Freedom of religion, not from religion
Dear Editor:
I found the following article on the Internet and checked out the veracity with "TruthorFiction" on the Web, and thought most of the local residents would enjoy.
This is a statement that was read over the public address system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tenn., by school principal, Jody McLeod:
"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the national anthem, to honor God and country. Due to a ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of federal law.
"As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it 'an alternate life style,' and if someone is offended, that's OK.
"I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, 'safe sex.' If someone is offended, that's OK.
"I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a 'viable means of birth control.' If someone is offended, no problem.
"I can designate a school day as Earth Day and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess mother Earth and call it ecology.
"I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as 'simple minded' and 'ignorant' and call it enlightenment.
"However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and to ask him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then federal law is violated. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except God and his commandments.
"Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. For this reason, I shall 'Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's,' and refrain from praying at this time.
"However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God and ask him to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law yet."
The Web statement continued, "One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the announcer's box.
"The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America - the seat of Justice in the 'One nation, under God."
Somehow, Kingston, Tenn., remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the freedom of religion, not the freedom from religion.
Gerald Berry
Salida
|
