A friend sent this to me, and I thought it was pretty good. Samuel Thompson wrote: I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't exactly agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking Him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. "But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome ... "But what about the atheists?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations. Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well ... just sue me. The silent majority has been silent too long . it's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard, that the vast majority don't care what they want .... it is time the majority rules. It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray ... you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance, you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right ... but by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away ... we are fighting back ... and we WILL WIN! After all the God you have the right to denounce is on our side! God bless us one and all, especially those who denounce Him ... God bless America, despite all her faults ... still the greatest nation of all ... God bless our servicemen who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God ... May 2003 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and
"Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles." Please point out where either the Constitution or Declaration mentions Christ. We were founded as a nation under God--but we have never had an official Christian identity. "Our Bible tells us just to pray without ceasing." It also tells us not to give alms in public. "Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs." There's no law or ruling against the crowd saying the Lord's Prayer before a game. The only court ruling was that a public school (ie a government agency) can't read a prayer over the PA. And that lawsuit came from Catholics and Mormons--that ought to tell you something about the content of the prayers that were being offered. If you want to say the Lord's Prayer before a game, it's just as much your right as chanting "Go to Hell Ole Miss" or cursing the ref or yelling for Tepper to be fired. Why do you need it played over the loudspeaker? Do you not know the words without being prompted?
OH for goodness sakes. Christians are victims? How disgusting - how pathetic that a bunch of right wingers will debase and spit on christianity to achieve their lurid political ends. YOu can pray ANY PLACE you want to in this country just so long as your are not trying to indcocrinate minors - which of course is what the far wacko right wants to do. That and a state religion dreamed up by the theocrat freaks like pat and jerry. Freedom of religion is a great bulwark of freedom - and it exists DESPITE the best efforts of unchristian coalition to take it away.
