Local High School Attacked for Prayers

[R_Bert]

I hope every high-school cheerleading squad in the state reads about this and enacts at their school. Of their own free will, of course

[Ugly]

Good thing we have the ACLU, by their issues link, we must be living in the early 1900's!

[Rightwinger]

I'm so glad the ACLU protects us all from the evil that is everywhere in this great Nation.

 

I'm sure everyone here regrets having someone request a wish be granted that we all be protected, that we seek forgiveness for anything we may have done wrong to someone else, and for a good meal.  That would really suck if that were granted that by providence or aliens or ........

[Ugly]

I feel compelled to pay reparations!!!!!!!!!!!'

It makes sense though since we are goin forward to 1848!

http://marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ Edited September 21, 2014 by Ugly

[Rightwinger]

Just don't wear that damn American Flag on May 5th at any school.

[luvmyberetta]

There are some pretty nutty
Comments being made here. Some of you should read what you wrote slowly and out loud to realize how outlandish they are

 

Try to keep that in mind when your gun rights are attacked by anti's who want to ban the 2nd amendment. After all, since they don't like guns they must know what's best, right? I wonder if the people that are so anti prayer will get in line & cower as easily when their gun rights are taken. Blame it on the "establishment"? Liberal is as liberal does. The begginig of socialism is taking away the freedom of speech, religion, & arms. Some seem to desperately want the first two already. Are you going to give up you firearms now too? You don't have to follow my prayers & it's your right to believe or not believe in whatever you want, but it's an absolute wrong to try to take it away from those of us that do believe & have faith in God. For some reason athiests seem scared of any form of religion. I know the pricipal, many of the teachers, & many of the students & their families personally & you can trust me when I tell you there's not some dark secret conspiracy to take over or to "pimp shine" (your words Hershmeister ) to get another contract renewal. You have nothing to fear. These are simple people trying to live their simple lives in peace & freedom the best way they can.

[leroy]

Here is the info in the principal being the orchestrator:

http://www.knoxnews.com/sports/prepextra/pregame-prayer-is-back-in-oneida_89362831


“We went to the cheerleaders and said ‘would you consider leading the Lord’s Prayer during the moment of silence for anyone that would want to join in?’ It was at their discretion and they organized it.

 

I see.... How's come the cheerleaders say this:

 

WBIR reports:

“He called for the moment of silence, and I started off, ‘Our Father who art in heaven’ and everyone joined in,” Asia told WBIR 10News on Monday.

 

Sounds ta me like one bunch is sayin one thing and another is sayin another...It's another case of long nosed management of the business of others; along with a good dose of confusion and "we said, they said"... If the ACLU thinks the principal initiated the prayer, they can sue the school system; which i think is ignorant, because they have already aquiesced to the ACLU demand....

 

The school system can take action against the principal, which i think is political suicide...

 

The only thing that can't be stopped is the student lead prayer...If the ACLU goes after the cheerleaders as "bonifide agents of the school", i think there are plenty of first amendment (...christian and secular....) law folks that would take this one pro bono...

 

We'll see what the meddlin busybodies of the Tennessee ACLU decide to do on this one... I say, it's another case of jhadists not being able to go to sleep at nite without mindin someone else's business and shapin some remote part of the world in their sickening image...

 

leroy

[DaveTN]

Here is the info in the principal being the orchestrator:

http://www.knoxnews.com/sports/prepextra/pregame-prayer-is-back-in-oneida_89362831


“We went to the cheerleaders and said ‘would you consider leading the Lord’s Prayer during the moment of silence for anyone that would want to join in?’ It was at their discretion and they organized it.

What part of that story violates any law? Are you completely discounting what the Cheerleader said?
 

There are some pretty nutty
Comments being made here. Some of you should read what you wrote slowly and out loud to realize how outlandish they are

Yep, RIF

[tnguy]

Wood for the trees, people...

 

The root of the problem? State run schools.

 

And school athletic programs, come to that.

Edited September 21, 2014 by tnguy

[gregintenn]

You who keep talking about an "establishment clause" are looking at this all wrong in my opinion.

 

If you want to talk about an "establishment clause", how is saying a prayer in public forcing anything down someone's throat any more than attempting to silence that person?

