ONE SCHOOL'S PRAYER

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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.

Maybe if kids were allowed a moment before football games to pray to their faith's maker -- there would be fewer fights at those games. Maybe if kids were allowed to bring their faith's Bible to read during their recess -- they'd leave at home the Rap CDs and Pokeymon cards. Maybe if they were allowed a moment of silence in the morning to pray to their maker -- there would be fewer children wanting to kill their classmates.

Despite the irritation of having to pay annual school taxes of $17,000 for one house and $9,800 for the lake house -- all four of my kids (as do all 13 of their cousins) go to private schools. Two daughter and a son go to a Christian school and the other son goes to a school that specializes in learning disabilities). Their classmates are some of the best behaved, compassionate, well-adjusted kids you'll ever meet. Most all of the students look forward to attending Christian-oriented youth activities after school. They want to do that, not because they are brainwashed by "extremist right-wing" parents, teachers and school administrators -- but because once most kids are exposed to love, they want to love. The same is true with hate. When exposed to hate -- most will learn to hate. What is our government and Teacher Unions teaching our future generation right now?