Pro-Prayer Principal Fights for Job After Video Flap

In a California lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, an elementary school principal is alleging that the Goleta Union School District threatened to end his employment contract after he appeared in a short video promoting a community prayer breakfast honoring local teachers.

Foothill School Principal Craig Richter says he did not participate in the actual event which welcomed all religious faiths, but claims the school district sought to discipline him for endorsing the prayer breakfast. The 30-second video message featured Richter and a number of other area education administrators, including a Santa Barbara-area school superintendent and a local teacher.

In his videotaped message, Richter identifies himself as the principal of Foothill School, though he does not specifically identify his school district (~0:50):

Santa Barbara Community Prayer Breakfast Promo from ADF Media Relations on Vimeo.

In the promotional video, Richter says teachers are “inspiring.”

“For educators to be acknowledged and prayed for is both an encouragement and an honor,” he says.

According to Richter, district officials decided not to participate in the event and gave no indication at the time that they might be concerned about promoting religion. However, after a district board member reviewed the video and complained, the district concluded that Richter may have violated the so-called “separation between church and state” and threatened to end his contract in March 2011, placing him on a disciplinary “performance plan.”

“It’s ridiculous to punish and fire a Christian administrator simply because he wanted to honor teachers at an event that includes prayer,” says Joseph Infranco, a senior attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, an alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations who defend the free exercise of religion. “Principal Richter did absolutely nothing wrong by appearing in the ad, which welcomed all Santa Barbara community members to join the half-century-old community event. The district’s contention that he was somehow violating the Constitution is not only unfounded, but absurd, as the video itself demonstrates.”

“Personally endorsing a prayer event that invites people of all faiths to honor teachers should not be twisted into a constitutional violation,” said William Rehwald, an ADF-allied attorney who is serving as Richter’s lead counsel in the case. “Principal Richter did a good thing, not a bad thing, and should keep his job.”

Comments (157)

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  • TheyCanTakeOurLives
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:22am

    I live in North Carolina, where a judge recently ordered a school to allow a student’s return, after she was suspended indefinitely for wearing a nose ring, which violated that particular school district’s policies. The student, a member of the Church of Body Modification, claimed that this violated her religious freedoms, and the judge sided with her, after the ACLU intervened on her behalf. I wonder if the ACLU will likewise take up the cause of this principal.

    Report Post » TheyCanTakeOurLives  
  • Eyeball
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:47am

    If he were a Muslim, we wouldn’t be talking about this.

    Report Post » Eyeball  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:24am

      If he were a muslim, he would have been excersising his First Amendment rights.
      Just like Sami AlArian .

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • rhymer
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:26am

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • rhymer
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:25am

    Sadly to say … the Unions have ruined
    Public education in every possible way
    They’ll march with signs, stand in lines
    To ensure that “no one” can pray!

    No Pledge of Allegiance or “flag” allowed
    And no prayers for those “right wing loons”
    But the mosque is in, along with all sin
    And Obama’s latest I-Pod hip-hop tunes!

    So if you can … get the heck out
    And home school your children now
    Where you can pray to God, teach and applaud
    And bless God’s children, somehow!

    Most public schools are an experiment gone bad
    Little learning … but lots of sex and drugs
    Simply a social scene, the gross and obscene
    The antidote … home schooling with lots of hugs!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • blacksmith
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:19am

    At the founding of our great country the only books that were widely available were the Holy Bible and items such as almanacs. These are the texts that our founding fathers were schooled with. So to say that prayer was not in schools at the time is a erroneous and purposely misleading statement. The unconstitutional ruling on school prayer was done by judges that interpreted the Constitution as they saw fit and had nothing to do with the original intent.

    Report Post »  
  • IndianaUSA
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:14am

    To all concerned, as I stated above to Okpulut Taha.
    I strongly suggest that you read the book “Original Intent” by historian David Barton. David Barton has the largest private collection of historic documents pre 1820. This book will open your eyes to our Founding Fathers and their “Original Intent” regarding religion. This book is full of references from actual letters written by the Founders and numerous court cases.

    Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:54am

      After you read that book, do some research on the internet to see how many inaccuracies and unverified quotations Mr. Barton uses. Practically the only thing not falsified in that book is the binding.

      That’s the book where he talks about the one-way wall, right? Ha!

