Pre Game Prayer

We are having a little controversy in our small town. I think the town of Killen Al. would rather not be thrown into the spotlight, but unfortunately that seems to be what has happened. We are a small southern town where probably 95% of the people here are sitting on a church pew every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. We have just about every denomination represented in our area. Everyone is basically tolerant of everyone else's beliefs.

We are accustom to praying for everything and everybody. I am happy if a friend being Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or any religious belief says to me "God bless you", because in reality God is God to all of us. It makes me feel closer to a person some how to know that they believe in a supreme being and that unites us in a world family. My problem is that the world consist of something like 95% of people that are considered believers in a higher power and less than 5% of people that profess to believe in nothing. Now my question is how do these 5% of the people wield so power over the other 95% of the rest of us that they can determine when and where we can pray?

There was an article in our local newspaper this past week that read, "Group complains about Brooks' pregame prayers".

Before each home game a student, teacher or local minister says a prayer usually asking God to watch over all the players from both teams. They will remember all the students, parents and everyone traveling to and from the game. They pray that the game will be played in good sportsmanship manner. They don't take these public prayers on the road. I have been to games where no prayers were said, but you better believe that I'm praying from the bleachers. It personally makes me feel better that my grandson is being prayed for before a game.

A young man was hurt at a game a few weeks ago and they thought he was going to have to be airlifted to Huntsville. The stadium was completely quiet even though there were several hundred people there. I knew that all these people were praying for that player. The only exception to the silence were three young girls sitting right behind us and they giggled and laughed the whole time the paramedics worked this boy. I felt that this was disrespectful. I guess no one had ever taught them to pray. I'm afraid this is what we will find when the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" digs it's claws into our rights.

In the complaint filed, this is part of what was written. "It is coercive and inappropriate to ask students to listen while a prayer is delivered at athletic events". I ask why? I felt it was inappropriate to listen to these girls talk, laugh and be disrespectful when there was an injury on the field, but I didn't file a complaint. Maybe I should have ask someone from the Freedom Of Religion Foundation to step in for me. Oh wait that is probably illegal to have a Freedom of Religion Foundation. The government has band everything else that pertains to 95% of our populations beliefs. If they can ask us not to pray at a game, why can't we ask them to come a few minutes late, after the pray has been said. And not to inconvenience these 5%, we can have a section marked off and a pair of ear plugs at each of these seats so they want be able to hear the words "One nation under God" when the "Pledge of Allegiance" is recited. Oh and an eye mask to take to the concession stand so they can't see "In God We Trust" when they pull out the money to pay for the food they buy.

You know I am feeling more and more like the masses are being controlled by the few. I don't ask that anyone believe, do or participate in anything that I do, but please do not take away my freedom to do it. You can continue to not pray, but I think I need all the help I can get. God bless us one and all.