"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 Our Country.
Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer
is a violation of Federal Case 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 lifestyle, 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 religiously worship 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 ask Him to bless this
event with safety and good sportsmanship, Federal Case Law is violated.
This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone except God and His
Commandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask the staff and students
to abide by rules which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise
would be inconsistent at best, and at worst......hypocritical. I suffer from
that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an
intentional transgression.
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 in the name of Jesus to
bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not
against the law----yet."
AND...one by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with
one another, and they 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 State's of America - the seat of
"justice" in the one nation under God.
Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee, remembered what so many have forgotten..... we
are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion.
Special Thanks to Lady Maggie for this submission
October 2000
