Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state’s pledge of allegiance.
This year’s Legislature added the phrase “one state under God” to the pledge, which is part of a required morning ritual in Texas public schools along with the pledge to the U.S. flag and a moment of silence.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, who sponsored the bill, said it had always bothered her that God was omitted in the state’s pledge.
“Personally, I felt like the Texas pledge had a big old hole in it, and it occurred to me, ‘You know what? We need to fix that,’ ” said Riddle, R-Tomball. “Our Texas pledge is perfectly OK like it is with the exception of acknowledging that just as we are one nation under God, we are one state under God as well.”
By law, students who object to saying the pledge or making the reference to God can bring a written note from home excusing them from participating.
What a waste of time and money. If I lived in Riddle’s district I’d be quite concerned with her priorities.
Carl,
I know the feeling.
Miriam,
I don’t throw stones. I use a catapult to fling boulders. Straight from Malibu.
People who live in LA shouldn’t throw stones…. 😉
Yeah, they might be in Texas, but like that first commenter, I’m in Michigan.
The ballot choices here are “Bad” and “Worse.”
Ugh.
It is more than a little infuriating, but at least they’re in Texas.
It sure is nice to see other people’s legislature’s wasting time.
A few years ago, the Michigan House spent several sessions debating whether or not to make themselves a part-time legislature.
Which is probably a sure-fire reason to do just that.