 

Can't we call atheism a religion? If so, wouldn't preventing the free expression of one's chosen religion actually be promoting a "state sponsored" religion called atheism?

 

While we're at it, look over your kids' homework at all the "state sponsored" religion spouted in the name of the "Global Warming" religion.

Edited September 21, 2014 by gregintenn

[Hershmeister]

Follks keep conflating this issue beyond its simple nature. The principal orchestrated an organized prayer.


No one is "taking your religion" - and its well established that individual prayer is protected.


The problem is the school (ie the government) led a specific denominational prayer. And that is NOT legal or appropriate no matter how many times you say it is.

And how is it so difficult for some of you to see the principals statement does not take away or contradict what the cheerleader said. Its not like she said the principal did not make the request. And he is on record in his OWN words on that, so you can stop the nonsense that there is a contradiction

[Dustbuster]

Keep praying in school.remind ACLU that when schools bastardize prayer,It serves no purpose,as every piece of crap that gets arrested for a violent crime all of a sudden finds God, and cries for God when they get locked up, especially when they get the death penalty. God is good when your ass is in a sling but bad for school kids. rEALLY??
Pisses me off that a school would break off the idea of good faith from a child's education.... F$&&&ers Edited September 21, 2014 by Dustbuster

[Ugly]

2nd problem besides ACLU. Government=schools!

[Rightwinger]

Depends on what your definition of appropriate is

[Dustbuster]

I believe for school purposes using the simple word God can hopefully and reasonably suffice as a fits all for everyone.

[btq96r]

I believe for school purposes using the simple word God can hopefully and reasonably suffice as a fits all for everyone.

 

What about those that don't believe in a God, or have a different noun to define their version of a God?  Not so simple a word to use in those cases.

[Dustbuster]

God can be the fits all for the multi use noun...no? It can be difficult... But it's still America....

[btq96r]

God can be the fits all for the multi use noun...no? It can be difficult... But it's still America....

 

It can be difficult, and it is in this case.  For those who deny the existence of a God or use another name like Allah, Jehovah, YHWH (or Yahweh)...et al, it doesn't work. 

 

Setting aside the objections of non-believers since I know that isn't taken into high account here...this situation has a public school (aka: a government institution) pushing a specific Christian God- take it or leave it.  That's a no-go when you account for the source and the ACLU knows a winning case when they have one.

Edited September 21, 2014 by btq96r

[Dustbuster]

Well I guess in this case they can pray to cat in the hat or Cookie Monster....,

[TMF]

...this situation has a public school (aka: a government institution) pushing a specific Christian God- take it or leave it.

I'm not convinced that's what's going on here at all. The ACLU whined about it being on the speakers so the school stopped. Problem solved. If the cheerleaders want to do their thing, then there is no problem. If everyone else wants to join in, that's cool too. Even if some of those people are school employees. So long as there is no coercion from school officials, I don't see anything other than people expressing their 1st Amendment rights.

Now, if some Muslim kid wants to use that moment to pray, that's cool too. If other Muslims want to join in, by all means. But I'm calling BS on the notion that since so many people are participating, it is exclusionary to other faiths and non-believers. Being in a majority doesn't negate the 1st Amendment anymore than being in the minority. I interpret the reaction of those who take issue with this as being upset that others might "feel" excluded or uncomfortable. That doesn't trump ANYONE'S right to exercise the 1st Amendment.

I've spent many years in several Muslim countries too. I've also spent more time than I care to admit in the northeast part of the country. So I've been to my share of Catholic and Muslim weddings and funerals. Almost all of those involved religious ritual amongst the followers. Anyone who has been to a Catholic wedding knows what I'm talking about with all the standing and kneeling. Muslims have their own rituals, especially at funerals. I may have felt out of place in those crowds, but never excluded or uncomfortable. They believe what they believe, and I believe what I believe. Now, before you tear me apart by pointing out that these were religious events which I willingly attended, my point is simply that a person's feeling of being excluded due to another person practicing a belief has nothing to do with the person practicing their belief; it has to do with the person who feels excluded. Anyone who is firm in their beliefs should not be concerned with another person practicing theirs. That's just silly.

