Hearsay and Heresies: Write in Support of Religious Liberty in Texas Schools. Defend the Bill of Rights!

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Write in Support of Religious Liberty in Texas Schools. Defend the Bill of Rights!

Dear [Decision Maker],

I am a high school senior in Houston, Texas. [Please personalize your message] In response to the growing confusion about religious expression in Texas public schools, Rep. Charlie Howard has introduced a bill that outlines the extensive liberties students are guaranteed and the protection school officials receive when recognizing these liberties. This bill is the Religious Viewpoint Anti-Discrimination Act (HB 3678). I urge you to support this legislation! Representative Howard's bill lays to rest many myths that have led to the unconstitutional suppression of individual speech in Texas schools.

Recent examples of unconstitutional censorship of school children in Texas include:
* Reprimands for talking about Jesus during Easter
* A ban on children wishing deployed troops a "Merry Christmas"
* Children forbidden from using religious messages on gifts or cards including references to St. Valentine's Day
* Children forbidden from bringing Christmas items to a school's "Winter Party" despite the acknowledgment of other faiths during the season.

The Religious Viewpoint Anti-Discrimination Act (HB3678) codifies the many constitutional ways a student, or groups of students, may express their faith at school and at school-sponsored events. HB3678 also outlines what activities would land a school in constitutional hot water. As our constituent, I ask you to support this important legislation.Please respond to my letter in writing.

Sincerely,
[Your Name][Your Address][City, State ZIP]

Addresses
1. Rep Beverly Wooley,
State Representative, District 136
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, Texas 76768-2910

2. Rick Perry
Governor of Texas
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711

3. Senator Dan Patrick
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711

1 comment:

Charlotte said...: trained literary professional isn't under your about me? i'm shocked; April 10, 2007 at 10:52 PM

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The Story Behind Durer's "Praying Hands."

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this big family, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighbourhood. Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by labouring in the mines. They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honoured position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfil his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you." All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no." Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late." More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver point sketches, water-colours, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands." The next time you see a copy of this famous drawing, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!

Hearsay and Heresies

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Write in Support of Religious Liberty in Texas Schools. Defend the Bill of Rights!

1 comment:

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The Story Behind Durer's "Praying Hands."

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