1. How the same White Christians whine about how persecuted they are, usually after the Starbucks Barista says “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” or “The Lord Be Open.”

2. White Christians have often led the league in inflicting persecution on others in the name of a Savior who calls for absolute non-violence, with such colorful examples as The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Trail of Tears, the Russian Pogroms, and, of course, the Holocaust. What was so “Christian” about any of the above, and who was getting “persecuted?”

Well, the FFRF stops a lot of stuff, on a case by case basis. Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana… California, Ohio….

Incidentally, I know Texans who aren’t like this – and have teacher-friends there, too, who provide a great education. I don’t necessarily agree that they’re the worst state in the union – I will not diss your state (and the state where my best girlfriend lives). But I do wonder why no one is stopping this superintendent dude.

Yet, during my school days, WE DID NOT EVER have Bible verses read to us during morning announcements. Not that there wasn’t Teh Crazy – I *did* have one professor do this sort of thing in college – during our upper-division LINGUISTICS class, where she wasted upwards of fifteen minutes per class on that sort of thing, and you can bet we took the matter to the academic dean, because there’s a time and a place for Bible reading and “moral” readings, and while we were trying not to giggle much at the word “fricative” wasn’t it. Also, overall, there is a such thing as a.) freedom equally of AND from religion, b.) freedom of choice and c.) being a captive audience and wanting to gnaw off one’s limb to escape. I feel SO VERY strongly about this. And people wonder why folks think people of faith are scary, pushy bastids.

I’m most appalled that a public school is doing this — but Texas, man. It troubles me even more that no one is stopping them – this educational super and his pseudo-Christian henchpersons (they’re just. so. SMUG and righteous and ugh). This issue for me is just as important as the issue of those states that decide they’re not going to marry everyone – they’re reminded of what happens to states who decide to defy federal mandate (and the specter of Bull Conner rises) — so why isn’t anyone really saying, “ENOUGH, Texas?” That bugs the crud out of me – and I still consider myself a person of faith.

Wait. Unless you’re speaking politically. Then I can hear your arguments. Particularly about the mail carrier who decided it was too much trouble to deliver on Wednesdays, and on other days brought us all the random mail to people with Irish surnames. That was pretty bad.