Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) continues his quest to be the laughingstock of the Senate:
Teaching children moral values by “putting God and prayer back in school,” … were among the educational priorities Republican Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville cited during his first speech on the Senate floor. [AL.com]
Of course, the media focus I’ve seen on this assertion, of which he said little more, is on how the Constitution and SCOTUS forbid it. Yes, it would help if Tuberville had a clue as to the nature of our democracy.
But that is not the most important facet of this speech.
Returning prayer to public school was a rallying cry of the right at one time, before it was effectively repulsed. But here’s the thing: a public school is a government institution. Even though they are locally controlled, the Federal Government exercises a degree of control over them.
And, for the conservative reader who thinks Tuberville is enunciating a good thing, here’s a question: Do you really want a government, possibly controlled by your political, or even religious, opponents, dictating the prayers of your children, from time to even – perhaps – content?
Let that sink in for a moment. I’ll wait.
This is why Tuberville’s suggestion is the nightmare of every American, whether they’re atheist, agnostics, or consider themselves deeply religious. That’s why the Establishment Clause is the best thing about the Constitution, again for every brand of American. So long as religion remains a distributed institution, free of government control, it can do what it does best – serve the spiritual needs of its adherents, no matter how silly. But, when its adherents seek political power on religious grounds, then every American who is not part of whatever little sect has gained control of the Department of Education – or maybe the Department of Moral Values – loses control of building their children’s moral character.
And that’s why Tuberville’s statement is such a clownish thing to do. For anyone who takes a moment to think, it becomes clear that this is no one’s preference, except for the power hungry who don’t think – or don’t think others think.