      Report Post »  
    • IndianaUSA
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:56pm

      What are your sources on the internet? This book provides almost 200 pages of notes relating to all of the sources that the information in the book was obtained from. Mr. Barton made sure that his book was factually accurate.
      What are you referring to about a one way wall? “Original Intent” is about the Constitution, our Founding Fathers, Religion and the Courts. I suggest that you read some of it before you make the statement that it is completely false.

      Report Post »  
  • BRAVEHEART
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:14am

    Someone once told me that if God doesn’t eventually judge California, He will have to apoligize to Sodom and Gomarrah. I’m thinking he may have been be right. Some real uptight squirrils in CA.

    Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 10:18pm

      Actually it was Billy Graham who said it, and unfortunately he said it about America instead of California.

      Report Post » vennoye  
  • Masamune
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:12am

    It was a ‘community’ prayer breakfast meaning it was held ouside of school. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. If it were a Muslim or gay group they definately wouldn’t object to it.

    Report Post »  
  • BoilitDown
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:03am

    If he has a good record then he shouldn’t have too difficult a time finding another position.
    If they do not accept your teachings in that community then, kick the dust from off thy feet and move on. (to paraphrase the Bible)

    Report Post »  
  • benrush
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:45pm

    Prayer belongs EVERYWHERE there is liberty. If there is a “separation of church and state” according to the liberal interpretation, where CAN we pray, since the state occupies all available space?

    This is thoroughly ridiculous, I’ve had it with this crap. I will pray wherever I will and you can’t stop me.

    Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 10:10pm

      The reason that we are hearing so much these days “the right to worship” (Whoopi said right to worship this morning) the right to worship means we can worship in our homes, or in our churchs or wherever we are allowed to worship. Freedom of religion is exactly what is being suppressed right now…………..and sure enough, Congress has passed no law……………….the minions in the NEA state and local governments are doing it in lieu of a law being passed.

      Report Post » vennoye  
  • Deda1
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:41pm

    The anti christians are our enemies and the entire school board should be fired and banned from the field of education

    Report Post »  
  • Contrarianthinker
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:39pm

    Im proud to say that at UNC-Pembroke, a state University, we opened with prayer at graduation and other important official ceremonies. In one of my classes, I had a student murdered by a drug runner who went to the wrong door. The Dean of Student Affairs knew I was a practicing Mormon who would NOT compromise in terms of what I would say. The murdered boy was a Christian.

    The Dean asked the Baptist Student Union Chaplain and I to speak at a memorial service held in our Main Auditorium. I spoke using several references from the Bible and closed in the name of Jesus Christ. The Dean and many family members thanked me for the spirit that was brought and the peace it left them with.

    No one ever chastised me for speaking of Christ. Even the progressive Faculty. CA is very different from NC.

    Report Post »  
  • conservativeme
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:32pm

    What’s wrong with the nuts on that school board??? I guess if it was a masturbation promotion video, he’d have been OK.

    Report Post »  
  • Veritas
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:52pm

    Why do people continue to get the “separation of church and state” backwards? The separation is to keep the state (federal only BTW) from setting up a government controlled religion, not from keeping religion from influencing the government. We the people are represented by our government (at least we are supposed to be) and we have religions that influence our lives and decisions. We want those represented and we have the right to that. Our government and their special minority interests are standing in our way and that is wrong.

    Report Post » Veritas  
    • seekjusticeandmercy
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:59pm

      Veritas: You got it right on the mark!

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:03am

      Why do you say that the government and special minority groups are standing in the way? Aren’t you standing in the way of any other religion to be used in this government, in the schools, etc. Perhaps that is why the government is standing in the way of pray in schools because someone would have to decide what religion’s prayer. I believe that most of you would be appalled if Muslims and other religions as well as Christian were allowed to pray in school. It is obvious from the messages on this blog how bigoted most of you are. You want a white Christian nation with a white President and because that isn’t happening – then you blame everyone else – the Maxists, facists, progressives, communist – you throw these words around and yet I bet half of you don’t know the difference between Marxism, fascism, socialism, and communism. http://wp.me/pYLB7-echttp://wp.me/pYLB7-ec

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
  • kcinco
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:48pm

    When prayer was outlawed in public schools in the 60′s that was the beginning of the end of the system. I rebeled against my Catholic schooling in my younger years, but in hindsight see that it had a positive impact on my morals, values and outlook on life. I fear for kids in the U.S. public school system today being taught by over-the-top politically correct, atheist “teachers.” We will reap what we have sown.

