You find a way to do the right thing

Students in Hamilton County, TN were told by their school superintendent that a prayer over the PA system at football games would no longer be allowed, due to reaction from the minority who feel freedom of speech does not include talking to God.

So, instead of tucking their collective tails between their legs and forsaking a prayer, the students and student athletes took matters into their own hands. Quite legally.

Read about it here.

Separation of church/state in this country means that the state cannot dictate religion, ie. require anyone to pray, go to church, etc. But the Supreme Court has ruled that the public schools cannot forbid student led activities, such as prayer of this sort.

It's great to see young people not be deterred by the political correctness of anti-religious expression that seems to pervade our government.

There's more than one way to skin that cat.

The Bully Pulpit

That's what Teddy Roosevelt called the presidency. When the man at the top speaks, people listen.

Tomorrow our president will address the nation's public school students, encouraging them to strive for excellence; to be responsible; to stay in school; to listen to the adults in their lives. I read the speech and it's my opinion that here is good use of the bully pulpit.

Especially among the black American community President Obama is a role model, as is his family. I find it refreshing that he is communicating with our student population (although my guess is he'll lose the younger ones quickly) about being their best.

But I do have a question. Will the liberals like the ACLU renounce his speech because (in our public schools!!) he will say the words, "God bless you and God bless America"? I think not; at least not this time.

I'll be doing some substitute teaching this year in our public schools. I wonder what response I would get if at the end of each class I said goodbye to the students with a "God bless you"? Now that our president has set the precedent, I just may give it a whirl.

But because I speak from a different pulpit I think I'll get censured. What do you think?

That "now you see it now you don't" wall

More in the religion of tolerance...

According to a story in the Virginian Pilot, Rev. A. Lincoln James Jr., president of the 142nd annual Virginia Baptist State Convention, an association of predominantly black churches, said, "We believe the black church in Virginia had a whole lot to do with the change from red to blue," he said, referring to Democratic electoral wins in the state in 2008.

I've neither her or read any negative reaction from the media or political pundits to Rev. James' statement.

Now, suppose Rev. Stan Welch, president of the predominantly white Baptist State Convention of North Carolina had made a similar statement, but about "the white church having a whole lot to do with" electing a change in state politics from blue to red.

Do you think the press or pundits would have been silent? Or would there have been much to say about a "violation of the separation of church and state"?

Just wondering.

My questions have nothing to do with race; nothing to do with Baptists (who, by the way, were the force behind freedom of religion when this country was founded...try to find that fact in a modern day history book...). My questions are pointed to the media and those who "preach" the "religion of tolerance".

There's a place up ahead, and I'm goin'

(In case you read my previous post and got the sense that I'm all gloom and doom - not so. Everything happening points to "the blessed hope". So to keep with the CCR theme from the last post, I offer this.)

There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Just as fast as my feet can fly
Come away, come away if you're goin',
Leave the sinkin' ship behind.

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend.

Ooh!

Bring a song and a smile for the banjo,
Better get while the gettin's good,
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway
Where the neons turn to wood.

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend.

Ooh!

You can ponder perpetual motion,
Fix your mind on a crystal day,
Always time for a good conversation,
There's an ear for what you say.

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend.

Yeah!

Ooh!

Catch a ride to the end of the highway
And we'll meet by the big red tree,
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Come along, come along with me.

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend.

Yeah!

(words by John Fogerty)

The more things change the more they are the same

I see a bad moon a-rising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earth quakes and lightnin'.
I see bad times today.

Don't go 'round tonight
It's bound and take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes a-blowing,
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don't go 'round tonight
It's bound and take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

John Fogerty ca 1969