I have heard people in my A.P. United States History class talk about these, and how they are mad why they don't allow it. I hold back why I think that it is not allowed/should not be allowed because I do not want to get into an argument with a class of religious people. Not my thing at around 8:15AM.
But do you all think these should be allowed? I think: No.
I know that people do these out of respect, but that's what they say. I believe that it is just an excuse for prayer in school. Though some would say it is not, it's just another way religion is trying to creep its way back into the school systems. Of course, when we have one (We have only had two, for the death of a student my Freshman and Sophomore year in high school, I'm a Junior now in high school and no one has died so far this school year), and of course, I am quiet. But I am no where near praying. And I know, that all around me, are students praying. The only thing left out is a student/school staff member over the intercom leading a prayer.
So should these be allowed? In my opinion, no. Just like how "under God" should be taken out of the National Anthem. It's just another way religion is creeping its way into the school system/government.
Why not allow them? If they're not religious in nature, or mandatory, then what is the harm? Are we talking about an every day thing? Each day? Or just for special occasions to remember certain events?
I stop and pause on a lot of occasions to remember and reflect on past events and people. Pearl Harbor; 9/11; Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Independence Day; Gettysburg remembrance; Arbor Day (j/k...don't know when that is or what it is).
For me, recalling the past and especially tragic or happy past events and people is a way to honor humanity. No religious implication at all.
So, from that viewpoint, I don't see the problem with them.
Quote from: "McQ"Why not allow them? If they're not religious in nature, or mandatory, then what is the harm? Are we talking about an every day thing? Each day? Or just for special occasions to remember certain events?
I stop and pause on a lot of occasions to remember and reflect on past events and people. Pearl Harbor; 9/11; Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Independence Day; Gettysburg remembrance; Arbor Day (j/k...don't know when that is or what it is).
For me, recalling the past and especially tragic or happy past events and people is a way to honor humanity. No religious implication at all.
So, from that viewpoint, I don't see the problem with them.
Special occasions.
More because of what I see in things. I know how religious people are. I understand that most people are wanting to pray for the person's family, or relatives. Or for the victim's soul. I do not think this should be allowed in school. Well okay, if the person wants to on their
own time. But in my POV, it's kind of the school "encouraging" (I use that term loosely, because I can't think of any other word) students to pray. You may not just have the same POV as me on this. I have noticed I seem to have a different one with a lot of people on a lot of things.
Intercom prayer = bad
Moments of silence = meh, not bad or good necessarily
Originally, the intent was to pray during a moment of silence, but now they're simply a moment to reflect. Reflection isn't intrinsically dishonest or negative, at least from my perspective.
Meanwhile, I love this song:
[youtube:2s2mak14]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hUy9ePyo6Q[/youtube:2s2mak14]
I don't think that taking a moment of silence has religious implications.
On November 11 each year in the UK we observe 1 minute of silence across the nation to honour the millions of people who died needlessly in the first world war. We have moments of silence when much loved public figures die. The recent 20 year anniversary for the 96 deaths at the Hillsborough disaster saw a 1 minute silence across most football stadia that day.
Nothing religious about it. I've never made that connection before and neither has any of my work colleagues (i just asked the office).
I'm very happy to observe these moments of silence. I do not pray. I simply do my bit out of respect for the people who died. If a religious person wants to pray during that time, i have no problem with that. These moments of silence are never mandatory but, if someone were to shout or laugh or act inapropriately during one, i'm sure their social standing would fall faster than a really fast thing that falls fast...
I don't think silence is very religious. Just speaking for myself, but every time my school had one it was never long enough for me to finish a prayer and I used to express my discontent to my friends. "I can't believe they pray that fast. It's either a very hollow prayer or they're not doing it at all." That's what a moment of silence was to me. Ugh.
Now I consider it to be a show of respect, a solemn rememberance. Long after any emotion tied to a specific event remains, people might still shut their traps and wonder what it meant to someone else. If some people want to pray, let them. The only problem I can see speaking for my past self, as that it does seem like a cultural reinforcement of prayer, at least to those who do. And I can live with that minor detail, for now.
Make lemonade.
Whenever someone suggests a moment of silence, everyone bows their heads and prays anyway, right? Use that time to look around and find the other nonbelievers. roflol
I share your semi outrage at this. I think Its basically a way for the christians to say "We'll show them" and reassert some sort of formal dominance over communal events. But honestly I don't see any point/excuse to argue with them. Its just silence for us and prayer for those who want it(So long as they keep their mouths shut.). My problem is that living in the bible belt some times FEDERAL LAWS are broken with no repercussion. I graduated from high school 3 years ago but throughout the time i spent at high school prayer did occur over the intercom after it was forbidden by the feds(Not everyday just when something happened like a teenage death, fire, or a soldier killed/injured in battle. Also at every school sporting event they would pray over the intercom.). Oh and I got in a fight with a guy literally twice my weight over this stuff when I was a freshman(Held my own, sort of...I kicked him in the balls and ran lol dude was a freakin senior.).
I never saw the "moment of silence" as something strictly religious. I always saw it as a moment to show respect for those who died on whatever occasion. Now if people choose to pray during that moment then i guess its up to them
Quote from: "curiosityandthecat"Make lemonade.
Whenever someone suggests a moment of silence, everyone bows their heads and prays anyway, right? Use that time to look around and find the other nonbelievers. roflol
Agreed. In the bigger meetings I see lots of wandering eyes, at our board meetings (they always open with a prayer, and yes I work for a school district) I am always the only lookie-lou...kind of lonely, but I get a lot of private thought time, hehe.
I remember the moment of silence on September 11th in 2002, I was in my car and it only made me sad....why would people want to do that regularly?