Amen

Kudos to U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, for ruling that Illinois' "moment of silence" law - a thinly-veiled attempt toward easing prayer into public schools - is unconstitutional.

As passed by the Illinois General Assembly, the law allows students to reflect on the day's activities rather than pray if that is their choice and defenders have said it therefore doesn't force religion on anyone.

But Gettleman backed critics such as the American Civil Liberties Union, who say the law is a thinly disguised effort to bring religion into the schools.

The "teacher is required to instruct her pupils, especially in the lower grades, about prayer and its meaning as well as the limitations on their 'reflection,'" Gettleman ruled.

"The plain language of the statute, therefore, suggests and intent to force the introduction of the concept of prayer into the schools," he said.

I was opposed to the law from the start, and am glad to see that at least one member of our federal judiciary has more common sense than the Illinois state legislature.