Vote yes on Question 2
It’s the easiest decision voters will make this year.
Question 1 (see below) might be the sexier constitutional amendment, but it is not the only one Virginians will find on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Question 2 is narrower and, honestly, less exciting, but it is a valuable bit of reform for a commonwealth that aims to be inclusive. All it does is give lawmakers some flexibility with regard to when they meet for veto sessions.
October 26, 2012 - 6:22 AM
Making special accommodations for one religious group or another is a clear First Amendment violation. Vote NO on Question 2.
“Asking Jewish lawmakers to show up would be like asking Christians to show up on Easter Sunday or Muslims on Ramadan.”
Are you kidding? You need to brush up on your religion. First of all, Ramadan lasts a full month so you’d need to postpone for a month … but more importantly, there’s no religious prohibition on working during Ramadan. It’s about fasting and increased prayer. There’s no prohibition on working on Easter Sunday either; it’s a nice family holiday but not an obligatory day of rest for Christians the way observant Jews abstain from work on certain Passover days.
I would be fine with this as long as the days and nights and weeks and seasons of rest for any and all religions are accommodated. Taken all together, that will probably cover every day of the year. That’s what it’s opening the door for. Sorry but I really do not want religion mixed in with my government, even to be accommodating.
I’m with you two on this.
I do not know if Passover requires a worker to abstain from working but Ramadan calls Muslims to “abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours”. There is no prohibition against doing your job and no leave to not do so.
Would the absence of any legislator who has another obligation cripple the legislature?
I will not vote yes on this one.
I agree with the flexibility. Not sure we need an amendment. Mixed emotions, but no.