Secular AZ is continuing to testify against numerous bills seeking to undermine democracy and advance the interests of Christian nationalism. Here’s a breakdown of what happened last week, and what’s coming up: Continue reading
Bills in Committee Feb. 7th and 8th
We’re continuing to watch several dozen bills of interest moving through Legislative committees. Here’s the full list of what’s on our radar next week: Continue reading
New “Essential” Religious Services Bill Threatens Public Health Beyond COVID-19
On Wednesday Feb 2nd, the State House of Representatives will begin hearing HB2507 which states that “during a state of emergency, religious services are declared essential services and are deemed necessary and vital to the health and welfare of the public,” and that religious organizations can continue to operate to the same or greater extent than any other organizations or businesses providing essential services are allowed to operate. The state government may require religious organizations to comply with neutral health, safety, and occupancy regulations that apply to all providers of essential services. Continue reading
Legislative Update
Secular AZ testified in committee about the below bills last week, each of which sought to advance the interests of Christian nationalism. Here’s what each bill did and what happened:
We Are Not in Revolutionary America: Take Down the Damn Pine Tree Flag
During the first week of the legislative session, Secular AZ learned that a Christian nationalist Appeal to Heaven flag is being hanged in a public area of the State House building. The Pine Tree Flag dates back to the American Revolution. Colonists disobeyed orders disallowing the cultivation of pine trees, which Britain wanted for the construction of their navy fleet. The tensions exploded into what is known as the Pine Tree Riot, in which 20 men tortured a British official and maimed his horse. The flag became a symbol of independence.
A white Christian nationalist flag is flying at the Capitol
This week — the first of Arizona’s legislative session — Secular AZ received word that on the second floor lobby, there is a “Pine Tree” flag — a symbol of the Christian nationalist Appeal to Heaven (ATH) movement. Continue reading
Our View From Opening Day at the Legislature 2022
On Monday, Governor Ducey delivered his final State of the State speech, and Secular AZ Board Member Sami Al-Asady and I were able to attend as guests of Representative Andrea Dalessandro. This was not the first SOTS I’ve attended, and it wasn’t much different than speeches given in years past. Continue reading
The Biggest Corrupter of Young Minds Are…Books?
Socrates, the famed ancient Greek philosopher, was put on trial for failing to acknowledge Athenian gods, introducing new deities, and corrupting the youth. The consequence of these actions was a death sentence. In The Apology of Socrates, he charges Athens for their anathema to philosophy, a discipline focused on attempting truth through reason, knowledge, and inquiry. The city-state abhorred the supposed godlessness and impiety of Socrates, so rather than engage in dialogue, they elected to consign him to oblivion. Continue reading
For God’s Sake, Keep Religious Dogma Out of Public Schools
Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) has introduced a resolution to the United States Senate, supported by 17 Senators, that would designate the week of October 3rd to 9th as “Religious Education Week.” This Senate resolution, if passed, would affirm the importance of religious education in the “civic and moral education of the people of the United States.” Continue reading
SB8 is a Gambit to Circumvent the Constitution
Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote about a culture in which women who want to escape men’s violence flee into the country for women-only communes. When they attempt to escape, they are chased by helicopters dropping nets from the sky and then men on the ground round them up like wild animals. Nothing Margaret Atwood wrote in The Handmaid’s Tale was fiction then or now. From the Taliban in Afghanistan to the Taliban in Texas, women’s freedom remains under severe attack. Continue reading
Hatred, Bigotry, Anti-Science and Conspiracy Theories Do Not Belong at School Board Meetings
At the October 27, 2021 Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) Governing Board meeting, several speakers gave public comments regarding mask wearing in schools. While this topic wasn’t up for vote or discussion on the agenda, such comments from community members have become a regular occurrence in CUSD, and the angry, anti-science, antisemitic rhetoric coming from these individuals has increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Aftermath of the Brutal 2021 Legislative Session
As predicted, the brutality of the 2021 legislative session has led to a plethora of lawsuits against the many unconstitutional bills attacking voting rights, women, education, and public health. Continue reading