A student at Saudi-Daisy High School in Tennessee started an uproar when he contacted the Freedom From Religion foundation (www.ffrf.org) to inquire as to whether prayer at football games and commencements was illegal.
It is.
But that's not what I'm on about now. Endorsing prayer in public schools has been ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court. Done. The end.
No. What I want to discuss is the moronic nature of the prayers. The FFRF podcast of Freethought Radio (Nov 1, 2010) features an audio clip of a half-time, mid-field prayer led by a student. What were they praying for? Yes of course, they were thanking god for the day and the chance to glorify him, all the standard formalities that go into talking to god before one gets to the heart of the matter. But what was the heart of the matter? Safety. The safety of the players and coaches during the game. The game of FOOTBALL!
What!?
If I were god, I'd send that prayer back with a note attached. "Sorry, your prayer could not be delivered because you're a bunch of morons!"
Let's play an incredibly dangerous game, but pray the no one gets hurt. Yep.
It wasn't a selfish prayer (so that's one thing in their favor). They didn't say, "so OUR players don't get hurt." The student who led the prayer spoke in general terms, indicating that she didn't want players or coaches from either side to get hurt.
But, in football, people get hurt. SO, someone's fervent prayer is going to go unanswered. That's like saying, "I hope no soldiers die in this war!" Or, "Boy, I sure hope the swimmers in the swim meet don't get water in their ears!"
And of course there's a holy hullabaloo in response to the School Superintendent's directive to stop school sponsored prayer. And THIS is what they're fighting for, the right to gather students and parents together to pray for something so mind-blowingly pointless. They are screaming about persecution and free speech. Then they violate direct orders to stop breaking the law. And for what purpose? To pray for peace in the middle east? A cure for cancer, aids? A top quality education for the kids at that school? NO! They pray that kids, who have chosen to play a dangerous game, whose parents had to sign consent forms so they could play this dangerous game in which people get hurt, wouldn't get hurt.
Ah, I'm done being respectful of belief.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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