    Report Post » kcinco  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:58pm

      KCINCO comments, “When prayer was outlawed in public schools in the 60′s that was the beginning of the end of the system.”

      No, this ruling is upholding our Constitution, this is protecting our constitutional guarantees. This is the law of our land. We are to obey our laws.

      You are suggesting we abandon our Constitution and impose theocratic tyranny upon America.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Contrarianthinker
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:46pm

      Taha: No I ask that we use common sense and precedent of having prayer in public areas. That is up to about the 1960′s. When I was in High School in Philly, the Principal addressed each home room over the speaker system. We always started with a reading from the Bible. One time from the NT for Christians and one time the OT for the Jewish students. I remember my shop teacher also reciting from Eccleasties.

      The biggest problem we faced was someone breaking the smoking rules. There were drugs availiable at Gene’s Resturant just off campus. Those who took drugs were considered weaklings who couldn’t face life.

      My have things changed for the very worse. I don’t ever rememebr seeing a policeman at the school other than educating us on important safety matters. Peace Officers were considered our friends of last resort.

      IF THAT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THEN I GUESS I DON’T SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:05am

      CONTRARIAN THINKER prays, “THEN I GUESS I DON’T SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.”

      Hmm, well, you could go over to Iran. There in Iran God is very popular and there in Iran school kids spend all their time praying to God. Iran seems more suitable for your faithful taste.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
  • American_Woman
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:39pm

    Dear God, sorry I couldn’t pray to you today. It wasn’t my fault. I was in school. I was visiting the Lincoln Memorial. I was in the Capitol… But if I can get off work on Sunday and make it to church, I’ll pray then. I‘m sure you’ll understand…

    Report Post » American_Woman  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:49am

      Sounds to me like you just have a time-management problem. I don‘t think it’s going to help to complain to God about that. Buy a planner.

      Report Post »  
  • chazman
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:31pm

    Our government, the ACLU, the Liberal Marxist’, the Progressives etc, etc. How did our country suddenly become ‘Godless?’ Well, it’s not! Far from it!! And after 11/2 we will start the long road of getting America back on track. And if you are ‘Godless,’ then get the hell out!

    Lock and Load, folks …

    Report Post »  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:46pm

      locked down alreadyCHAZMAN

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • GnomeChomsky
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:47pm

      If you want to be technical our country has always been “Godless”, in the same way it has always been Flying Spaghetti Monster-less. I think it would be more accurately described as our country has became less delusional.

      Report Post »  
    • JClem17
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 11:59pm

      Chazman,

      As a proud godless heathen, I am astounded by your intolerance. I prefer to live in a secular republic like we currently have and would never deny you the right to practice your religion. Why deny me my right to be free from religion? Living in a theocracy is only good when your religion is allowed.

      I should not be surprised as religious folks tend to be the most intolerant.

      Finally, believing in something because you fear of the consequences of not believing in something is no reason to believe in something!

      Respectfully,

      JClem17

      Report Post »  
  • thepatriotdave
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:18pm

    “For educators to be acknowledged and prayed for is both an encouragement and an honor,”

    Its high time we tell our government to BACK OFF! The sentiment above is a reality that the bubble-heads in D.C. will never understand, well, at least the lefties.

    PatriotShops.com

    Report Post » thepatriotdave  
  • Okpulot Taha
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:16pm

    prayer – pray – prayed – prayer – prayer – pray – prayer – God bless you

    A total of eight invocations of religion. Those boys in this video up there well know this is strictly forbidden. Staff, teachers, counselors, principals, all and more are routinely and repeatedly advised to never introduce religion into classes, into a school, into a school district nor into our educational system. This is always trouble and all know this.

    Those boys deliberately violated policy. This informs me those boys are not the brightest colors in the crayon box. They know better, they did anyhow, none of those boys are qualified to be involved in our educational system. All need to be given the boot before one or all of them cause serious problems. Those boys are troublemakers causing problems for all.

    Regardless if you support religion in schools or do not support religion in schools, issue here is a deliberate violation of policy by all those boys. They broke a rule, they are accountable for this.

    Okpulot Taha
    Choctaw Nation

    Report Post »  
    • seekjusticeandmercy
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:31pm

      You’re not understanding this! It is completely constitutional for you or I or they to say ” I work for so and so and I’m a Christian, a Muslim, a Budhist, a whatever. It’s totally legal for them to participate in an gathering outside of the sanction of the school district. By stating who and where they work they in no means are inferring that their employer is sanctioning or supporting the event in any way. Why is this different that the Lions club, the Rotary, a parent support club or any other organization or gathering that might raise funds for school use. And it’s constitutionally protected speech. The school district CANNOT prohibit these folks from exercising their rights!

