High School Cheerleaders in Trouble for Bible Verse Banners

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

It works to ostracize those who aren't "in." If I don't believe in the god of the banner, what do I get to do while they're standing there with it and everybody else is cheering it? I get to sit essentially by myself and it is clear that I am on the outside.

I find it generally objectionable to put a sectarian happening into what is ostensibly a public (and unrelated) event. If I go to a football game, I don't want it to feel like a religious event. I want sports, not a revival.

I agree here - even if you put on a show and cheered, you would still mentally feel outnumbered by the bible-thumpers.

Originally Posted by mousepod

For me, the difference is that "God Bless America" is generic enough to include any god..

I think that the USA should change the song to "Gods Bless America" in order to be inclusive of all religions according to the freedom of religious belief. Lets suggest THAT to the local senators.

[BarTopDancer]

I guess I'm just apathetic enough to be able to separate a bible verse on a piece of butcher paper that is about to be butchered at a high school football game in the bible belt from a religious event. I certainly don't see it as intolerance, hatred or that they are trying to take over the world.

Then again, if this was in TX the football game would be a religious event.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by lashbear

I agree here - even if you put on a show and cheered, you would still mentally feel outnumbered by the bible-thumpers.

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

What happened to cheering for the team? Who would know who is cheering for Jesus, who is cheering for the team and who is cheering in hopes that someone loses their top?

I think that the USA should change the song to "Gods Bless America" in order to be inclusive of all religions according to the freedom of religious belief. Lets suggest THAT to the local senators.

We are already WAY over the top in PCness. I can see this happening. MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I guess I'm just apathetic enough to be able to separate a bible verse on a piece of butcher paper that is about to be butchered at a high school football game in the bible belt from a religious event. I certainly don't see it as intolerance, hatred or that they are trying to take over the world.

Then again, if this was in TX the football game would be a religious event.

Intolerance, hatred, whatever have nothing to do with why it's inappropriate. It's a religious overtone to a publicly funded school activity and it shouldn't be there. If we're going to insist on continuing to dump money into an over-hyped system of high school football, siphoning it from actual education, the LEAST that can be asked is that it not involve tacit promotion of religion.

[Alex]

Being outnumbered has nothing to do with whether it is to be allowed.

There aren't many more confirmed atheists than me but it would be an exhausting life if I got bothered every time I'm reminded that I'm the minority.

I've been heckled both for refusing to participate in god stuff and for the fact that I don't say the Pledge of Allegiance or do anything when the national anthem is sung.

All I care about is the state in any way forcing participation or indicating a bias towards religion. I just can't agree that cheerleaders and football players doing this of their own free will (assuming that's true) at entirely optional school related events falls into that category.

[SacTown Chronic]

Less tacit promotion of religion, more cheerleader barrier bursting!

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It's a religious overtone to a publicly funded school activity and it shouldn't be there. If we're going to insist on continuing to dump money into an over-hyped system of high school football, siphoning it from actual education, the LEAST that can be asked is that it not involve tacit promotion of religion.

Yeah, that.

I'm not a fan of public performance of "God Bless America." "Star Spangled Banner" is usually sung by only the performer; if people choose to sing along, it's fine, but it's not expected. "Oh, Canada" is the national anthem, and if we're going to sing our anthem, and a Canadian team is playing, it's appropriate to sing theirs, too. I will admit that I'm a little biased on that one, since I find "Oh, Canada" to be a pretty song.

Is it enforced patriotism? I'm not sure. Somehow it feels different. Maybe I just have a knee-jerk reaction against public religion of any stripe.

[Ghoulish Delight]

A sporting event is not government funded.

While I agree with Alex that since the football game is not required, and the sign was likely the idea and creation of the cheerleaders, not school officials, it's low on my scale of offense. But I'm generally incensed at how much of schools' budgets are dumped into football while other core educational necessities are monetarily choked to death, so that reduces the amount of slack I'm willing to give to people privileged to be participating in said public money sink.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Then again, if this was in TX the football game would be a religious event.

Texas... Tennessee... pretty much the same as far as I'm concerned. It's all Bible Belt.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

Texas... Tennessee... pretty much the same as far as I'm concerned. It's all Bible Belt.

Texas takes their high school football playing as serious as they take their beer drinking.

Ok, that's stereotypical.. but Friday Night Lights isn't that far off from how it is in the majority of TX. Life stops for high school football.


GD - I get what you're saying about funding. That irks me too. Probably not to the extent it does you since you're parents are/were teachers (if I recall correctly).