Keruvalia
11-11-2004, 06:03
Yep, kiddies, that's right. Texas! A very red state in the last several elections. A place so full of Evangelical Christians that it's enough to make one's head spin.
However, the Texas State Constitution has some very interesting stuff about it that separates it from the US Constitution on a great many levels. The most obvious is the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) which states absolute equality between genders - something the US Constitution has never been able to pass - which gives us a large number of women in the State House and Senate, not to mention the US House and we have pretty much always had at least one female US Senator. Our most popular governors of all time have been women - and not GWB as many would have you believe.
However, where we really shine is our religious freedoms. Here are some examples:
1] It is against the law to be out in public without State issued identification on your person (unless you are a minor in the presence of your parents). However, this law has an exception for Jewish people, who are forbidden from carrying anything (*anything*) on the Sabbath.
2] Animal cruelty can, and often is, a felony in Texas. However, taking into account Kashrut law, Islamic halal, certain Pagan rituals, and even Santeria, animal sacrifice is 100% legal in Texas with two provisos: a) The animal must be kept humanely (ie. plenty of food, water, and clean living space) and b) the sacrifice must take place on one's private property or in a place of worship.
3] Public Schools in Texas are not allowed, by State law, to disallow "small, intimate, or personal symbols of a religious nature". So Protestants may wear a cross around their necks, Catholics may carry Rosary, Jewish people may wear kippah (yarmulka), Wiccans may wear Pentacles, and so on and so forth.
4] American Indian boys (and other specific religions who do the same) are not, and cannot, be required to cut their hair if their tribal custom dictates that they do not (such as Caddo, Comanche, or Koushada).
5] Knives over certain lengths or styles are illegal to carry in the State of Texas, but an exception is made to this rule when it comes to the Sikh kirpaan (although it is still not permitted on public school property ... yet).
So ... how about your state? Can you boast such religious freedoms?
However, the Texas State Constitution has some very interesting stuff about it that separates it from the US Constitution on a great many levels. The most obvious is the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) which states absolute equality between genders - something the US Constitution has never been able to pass - which gives us a large number of women in the State House and Senate, not to mention the US House and we have pretty much always had at least one female US Senator. Our most popular governors of all time have been women - and not GWB as many would have you believe.
However, where we really shine is our religious freedoms. Here are some examples:
1] It is against the law to be out in public without State issued identification on your person (unless you are a minor in the presence of your parents). However, this law has an exception for Jewish people, who are forbidden from carrying anything (*anything*) on the Sabbath.
2] Animal cruelty can, and often is, a felony in Texas. However, taking into account Kashrut law, Islamic halal, certain Pagan rituals, and even Santeria, animal sacrifice is 100% legal in Texas with two provisos: a) The animal must be kept humanely (ie. plenty of food, water, and clean living space) and b) the sacrifice must take place on one's private property or in a place of worship.
3] Public Schools in Texas are not allowed, by State law, to disallow "small, intimate, or personal symbols of a religious nature". So Protestants may wear a cross around their necks, Catholics may carry Rosary, Jewish people may wear kippah (yarmulka), Wiccans may wear Pentacles, and so on and so forth.
4] American Indian boys (and other specific religions who do the same) are not, and cannot, be required to cut their hair if their tribal custom dictates that they do not (such as Caddo, Comanche, or Koushada).
5] Knives over certain lengths or styles are illegal to carry in the State of Texas, but an exception is made to this rule when it comes to the Sikh kirpaan (although it is still not permitted on public school property ... yet).
So ... how about your state? Can you boast such religious freedoms?