      Report Post »  
    • NoName22
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:32pm

      This is ground I will tread for the sake of argument only…….

      Let’s say a teacher/student unfortunately becomes ill with cancer, has a car accident……some sort of unfortunate event……Is it wrong to ask your students/faculty to pray for them? Is it wrong to say “let’s have a fundraiser to help them pay the bills,” then pray at the fundraiser for their health and wellbeing?

      And atheism is a religion too let’s not forget. Religion is based on belief, and is expressed through values, morals, etc. Not believing in god and doing “the right thing” because it’s “the right thing to do” (I dunno how you know that without God), is still religious.

      Report Post »  
    • GnomeChomsky
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:44pm

      First you contradict yourself by saying “religion is based on belief” then when referring to atheist you say “not believing” so if religion is indeed based on beliefs how can a person with none be religious. Second, it says a lot about you as a human being that without god you would not know right from wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:44pm

      SEEK JUSTICE AND MERCY comments, “You’re not understanding this!”

      No, you do not understand this. Right off all public schools have a written policy to never introduce religion into our public school system. This is mandated by the Feds. This policy may or may not be followed. Our Constitution makes a strict separation of church and state.

      We are to obey employer policy, we are to obey our Constitution.

      You are suggesting our Constitution does not apply to religion. This is the making of theocratic tyranny. There are no exceptions. We are to also fiercely safeguard our Constitution even when we do not like this. No exceptions.

      NO NAME 22, same response for you. Religion and prayer are not allowed to be introduced into our public schools for any reason. If so, this violates our Constitutional guarantees.

      Either you support our Constitution or you do not. Make a choice, you cannot have this both ways.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • seekjusticeandmercy
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:50pm

      So you’re saying that your employer has the right to control your speech outside of your work enviornment? That your employer can demand that you not declare who you work for or where you work and state that you’re going to attend a prayer breakfast in the same sentence. Where did the violation of church and state occur? When did it become law that your employer can control your free speech? It doesn’t matter who you work for, it’s protected speech! If you can show me the contract language that states the violation AND show me how this will hold up to constitutional scrutiny then I’ll concede that is was an evil henious act. Until then, as is plainly seen by all this was a benevolent act of generosity and thanks for the teachers who work hard for our youth as is done in communities over and over again all over the country LEGALLY. As for me, I’ll continue to base my argument on the constitution!

      Report Post »  
    • seekjusticeandmercy
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:58pm

      Choctaw, a little history lesson would be good for you. First of all, students are free to introduce and discuss religion IN SCHOOL! The constitution protect it, AND the supreme court has upheld it. Secondly you say that all schools have a written policy about this. Please recite one. A little history for you, our public school system was originally founded by churches as were the vast majority of colleges and universities in this country. The separation of church and state is NOT WRITTEN IN THE CONSTITUTION. You won’t find it there. The pupose of the amendment was to prohibit the governmant from establishing a state religion and was NOT MEAT TO PROHIBIT THE FREE EXORCISE THEREOF! These teachers were in no way advocating a state sponsored religion. Please read the constitution and, let’s watch as see how this case develops in the courts. I predict it will be over in a flash and the school district reprimanded.

      Report Post »  
    • RONALDREAGAN1980
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:03pm

      seekjusticeandmercy– actually, by stating their name and who they work for, yeah, that does give some level of implication that their employer supports what they support, and people who watch the advertisement will infer exactly that. maybe not everyone, but some will. and that is exactly why a thinking person employed by anyone, would check with his/her employer before appearing in an advertisement and giving their place of employment. it is an implicit endorsement. Example: Hi. My name is Ed, and I am head of sales for pepsi cola in east texas, and I encourage you to shop at Kroger. or Hi, I’m Cindy, and I work for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Texas, and I think it would be wonderful if you would join me this Sabbath at Temple Zion on East 5th Avenue.
      all of that aside, what kind of organization solicits $5,000 contributions so that 8 teachers can have a free breakfast? i smell a big fat stinky rat trying to clothe itself under something no right-thinking person would be against, a prayer breakfast for teachers at a private hotel. Someone is making some clams here, but I bet the bulk of those donations ain’t going towards pancakes.

