Spring Break
Prayer in Student Senate not unconstitutional
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Mail Call
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Abid Mujtaba doesn't comprehend the very amendment he is invoking for his argument. The amendment says that the U.S. government has no right to establish a religion through coercion or federal funding. All religions are to be treated with respect. When the Student Senate prays before a session, it is not repressing other religions, but merely exercising its First Amendment rights to practice their own. America stands as a pinnacle of religious tolerance, while many countries in the world persecute or kill those that do not follow religious norms. For Mujtaba to call the Student Senate (that represents his voice, too) "a meeting of the Skull and Bones" is erroneous and absolutely uncouth; he seems to not appreciate everything that the Senate does. Although he can disagree, Mujtaba must at least respect local (American and Aggie) customs, such as patriotism and the recitation of pledges.
Kirby Wallace
Class of 2010
Abid Mujtaba is correct when he claims the Student Senate represents a diverse group of students and I will also agree that some of these students may not recognize "one deity or a combination thereof." However, he fails to recognize that the majority of Aggies do believe in one God and a majority of Aggies are citizens of the United States. I would argue that the Senate represents its constituency remarkably well.
Frankly, the acts before each session are not unconstitutional. The First Amendment used as a tool to prohibit religion in any public place is a bastardized interpretation. That clause was meant to protect the citizens from a forced religion by the government. No one within our Senate forces anyone to pray or recite the pledges; all participants voluntarily do so.
Kirby Wallace
Class of 2010
Abid Mujtaba is correct when he claims the Student Senate represents a diverse group of students and I will also agree that some of these students may not recognize "one deity or a combination thereof." However, he fails to recognize that the majority of Aggies do believe in one God and a majority of Aggies are citizens of the United States. I would argue that the Senate represents its constituency remarkably well.
Frankly, the acts before each session are not unconstitutional. The First Amendment used as a tool to prohibit religion in any public place is a bastardized interpretation. That clause was meant to protect the citizens from a forced religion by the government. No one within our Senate forces anyone to pray or recite the pledges; all participants voluntarily do so.
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