Thursday, on the floor of the Alabama State House, State Rep. Patrick Sellers (D-Pleasant Grove) gave rousing remarks in support of House Bill 178 (HB178), which would mandate local boards of education to display the Ten Commandments in public schools.
Sellers, whose district includes Pleasant Grove, Hueytown, and other parts of western Jefferson County, argued that the Ten Commandments were missing from schools and that the display would not violate First Amendment protections against the establishment of a national religion.
Remarks as follows:
Thank you, Representative Gidley, for this legislation. It's quite interesting how we debate whether or not these principles should be in, or not in our schools, or should be shared with our children, or should not be shared with our children. With all that goes on within our society today, what is wrong with these foundational principles?
If they were good enough for Israel and the children as God made that covenant with them so that they could live better and do better with all that we see within our community and within our schools today, we need something.
And one of the things that, I guess — the question that I have: Has anyone really read the Ten Commandments? They're just as simple. I got time to read them.
Thou shall not have no other god before me.
Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.
Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God and vain.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Thou shall not kill.
Thou shall not commit adultery.
Thou shall not steal.
Thou shall not bear false witness against our neighbor.
Thou shall not covenant.
These are principles that our children need and even if it's just looking at it on the wall to remind them of what they and how they should live from day to day. That's what's missing in our schools, that's what's missing in our homes, that's what's missing in our families. You need the word of God.
And here we debate whether or not to put it in a school that a child needs to see it. Yes. They need to see it. They need to know not to steal, how to treat their neighbor, how to treat their families, their mother and their father. And so I'm saying, yeah, you cannot impress your religion — that's not religion. That's how you live. Religion is your practice. How you live deals with your heart and your character.
And so listen, every school, every child — stop playing with our children. We have missed the mark because so many don't have this foundation. They do not have these principles. And when are we doing to start really saying, "Listen, this what we've missed and this is what they need."
I'm in support of your legislation.
HB178 passed 81-11 with seven abstentions. In addition to Sellers, the bill received Democratic support from State Reps. Barbara Boyd (D-Anniston), Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham), TaShina Morris (D-Montgomery), Napoleon Bracy (D-Prichard), Sam Jones (D-Mobile), Kenyatté Hassell (D-Montgomery), Ontario Tillman (D-Bessemer) and Travis Hendrix (D-Fairfield) also supported the measure.
Jeff Poor is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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