      Report Post » RONALDREAGAN1980  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:13pm

      SEEK JUSTICE AND MERCY asks, “you’re saying that your employer has the right to control your speech outside of your work enviornment?”

      Based upon your logic, Obama is no longer our president when he leaves the White House.

      Would this help if I wheel in a chalkboard and draw pictures to help you understand this notion of “officially representing a district or a school”?

      Of course this would not help. You understand this perfectly well just as you understand this notion of violating a policy. You are actually refusing to acknowledge truth because you value your faith more than you value truth. You are precisely the type of person who welcomes replacing our Constitution with the Bible, just as a couple of boys her are indicting they intend to arm themselves then shoot people because of this issue of religion.

      Shoot me now. I am a patriotic American. I would rather die defending our nation than have our America become a slave to theocratic tyranny.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • bobmontgomery
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:18pm

      There is NOT a strict separation of church and state in the Constitution. That is a lie. Do not come on here and lie. The Constitution says “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Period. There is no word “strict’. There is no word “separation” there is no word “church” and there is no word “state” any where in the establishment clause of theF irst Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Do not come on here and lie. What the Constitution of your tribe says, we don’t know. But we are not talking about that here today. We are talking about the nation called the United States of America.

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:26pm

      RONALD REAGAN 1980 is not easily fooled, “Someone is making some clams here, but I bet the bulk of those donations ain’t going towards pancakes.”

      What is the price for a Grand Slam breakfast at Denny’s these days? $2.99 or $3.99?

      Minimum at this event is $30, maximum is $5,000. I think this Tom Reed boy up there is actually Elmer Gantry. Praise the Lord and pass around that wicker basket!

      Yeah, I smell the same rat you smell.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:36pm

      BOB MONTGOMERY is an excitable boy, “That is a lie. Do not come on here and lie…Do not come on here and lie.”

      Yeah, yeah, whatever. Take a chill pill before you blow a fifty amp fuse.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • IndianaUSA
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:57pm

      Okpulot Taha,
      Actually, Bob Montgomery is correct. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”. The “seperation of church and state” evolved from the Supreme Court case of Everson vs. Board of Education in 1947. The courts have been using the phrase “seperation of church and state” from this case ruling.

      I strongly suggest that you read the book “Original Intent” by historian David Barton. David Barton has the largest private collection of historic documents pre 1820. This book will open your eyes to our Founding Fathers and their “Original Intent” regarding religion. This book is full of references from actual letters written by the Founders and numerous court cases.

      Report Post »  
    • Equality 7-2521
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:18am

      “I do not blame people, especially white folks, for hating us minorities. Look at all the harm we are deliberately causing innocent folks. We deserve to be hated, and we are, by some.

      White America mostly is fearful of us.

      We minorities are at fault for all this ill will directed at us. We are the savages, we are the criminals, we are the racists.

      Get real, people, we are the problem.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation”

      -this quote from a comment on following website
      http://www.examiner.com/obama-administration-in-los-angeles/let-s-talk-about-race-baby-part-two-black-people-and-monkeys

      I think we can all agree Okpulot Taha is not even worth listening to.

      Report Post » Equality 7-2521  
    • NoName22
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:28am

      @GnomeChomsky

      “First you contradict yourself by saying “religion is based on belief” then when referring to atheist you say “not believing” so if religion is indeed based on beliefs how can a person with none be religious. Second, it says a lot about you as a human being that without god you would not know right from wrong.”

      Not a contradiction. If I say I believe in God, that’s my belief. If I say I do not believe in God, that’s my belief. I still hold a BELIEF, regardless of whether I believe in something, or do not believe in it….

      As for not knowing what right and wrong is without God, how would you determine what is right and wrong? Through law? Nazi Germany believed it was “lawful” to be Anti-Semitic.
      Would you inherently know the difference between right and wrong? Let’s take the Blood Diamond story in Africa, where small children are brainwashed into killing…..If they believe that is right, does that make it right? You happen to know better because the laws that are followed in this country have a Godly origin.

      @Okupulot Taha
      My brother is currently doing a report on a “fictional” book called “Siddartha” and has done a group project and now a personal project on the “themes” of the book. Now I’m all for Buddhism, because it’s straight up, but this is just candy coating. I mean, what if I wrote a “fictional” book called “Jesus of Nazareth,” could kids do a project on that?

