploma is, with extremely few exceptions, required to have a chance to live above the poverty level. It is the culmination of an education that up until that point was compulsory.
It’s bad enough the Republicans are demanding loyalty of the kind normally reserved for members of Congress and beyond — but there’s also no way I would say those last four words, and the current text of the legislation does not allow for any alternatives.

In other words, if this bill were to become a law, atheists would either not be allowed to graduate… or they would be forced to lie so they could graduate. Neither option is acceptable.
Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal points out another problem:
The Arizona bill could also face legal challenges if it is approved.

Jehovah’s witnesses, some Muslims and pacifist Quakers have in the past challenged loyalty oaths imposed by the federal government and other agencies, saying they conflict with their beliefs and religious professions. Similarly, some Arizona students could challenge the proposed high school oath as a violation of their religious liberties and freedom of expression.

This bill is the work of Representatives Bob Thorpe, Sonny Borrelli, Carl Seel, T.J. Shope, Jeff Dial, David Livingston, Chester Crandell, and Steve Smith.
Smith and Shope have also introduced legislation demanding that all students in grades 1-12 recite the Pledge of Allegiance (with “Under God”) every day. At least in that bill, students can get out of saying it with their parents’ permission.
No such exemption exists in the Loyalty Oath.
Keep in mind that in both cases, the bills do not help children get a better education. That’s the saddest thing about all this. The people who are in charge of fixing the education crisis are proposing solutions that would only waste more classroom time and exclude many students from graduating despite fulfilling their current requirements.

Dear god these people are losing it (not that they haven't already).

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.

^ Isn't that what those who decided to join the military take and those who are sworn into a public office? Mighty! I'm more awe stricken than anything else, I thought the GOP crazy train had left ages ago, what is this the GOP crazy express!?

This is the party that claims to be all for "small" government yet what we're seeing right here is more government restriction into ones personal life. No wonder why they keep losing support and they don't understand. I can see it now already next up GOP controlled states will pass laws restricting non-Christians from being able to vote.

[Ashmoria]

and THAT is why arizona is crazy and new mexico is not.

i dont think it would be constitutional.

[Trollgaard]

That seems a bit excessive.

[Towson]

It just what the President Says when he/she takes office not anything else so shut up!

[Shnercropolis]

Holy Jeebus! I'm a Christian and I think that's terrible!

EDIT: actually read the law, there's nothing there that says atheists can't graduate. It's just a common figure of speech that makes it an oath.

[New Rogernomics]

Easy to get around, the GOP wants to humiliate itself. I would wear a t shirt with 'I am god' on it, then say the oath.

[The Serbian Empire]

Wonder why I vote Libertarian instead of Republican? Such bills like this are why I don't vote Republican.

[Shnercropolis]

Wonder why I vote Libertarian instead of Republican? Such bills like this are why I don't vote Republican.

Oh no! We have to say a small string of words that don't actually have much if any religious connotation!

[Avenio]

Oh no! We have to say a small string of words that don't actually have much if any religious connotation!

Swearing an oath by something they don't actually believe in kind of defeats the purpose though.

[Shnercropolis]

Oh no! We have to say a small string of words that don't actually have much if any religious connotation!

Swearing an oath by something they don't actually believe in kind of defeats the purpose though.

Other people do. Making it binding for those people.
You know, by this same logic, we could say that atheists shouldn't say "Oh My God!"

[Avenio]

Other people do. Making it binding for those people.

Other people do what?

You know, by this same logic, we could say that atheists shouldn't say "Oh My God!"

Oh please. When you stub your toe against a corner or burn toast or something and yell 'Damn it' or whatever I'm sure you're not actually asking God to damn your toaster to an eternity in hell.

It's an expletive in our language. It has no direct meaning as such more than being, well, an expletive.

[Shnercropolis]

Other people do. Making it binding for those people.

Other people do what?

You know, by this same logic, we could say that atheists shouldn't say "Oh My God!"

Oh please. When you stub your toe against a corner or burn toast or something and yell 'Damn it' or whatever I'm sure you're not actually asking God to damn your toaster to an eternity in hell.

It's an expletive in our language. It has no direct meaning as such more than being, well, an expletive.

same thing as "So help me God" is an idiom in our language. This is really exasturbated.

[Genivaria]

Saw this on Facebook but chose not to post given that I couldn't find any other news about this other then Patheos.

[LeftNightmare]

"So help me god"? Who gives a shit? Outrage over this just propagates negative stereotypes about atheists (which I am).

What do you guys do when you have to testify in court? Go the stop snitchin' route?

[Avenio]

same thing as "So help me God" is an idiom in our language. This is really exasturbated.

It's not a very good idiom for the gravity of the oath, though. Particularly considering that atheists don't believe in God.

The idea, therefore, is to change it - just like people can swear on different religious texts or none at all in court - to something that fits better.

EDIT: In any case, the whole idea of taking an oath when graduating from high schools seems really fascistic, with or without the mentioning of God.

[Wisconsin9]

As an atheist, I'm actually more worried about the idea of forcing people to take the Oath of Enlistment before they can graduate.

[Genivaria]

"So help me god"? Who gives a shit? Outrage over this just propagates negative stereotypes about atheists (which I am).

What do you guys do when you have to testify in court? Go the stop snitchin' route?

You think it actually makes a difference?
People swear on the bible to tell the truth and lie anyway all the freakin time.

[Genivaria]

As an atheist, I'm actually more worried about the idea of forcing people to take the Oath of Enlistment before they can graduate.

Yeah there's also that.

[Liriena]

And the GOP is still trying to get to the bottom of the barrel. We predict they'll reach it soon enough...and then they'll get below the barrel.

[Tmutarakhan]

It just what the President Says when he/she takes office not anything else so shut up!

The President takes the oath in exchange for being entrusted with great powers (plus getting a decent salary, a nice house, and other perks).

[LeftNightmare]

And the GOP is still trying to get to the bottom of the barrel. We predict they'll reach it soon enough...and then they'll get below the barrel.

How is adding a common phrase about god (not religion, could be Allah for all we know) the bottom of the barrel?

[Wisconsin9]

And the GOP is still trying to get to the bottom of the barrel. We predict they'll reach it soon enough...and then they'll get below the barrel.

How is adding a common phrase about god (not religion, could be Allah for all we know) the bottom of the barrel?

The Christian God and Allah are technically the same, just so you know.

[Multiflow]

As an atheist, I'm actually more worried about the idea of forcing people to take the Oath of Enlistment before they can graduate.

I took that 12 years ago, by choice. That is basically conscription, if they add that they will also follow orders ...

[Genivaria]

Operation Alienate Moderate Christians and Sane Republicans GO!

[Thafoo]

Arizona Republicans at it again