On another note, is anyone going to point out the skirts these cheerleaders are wearing? Maybe the community I went to school in was more religious, but there is no way Jesus approves the length of those skirts. Is this the norm now? Not to be a prude, but no way would I be cool with my daughter going anywhere dressed like that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited September 21, 2014 by TMF

[Hozzie]

I think this issue can in some ways be compared to extremism in other areas of life where religion is involved.  It is typically a very, very small minority of any religion or in this case, non-religious, that create the bigger issue.  As I mentioned, I am Atheist, but I don't have any issue with someone or even a group of people wanting to pray at some point before or even during a game.  The distinct difference comes when a "Prayer" is part of the formal 'schedule/agenda' of a school/government sanctioned event.  If someone wants to pray to whomever they choose during the course of any event, so be it.  In this example, if a cheerleader or cheerleaders (or anyone else) wants to say a prayer, you are free to do it whenever you would like.  If a game starts at 7pm, I am sure there are plenty of opportunities where someone can choose to pray before a game if they wish without it having to be 'scheduled' or made a big point of.  The extremists on the religious side feel that if they can't "schedule" a formal prayer before an event then somehow that is preventing them from praying and others should just shut it and be quiet.  For me, this is also wrong.  

 

Where I will agree with those who are religious is that there are those atheist/non-religous 'extremist's' who will bitch and moan if they even see someone they think is praying and somehow that it affects them.  I agree, these people need to get a life.  

 

In the end, say a prayer or don't, but it shouldn't be a formal agenda item in my opinion.  If you are religious, it shouldn't be about formal recognition, it should be about belief.  Apparently many believe the only way they can show that is to be "seen" praying.  I could say a thousand prayers at a game without anyone knowing and if I believe what I am saying, that should mean more that someone watching me pray.

Edited September 21, 2014 by Hozzie

[Ugly]

" the ACLU knows a winning case when they have one."

 

The ACLU knows how to attack vulnerable schools and gov entities by threatening them with lawsuits. This does not much more than take money from the school system and fatten up their lawyers. It is their main source of income.

 

Pick a cause, the website has all of them for the sheep. Their credibility is up there with jesse jackson, al sharpton, southern poverty law center and so on. 

 

They care about as much about the students as the progs have the balls to state their true intentions. 

[leroy]

I predict the ACLU aint gonna touch this... They got what they wanted... An "official" prayerless moment of silence... As i read things, the Oneida Special School System went along with the ACLU demand... We can quibble about who "initiated the prayer"; the principal askin the chearleaders, or the cheerleaders themselves...  That's a "we said, they said thing"...  

 

What you can't stop is voluntary student lead prayer, it's First Amendment in action, no matter who feels "uncomfortable" or is indignant... When these kids say this action was done based on their own initiative, this will be over...  

 

What you self appointed protectors of the rights of others ought to be outraged about is the idea that these cheerleaders can be villified and threatened for exercising their First Amendment rights, no matter the belief system... I guess it's ok for a bunch of dammed perverts and internet bulllies to send them notes because they are exercising their faith; after all, it's Christians they are kickin around... 

 

I dont know about you, but it looks like the ole double standard to me... I say there aint much to your "protection of rights" platitudinous windbaggery and stands if ya pick and choose based on your take on religion (...or the lack of it...), rather than the underlying principles... Sounds like the ole hostility to whatever you dont personally subscribe to, instead of high minded protection of principles to me, but that's just me... Your mileage may (...and apparently does...) vary...  

 

Let's sit back and watch and see what happens...

 

leroy

Edited September 21, 2014 by leroy

[TMF]

 

What you self appointed protectors of the rights of others ought to be outraged about is the idea that these cheerleaders can be villified and threatened for exercising their First Amendment rights, no matter the belief system... I guess it's ok for a bunch of dammed perverts and internet bulllies to send them notes because they are exercising their faith; after all, it's Christians they are kickin around... 

 

 

 

Only two of the three links worked for me, but I didn't read anything about threats to the cheerleaders.  Did the other article cover that? 

[leroy]

Only two of the three links worked for me, but I didn't read anything about threats to the cheerleaders.  Did the other article cover that? 

TMF... The "threat" thing is in post #1... I saw nothin in the articles about the threats...

 

leroy