RICHMOND -- God and Country dominated debate in the General Assembly Wednesday as legislators struggled with the issue of how to balance patriotism and morality with individual liberties and the separation of church and state.
In the House of Delegates, legislators fiercely debated a bill, SB1331, requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. And the Senate passed a measure affirming the role of religion in American life.
The two measures, both popular with social conservatives, emerged this year as the Republicans have solidified control of the legislature. However, GOP delegates played a key role in watering down the pledge bill.
The pledge bill triggered nearly two hours of debate. The House passed a version that allows students to refuse to participate without specifying religious or philosophical objections as an excuse.
The House also removed provisions that would require school boards to consider suspension as one penalty for students who are disruptive during the recitation of the pledge.
During debate on the pledge bill, Del. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, said no American should be forced to participate in patriotic rituals.
``Let those who want to do it, let them have the pledge,'' he said. ``I have a right to just stand silent. . . . Don't mess up. Let them have that right. Don't punish my grandchildren if they don't want to do it.'' The bill's sponsor, Sen. Warren Barry, R-Fairfax County, said he opposed the changes and would attempt to restore stricter enforcement provisions during negotiations between the House and Senate later this week.
``What they did is not just a disservice to the bill but it certainly doesn't show any patriotic backbone on their part,'' Barry said after Wednesday's House vote.
Barry drew fire during debate for earlier comments in which he described opponents of the bill as ``spineless pinkos.'' Senate Republicans sought high moral ground on another bill by voting 24-13 Wednesday in favor of resolution HJ493, which encourages the display in public buildings of the national motto, ``In God we trust.'' A bill requiring schools to post the motto was killed Monday.
Senators preserved several religious statements in the motto resolution, including ``the national motto reflects the traditional sentiment that Americans are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a supreme being'' and ``America's national life reflects a religious people who earnestly pray that the Supreme Lawgiver guide them in every measure that may be worthy of His blessing.'' ``We have gone far past what the founding fathers of this country ever wanted in an official document of this body,'' said Sen. Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax County.
The House and Senate must reach a consensus on the wording of the pledge and motto measures, so debate on the volatile issues will continue through the week.