Opinion: Texas’s New Senate Bills Feels Like A Violation of My Rights
The Texas senators have voted for the authorization of the postage of the 10 Christian Commandments in all public school classrooms. I believe nobody should force an opinion on someone else, much less religion.
On what I thought to be an ordinary Monday morning, I walked into the ninth grade center, not expecting to get news that would spark such shock within me. I found out that the Texas senators developed a new bill that requires the posting of the 10 Christian Commandments in all public school classrooms, beginning at the start of the 2023-2024 school year, or on Sept. 1.
This bill promotes Christian superiority over the other religious populations in Texas, a superiority built on years of deep-rooted religious discrimination in Texan history. Being a Muslim-American raised in Texas, I have dealt with multiple racist experiences, many of which targeted my religion. This bill being passed feels like an attack on my religion, a feeling I know is shared within many of my non-Christian and Christian peers. After discussing the bill with my peers, it has become a topic at the forefront of my mind. I believe nobody should force an opinion on someone else, much less religion.
District 89 Rep. Candy Noble said to the Austin American-Statesman that “the 10 Commandments are significant to American history because the document informed the country’s founding principles,” something I believe to be complete propaganda. Noble, while being someone with more power than me – an average high schooler – is misusing her platform to spread misinformation and pass laws. She has failed at representing the large religious/cultural makeup of Texas – which is the sixth most diverse state in the United States – and in turn, failed to represent me.
As an American and a Texan, I believe there are many more things our state can worry about. Following the events of the Uvalde shooting only 300 miles away from me, seeing that my state’s government did nothing to eradicate the possibility of this happening again was a punch in the gut; not only to me, but to every student in Texas. Instead of keeping the 3,500 students that make up my school safe, they are making it an environment that makes me feel unsafe as a Muslim and student.
Along with Senate Bill 1515, Senate Bill 1396 allows schools to set aside time to worship and read the Bible, as long as it is not instructional time. This is particularly infuriating, as I would have to take out time from instruction to pray namaz during the month of Ramadan, something not set aside for me and people of my religion. This shows the obvious prejudice against other religions in Texas.
Regardless of your age and power, I urge you to reach out to your local senator. This is necessary to ensure religious freedom and power in the supposed “land of the free.” The governor had 10 days to veto the bill, and since he didn’t, it automatically became the law. If you click on this link, it will tell you who your senator is. Once you find that out, contact them incessantly. They need to know the people of Texas do not stand for this.
Junior Saahir Mawani is the design editor and this is his second year on staff. In his free time, he loves editing YouTube videos, reading and watching...
Mimi • May 14, 2023 at 8:08 PM
So very wrong! Too bad so many people supported Abbott. No longer proud of Texas. Wonder what befalls this state in the future! Be the Change You Wish to See! Vote Blue?
Jesus G Molinar • May 13, 2023 at 11:33 AM
As I was taught in school religious and politics do not mix according to the governing fathers of this country. This will prevent any social groups from resend other ideas, and their attitudes against the world of the people not the own point of you
Eve • May 13, 2023 at 10:58 AM
All the things that’s wrong with the world, but it’s the ten commandments that get some people in an uproar. Not injustice due to race, income or mental health. Laws that would bring change in a positive way to all Americans. No! But put up the ten commandments in class rooms, now they want the calvary called.
John Doe • Jun 19, 2023 at 7:48 PM
You can walk and chew gum at the same time. These are all bad things. Putting the Ten Commandments in classrooms is a violation of the separation of church and state and is shoving someone else’s religion down the throats of students. How would you feel is they mandated LGBT flags or BLM flags in ever classroom? I’m sure you would be furious.
M. Herbert • May 13, 2023 at 9:49 AM
Very well expressed! Now get you and your fellow students to the polls as soon as you’re eligible to vote these people with mixed up priorities OUT!!
(Buck) Robert Arthur Jones • May 13, 2023 at 7:17 AM
First of the Ten Commandments are not solely a Christian Document. In fact Moses is the one who introduced them, he was Jewish. This was way before Christ. Secondly, the Quran mentions it’s equivalent of the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, the Code of Hammurabi, which essentially is the same as the Ten Commandments, predates Moses and the Quran. These are basic laws that the United Stated legal system was founded on. As you mentioned Texas should focus on more important things such as gun control, this is precisely what needs to be done. Guns don’t kill people, people do. Banning guns does nothing to stop gun violence. The U. S., percentage wise, has less people killed by guns each year then 100 other countries! It’s a fact, look it up. In fact, the top 10 countries for murders by firearms are countries in which guns are totally banned. So making another law against weapon possession will do nothing to stop criminals and mentally disturbed people from getting a gun and using it. But, teaching kids, at a young age the sanctity of life and respecting a higher authority will, perhaps prevent one of them in the future being motivated to go out and murder innocent people. The Ten Commandments is not a Christian Document, so please quit blaming Christians. To be honest, if Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhist would actually raise their children in their religious faith, we wouldn’t have all the problems we’re seeing today. All of these faiths teach peace!
John Doe • Jun 19, 2023 at 7:46 PM
“These are the basic laws the United States legal system was founded are” this isn’t true at all. The United States constitution was based on various documents like the Magna Carter, Mayflower compact, etc. Not religious documents from thousands of years ago. The Founding Fathers were all deists. It’s also wrong to say that the US was founded on them considering that no where in the constitution or the legal system does it say that you must attend sabbath or that adultery is forbidden. It’s very misleading to say that the U.S has leases gun violence than 100 other countries when most if not all of those countries you’re comparing the US too are poor, underdeveloped third world countries that have a lot of crime to begin with. Many of them do ban guns, but it is usually not enforced and many people use them illegally like in gangs. When comparing the US to other first world developed nations like in Europe which has banned guns, the US ranks the high if not the highest when it comes to gun violence. You’re right: guns don’t kill people, people do, which is exactly why we need to regulate and restrict who can get a gun. Universal background checks, ending loopholes like at private gun shows, and red flag laws can prevent mentally disturbed people like you mentioned from getting them. For example, California is one of the the highest states in registered gun ownership, yet because of all of the gun regulations and laws they have, gun crime is low compared to Texas for example. Massachusetts for example also implemented universal background checks and similar laws and it has worked there in reducing gun violence. Christian or not, The Ten Commandments is still a religious documents and separation of church and state is extremely important to society. There are plenty of students in the US who do not affiliate themselves with the Abrahamic religions or any religion for that matter and this bill is violating their rights. You say that these faiths teach peace when many of them say to stone homosexuals and they’ve been used to oppress people for centuries. Please educate yourself before leaving a misleading comment like this on a school newspaper.