RIGHT TO PRAY: We Will Not Go Gently Into That 'Good' Night

A school in Indiana will not go gently into that good night. They are absolutely refusing to give up the right to have prayer in their school without fighting the battle to it's end, although one of the school's top ranking student voted against the prayer.

In September, members of the graduating class of Greenwood High School shuffled into the school's auditorium for a vote on whether or not to have a prayer at the graduation ceremony. Most of these student voted in favor of the prayer. Eric Workman, the top ranking student, and suspected valedictorian of the school, voted "no."

Since the school was going ahead with the prayer, based on the majority vote, Workman decided to file a suit hoping to stop the prayer before his May 28th commencement. He has the ACLU backing his suit. The school, with the help of the community, is planning to spend whatever amount of money they need to in order to fight for the right to pray! "I think one of the reasons why people go along with the flow is you're dealing with a student and taxpayers' money. Then the ACLU gets involved and they're expecting the school to pay for everything, and you don't want to put the funds at risk.  But there just comes a time when you just have to stand up," Farley said.

The odds are not in their favor.

• In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that students at a Texas public high school could not vote to approve holding student-led prayers over the public address system during school football games.

• In 1992, a Supreme Court ruling outlawed prayers by clergy at public school graduations.

• Non-denominational prayer has also been deemed unconstitutional.

"A lot of these schools, to avoid lawsuits or fights, will settle or change their practices," said Charles Haynes, senior scholar for the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center in Washington, D.C., referencing a case in Florida last year in which a complaint by a student immediately resulted in an apology and reversal in school policy district-wide.

Last month, student-led prayer offered daily through the public address system at Alabama's Alexandria High School stopped after a student questioned its legality.

"A lot of school districts take the path of least resistance," Haynes said.

This story really got me thinking. I am a pretty much calm, easy-going law abiding citizen, but lately I have had thoughts like," So what if a court decides they cannot pray, they should do it anyway. What can they do, lock up everyone at the graduation? I mean really, if someone who is NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE SCHOOL, takes the mic to speak, and says a prayer, who could really stop everyone there who wanted to from praying along? Do we not still have freedom of speech? I mean no one is forcing anyone else to pray who does not want to. The school is not fighting for the right to fail or punish any student who does not wish to pray. They are being fair to everyone, if you do not want to pray, THEN DON'T, but stop trying to walk all over the rights of those who do!! And Christians, it is your own fault if you let them. Look at Daniel. It was against the law for him to pray but did that stop him? NO.

When I was in the sixth grade this subject worried me alot. I remember thinking, "How can they stop me from praying? No one can stop you from that." I wrote a little poem, and I have seen variations all over the place since. My original version said something like"Though Satan tries to stop us and the Supreme Court makes it's rules, as long as kids have prayer, there WILL be prayer in schools!"

The government needs to understand...it is NOT the right to pray that we fight for, for NO ONE can stop us from praying anytime, anywhere we want. It is the right to pray together, out loud, the same way everyone voices anything else they want. In Florida they are fighting for the right to show the video of Dawn Brancheau, the Sea World trainer, being pummeled to death by a killer whale. They are calling the right to put the video online "Freedom of Speech" Are you kidding me? This falls under freedom of speech but the right to say out loud "God help these students as they travel into adulthood" is not?!

I realize this is a long post, but it is very important to me. I am getting frustrated with those who will not stand up. I write and get no feedback, I share and get no response, but I cannot stop. If we stop, we lose. Somewhere we forgot who we are. We are God's children, The same God who shut the Lion's mouth when Daniel was thrown into the den FOR PRAYING. And now when we are told we are not allowed to pray, we let it hurt our hearts for a moment, we lower our heads, we turn the other cheek, and we walk away...into that dark night. I , for one, will NOT go quietly!!! Who will stand with me?!?! Who will voice it out loud, in comments here, on their own profiles, who is not ashamed to let the world know, we will not go quietly!

 Here is what Andy Rooney thinks of prayer...I was sent this in an email yesterday, and it fit so well, that I am posting it here.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON!! Keep this going around the  globe. Read it and forward every time you receive it. We  can't give up on this issue. Andy Rooney and  Prayer Andy Rooney says: I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.  I don't agree with Darwin,  but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution. Life, liberty, or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.  So what's the big deal?  It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts.  They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.  Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles.  According to our very own phone book, Christian churches  outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.  So what would you expect, somebody chanting Hare Krishna?  If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.  If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.  If I went to a ping pong match in China,  I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be  offended.   It  wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome... But what about the atheists, is another argument?  What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized.  We're not going to pass the collection plate.  Just humor us for 30 seconds.  If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.  Go to the bathroom.  Visit the concession stand.  Call your lawyer! Unfortunately, one or two will make that call.  One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.  I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's  foundations.  Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights.   Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep.  Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.  Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease  praying. God, help us.  And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue  me. The silent majority has been silent too long..  It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want.  It is time that the majority rules!  It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to  believe in God or attend services that honor Him.  That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away.  We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!" God Bless us one and all...  Especially those who denounce Him, God Bless America, despite all her faults; she is still the  greatest nation of all.  God Bless our service men and women who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God. Let's make this the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the  foundation of our families and institutions. And our military forces come home from all the  wars.  Keep looking  up.