This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee by school Principal Jody McLoud, on September 1, 2000. I thought it was worth sharing with the world, and hope you will forward it to all your friends. It clearly shows just how far this country has gone in the wrong direction.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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, it’s 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 staff and students to abide by rules that 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 began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They pray 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.
Praise God that His remnant remains!
2007-07-27 11:46:37 · 17 answers · asked by imhungryfonda 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I've seen this before, and I agree wholeheartedly with it. I don't have a problem with people who have different beliefs than I do, and I certainly don't stand in the way of them practicing those beliefs, nor do I think I have the right to force someone to practice MY beliefs. I think schools and other public arenas should still take a moment of silence or meditation or whatever you want to call it. If you want to pray, then pray, to whatever God or Goddess you choose, or if you want to think about what to make for dinner that night or think about what you're going to do this weekend, whatever. But I don't think the right to pray should be taken from us just because we're in a "public" arena.
2007-07-27 11:56:53 · answer #1 · answered by Starfall 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Clearly, this principal doesn't understand the law. A school official can not lead a Christian prayer. She could have asked for a moment of silence, or allowed a student to say the prayer. Rather, she choose to use a high school sporting event as a soap box. Sad really, but you go ahead and discuss how wonderful you think it all is.
2007-07-27 12:05:11 · answer #2 · answered by atheist 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
As a Hindu, I'm offended by the fact that the principal only said pray to god and jesus. Why must he make me feel excluded by narrowing who he says I can pray to. He never said I can pray to Vishnu at this time, he only said I can pray to god and jesus. If I was to exercise my freedom of religion (according to your definition) and invite a high school to join me in praise of Brahma, I would face rage and ridicule because the audience would find it offensive. Apparently there is a freedom FROM religion; it's the freedom FROM unpopular religion. But hey, majority rules right.
2007-07-27 12:03:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Cute story. Freedom of religion and from religion are basically the same thing. You just twist the meaning to make it seem bad and unconstitutional. Anyone in those stands that believes in a different god than that principal has rights too. The freedom FROM being forced to join a christian prayer and the freedom OF choosing their own religion. You can make it sound criminal all you want to force your religion on everyone else, but the fact is that we are not all christians and if I went to enjoy a football game and had my hand grabbed by my neighbor to join in their prayer, I would've surely had some negative things to say.
2007-07-27 11:58:43 · answer #4 · answered by Dethklok 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think altho she may not have said things in the best possible way, she was simply frustrated with theses laws as we all should be. Our government is taking away the morals of this country and she simply was letting the students know what was happening and it turned out for the glory of God since so many came together and prayed anyway. effective I think altho didnt like comment about ignorant Christians , i understand her frustration.
2007-07-29 15:32:55 · answer #5 · answered by Brat 9 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We need more school principles like Jody McLoud that dare to speak out for themselves and the charges, having the courage to make a platform against the ACLU and other far-reaching liberal agendas that try their best to change America's ideals under God.
2007-07-27 11:59:59 · answer #6 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The prohibition of the supreme court is a work of the devil who deceived the members thereof. The Principal is speaking through and inspired by THE HOLY SPIRIT. THANK GOD; FEAR GOD; PRAISE GOD; GLORIFY GOD; HONOR GOD; LOVE GOD AND WORSHIP GOD.
2007-07-27 22:14:44 · answer #7 · answered by Prophet John of the Omega 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The first sign of intelligence from public school officials I have heard in a long time.
2007-07-27 12:10:20 · answer #8 · answered by grnlow 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yah, I know it sucks that the less intelligent Chrsistians out there do not understand the meaning of church and state seperation, and that they continue to hold such stupid bloody prejudices.
You're right, the US really does need to get its head out of the gutter and educate the masses as to why certain things are the way they are.
I will be sure to pass on this as a message of Christian hubris and bigotry, thanks.
2007-07-27 11:59:04 · answer #9 · answered by Moodrets 2 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I think this is one of the most ignorant, arrogant, hateful, bigoted, misguided speeches I've ever heard. Hopefully he was fired after that.
There is NO freedom OF religion in any of that for anyone who is not a fundamentalist Christian. And THAT is why that speech is wrong.
2007-07-27 11:58:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