We hate being the bearer of bad news, but that’s a large part of what we do, so here goes: The General Assembly convenes on Monday for the biennial budget-writing session, the long session, during which a great deal of nonsense will be said and bad things get done.
Already we’re getting a taste of some of the silliness that’s ahead.
State Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, an auctioneer by trade and creationist in belief, chairman of the education committee, wants to pass a law that would introduce the reciting of the “Lord’s Prayer” in public schools at the beginning of the day.
The measure doesn’t have much chance of actually becoming law, but there is some chance, because quite a few members of majority party believe, with Sen. Kruse, “that religious liberty is under attack and religious values are being pushed out of the public sphere” and that legislation must be adopted in counterattack.
The simple elegance of the “Lord’s Prayer” has long appealed to believers and unbelievers alike, and we particularly like these lines:
... forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
And we see nothing objectionable in the daily recitation of the prayer; a family gathered at the breakfast table starting their day joined in prayer can only be a good thing.
It would not be so good, however, to require a collective reciting of the prayer in a classroom with students being monitored by an adult authority figure.
That, to us, smacks too much of indoctrination, not a free expression of one’s faith.
“I hope that belief never be made to appear mandatory,” wrote E.B. White.
We share such hope.
Sen. Kruse also supports the teaching of creationism on par with evolution and other scientific theories; he supported such legislation last year and this year is offering it up in a slightly evolved form that would allow teachers to question scientific principles, specifically but apparently not exclusively, of evolution.
If Sen. Kruse and his followers are sincere in their desire to have more questioning of what’s taught in the public schools, good for them.
We’re all for the questioning of principles in the search for truth, for truth is to be sought out and not handed to us on a platter.
But we’re afraid they’re not sincere, that their motives have a particularly unChristian taint and, if they are somehow successful and their legislation becomes law, will end up making their state look foolish.
Republicans with their super majorities in both chambers and a more-ideologically rigid governor might be tempted to abuse their power and trespass on the sensibilities of those who don’t share their views and beliefs.
They have such power now but not, perhaps, for ever and ever.
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