CS_GUY, (6/6/2008 4:11:06 PM)

Did this man go to the Bill Clinton school of spin?

He certainly is not the man he said he was. Spineless, fence rider, social activist!

We should elect Jesse Jackson next time. At least we think we know where he stands. Brad wakes up in a new world everyday and thinks it is designed just for his press conferences. What an ego!

Time for a change at the top in OKlahoma. Kathy Taylor maybe? Opps, same ideology.

LE, Tulsa (6/6/2008 4:11:41 PM)

I support this veto whole heartedly

Lana, (6/6/2008 4:14:12 PM)

Henry said students are already allowed to express their faith through voluntary prayer and other activities. He said the legislation was well-intended, but vague and "may trigger a number of unintended consequences that actually impede rather than enhance such expression."

Schools could be forced to provide equal time to fringe groups that masquerade as religions and advocate behaviors such as hate speech.

"Additionally, this bill would presumably require school officials to determine what constitutes legitimate religious expression, subjecting them to an explosion of costly and protracted litigation that would have to be defended at the taxpayers' expense," Henry said.
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I agree

debra, (6/6/2008 4:38:42 PM)

I am a Christian and a conservative Republican, but I agree with Governor Henry in this matter. Thanks Governor Henry for veto of this horrible bill.

Citizen M, Bartlesville (6/6/2008 4:48:09 PM)

Good choice, Governor; thank you.

twoidhd, (6/6/2008 4:53:52 PM)

Thanks for the veto, Governor. Thank God somebody still believes in SEPARATION of church and state. The founders believed that no matter what your preacher tells you.

getreal, (6/6/2008 4:55:21 PM)

Way to go Gov! I don't think much of you, but this was the right veto.

debra, (6/6/2008 5:24:23 PM)

To historyman: Well hubby and I believed it was our responsibility to take our children to church and Bibical instruction at home.

Regardless of the faith a person chooses, it is personal. We taught our children about the various world faiths because we preferred it come from us because we knew we would be objective.

We also taught them about evolution and creation. Our children then made their own faith choices as they grew up.

I am glad to hear you teach in the method you do because it is a big world and a lot of differences. But when it comes to faith we each make our own choice.

CG, (6/6/2008 5:29:52 PM)

Why are they trying to legislate religion? Just like Henry said, all this would do is add obstacles to rights people already have. This goes against Republican principles even, it adds government to private lives. It's state legislators like Kern and Williamson who give Oklahomans a bad image nationwide. This is a bill designed to protect bigots like Kern, and all it would do is restrict them! Not surprisingly, our hate-mongers aren't the brightest bulbs we have in our House.

I whole-heartedly support this vetoe.

The Patriot, (6/6/2008 5:36:14 PM)

Put this bill together with a bill eliminating the property tax exemption for church property and it would die in committee before the ink was dry. I for one dont care one way or another. We either have the separation or we dont. If we do then good veto. If not then make the church property subject to the same high property tax that secular entities pay.

zorba, Sand Springs (6/6/2008 5:54:41 PM)

This may open a whole can of worms...for example, a person where a bunch of earing or piercings can say it is an expression of their religious beliefs. In some cultures, it is.

Also, one must not confuse culture and religion. Some go hand in hand. Oklahoma is very naive when it comes to other religions of the world.

Ignatz, Broken Bow (6/6/2008 6:01:12 PM)

Can you imagine the sorrier state our State would be in if we had a Republican governor?

maverick4god, Tulsa (6/6/2008 6:21:20 PM)

As a student in school majoring in Elementary Education and a follower of Christ, I just want to applaud Gov. Henry for vetoing this bill. I agree whole-heartily that the bill had good intentions but was too vague and could have bad, unintended consequences. This bill (which btw, was opposed by the OEA), would have forced teachers and staff to accommodate religious organizations, including cults and hate-driven orgainzations, and would have taken a lot of focus off teaching.

an-american, (6/6/2008 6:58:22 PM)

zorba, Sand Springs: “Oklahoma is very naive when it comes to other religions of the world.”

With all due respect, the aforementioned statement is from a mind that lacks knowledge.
It appears you lack the basic knowledge of how many deferent religions there are in Oklahoma. You should get away from your television and travel the state, you may learn something.
By the way, not all religions are excepted such as human or animal sacrifice, dual marriage, public nudity, etc., etc.

This bill was to protect the children from anti-religious teachers who would give failure grades for what they believed was a violation of separation of church and state; fact;
1. Child pants picture with cross in it;
2. Child declares big bang theory occurred when in Gen 1:1 “God (spoke) created”;
3. Child writes report that Muhammad under the guidance of Allah created and united the Arabs as one nation.
4. Etc., etc.

P.S.: Oklahoma Constitution [does not] allow any religious teachins in public funded schools. (read it)

stever, (6/6/2008 7:52:11 PM)

As a Republican, I am outraged that there are people like Sally Kerns who have not taken the time to develop themselves intellectually in government. I am also outraged that someone of her ilk could be elected.

Fortunately we have a Governor that has taken the time to develop himself and think clearly ... I'll overlook the fact that he is a Democrat.

Sport, Edmond (6/6/2008 8:21:37 PM)

At times, Gov. Henry has more backbone than all the legislators put together. Kern's "anti-discrimination" bill, was in reality a stealth "discrimination" bill that would have provided a means for the majority religion to force its tenets and beliefs on a captive government-assembled crowd of young people.

Three cheers for the governor and a Bronx cheer for the legislature.

brodie, (6/6/2008 9:04:50 PM)

Veto ANYTHING that comes from Sally Kern...R U KIDDING ME...she's still in the Okla Legis???? The individuals who support Sally Kern are IDIOTS.

debra, (6/6/2008 9:40:42 PM)

To historyman: You are so correct regarding the various perspectives of history. One of your kids just finish black history and she is white. She was the only white in the group and that is sad.

Kids must be taught and it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure they obtain a well rounded education or they become very bigoted with a dogma that can be nauseating.

debra, (6/6/2008 9:44:14 PM)

Correction to above post: Opps One of my kids!

Dwntwn, (6/7/2008 9:37:45 AM)

Way to go Brad!!! Kern is a fool and is trying to inject her extremism into our government. Noone ever said kids were not free to have religious views and noone ever impeded the free, personal, expression of religious views. I've seen high school football players pray (by themselves) on the field multiple times. While I think it is all for show and a little silly... I would NEVER refuse their right to do it. This bill would distract from Oklahoma's much needed education programs and only cause a lot of confusion and uproar in the school system. Kern is a self-serving idiot. As our great President James Madison said years ago....... "History furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes." .......... I don't think he would've approved of Sally Kern holding any public office.

the wiccan, Okmulgee (6/7/2008 9:39:50 AM)

The problem with the bill was that it was just refering to Christian views there are more than just the Christian religion in Oklahoma. There many people in Oklahoma who are Wiccan there views are often ingnored. There are many in Oklahoma who are under the belief that Wicca is witchcraft and is not witchcraft. Wicca is a recognized religion by the state and the US government. Wicca is often viewed as a religious cult which by deffinition is some one elses religion besides yours and as for CS_Guy the Bible is the most rewritten book in the world there are versions that have entire passages missing i.e. the NIV Bible. I say bravo Governor Henry for not bowing to the whacked out right wingers who let the pay raises for state workers die in committee

Fred, (6/7/2008 9:56:29 AM)

I have found Gov. Henry to be rather spineless and it refreshing to see him stand up to these idiots. I know how Gov. Istook would have voted, or Gov. Largent. Rep. Sally Kern is supported by those fine folks in OKC, who suffer from wind and red dirt dementia. Sen. Williamson is the poster boy for the Tulsa flat earth, Paper Pope, Evangelicals. Not the Evangelicals with brains, who know enough to keep government out of religion and religion out of government

boanerges, (6/7/2008 10:02:04 AM)

Most folks do not know that America was founded on religious freeom - not plain old freedom. Our ancestors came from England to escape the tyranny of the state church so they could worship freely. It's fact not fiction. Most people have removed God from every facet of their lives and become pagans. They talk like pagans and act like pagans.

Unfortunately for the majority who hold to CHristian values the Supreme Court in 1963 acted politically instead of judicially and WITHOUT merit and used one line form a letter to make a landmark ruling. The line "seperation of church and state" is NOT in the constitution like some have written. It was penned in a letter to teh Danbury Baptist's who were concerned that they had come to AMerica for nothing, thinking that the newly formed government was going to start a state church. You have to read ALL of history not just the parts that support your political agenda's. Christians founded this country - remember that!!

I did not read all of the legislation proposed by Sally Kearn. From what I read - I liked. It's easy to be an arm chair legislator - if you don't like the positions run for office yourself. It's not as easy as you think.

katinthehat, (6/7/2008 10:02:31 AM)

WHY must everything have to revolve around religion here? I grew up, going to Catholic schools and transferring to public in high school. If people want their children to be able to express their religious beliefs then send them to a private school with the religious affiliation of their choice. Christians in Oklahoma do tend to push their beliefs on others..for example, when I first moved here when I was 20, I was told I was going to hell because I am a Catholic. Well I am sure to go to hell now because I am living with a Hindu...and with as many God's as they praise I might as well be with the devil himself. I just do not think public school is a place to be expressing one's religion...no matter what religion it is. My parents paid a lot of money to send 6 children to private Catholic school so that we would get the education in our younger formative years....but we never pushed our religion on others. It's like my mom said when people say they found Jesus...I never knew he was lost....I know I am just restating what I said before, but if expressing your religion in EVERY aspect of your life is that important to you, then pull your kid out of public school and pay for them to go to a private religious school.

boanerges, (6/7/2008 10:20:16 AM)

In your history studies go back and look at the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The overwhelming majority of the signers - Christians - true born again believers. You can't leave "religion" out of politics! Our country was founded on Biblical principles. The overwhelming thought and reasoning in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is taken from the Bible. The first readers in public schools- the Bible. Daniel Webster's dictionary written from content in the Bible. The first legal commentaries were written on principles from the Bible. The list goes on and on until 1963. If anything is "whacked" it was the 1963 Supreme Court!!