      Report Post »  
    • NoName22
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:38am

      @Equality

      I read through Okpulot Taha’s posts for that article and I must respectfully disagree with you.

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:33am

      INDIANA USA is inconsistent, ” The ‘seperation of church and state’ evolved from the Supreme Court…courts…have been using the phrase ‘seperation of church and state’ from this case ruling.”

      “separation”

      How fascinating! Our Supreme Court uses this expression “separation of church and state” and those girls and boys are right.

      I use this expression “separation of church and state” and I am wrong.

      Explain to me this inconsistency in your and the other boy’s behavior so I can better understand your mindset.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Joseph8
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:50am

      @Equality
      Even though Okpulot Taha likes to make cheap shots at my religion, i wouldn‘t say they aren’t worth listening to. I actually agree with about 90% of what they say (minus the separation of church and state part but hey we all make mistakes).

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 2:00am

      NO NAME 22 reads me then comments, “I read through Okpulot Taha’s posts for that article and I must respectfully disagree with you.”

      Thank you. I believe I do a bang-up job of defending free speech and defending White America over there at the Examiner.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 2:57am

      NO NAME 22 asks, “My brother is currently doing a report on a ‘fictional’ book called ‘Siddartha’…if I wrote a ‘fictional’ book called ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ could kids do a project on that?”

      Straight talk, no bull, yes.

      Right off, a student is making a freewill choice to write about Jesus. Contrasting, Jesus is not to be imposed upon this student. This is the distinction; freedom of choice.

      Should a Muslim teacher impose Islam upon students in a public school, we would be angry. Should a Christian teacher impose Christianity upon those same students, we are to be equally angry.

      This is the hypocrisy of many Christians. They will be angry with the Muslim teacher but not angry with the Christian teacher. This is clear racism based upon faith. In this way, a lot of Christians are racists. As you know, racism is highly sinful. Many Christians, maybe most Christians are not faithful to God nor faithful to God’s word. Those folks are not Christians, they are simply hypocrites using faith to further their racist agenda.

      This is a truth Christians will deny and lying is not displaying faith in God nor following God’s word. You see how quickly this becomes a losing proposition for Christians. This hypocrisy and deceit is what angers me when this comes to any religion.

      Contrasting, and I do not believe in your Christian god, when I teach evolution in a science class I will also teach Creationism. I teach Evolution as factual science, I teach Creationism as mysticism. Those concepts are taught as a difference between reality and fantasy. So, yes, religion can be a topic in a classroom.

      However, if I ask students to bow their heads and join me in prayer, I will be fired, rightfully so. Doing so is a violation of our constitutional guarantees, a civil rights violation. This is an egregious offense.

      Christian readers are reminded you would be infuriated if a teacher led students in Islamic prayer, you would not be infuriated if a teacher led students in Christian prayer. This is hardcore racism.

      Is this what children should be taught, faith based racism?

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Joseph8
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:45am

      2 problems with what you wrote. First off, any time you generalize like “Many Christians, maybe most Christians are not faithful to God nor faithful to God’s word.”, you’re instantly going to lose your audience. I’m guessing you want people to take you seriously so I think you can try and prove your argument without throwing in generalizations like that. Second, you’re saying that Islam is exclusive to one race, therefore if you‘re against Islam you’re a racist. That doesn’t make any sense. Islam is a religion with members all over the world. That’s just as wrong as assuming all Christians are white. Again, I think you can get rid of the “racist” claims which would help your argument because those two points are going to be all that people read. I’m all for my kids getting all sides of the story. They can listen to evolutionists as well as creationists as long as there is no deception involved (as we know with global warming). As long as we call theories theories. I know my communication skills aren’t as advanced as yours so try to avoid ripping into my grammar and spelling

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:10am

      JOSEPH 8 is up late or early, “any time you generalize like ‘Many Christians, maybe most Christians are not faithful to God nor faithful to God’s word.’, you’re instantly going to lose your audience.”

      This works for me. I am addressing reasonable and rational people in this audience here. Religious extremists, I want them to feel excluded, I want them to go away. Religious extremists serve no good purpose. Religious extremists only bring aggravation and problems.

      Religious extremists have no interest in truth, and religious extremists will lie when truth fits better.

      I make a distinction by using “many” and “most”. I am carefully avoiding broad brush painting. I am acknowledging not “all” Christians are of the same mind. Some Christians actually have a mind.

      JOSEPH 8 writes, “you’re saying that Islam is exclusive to one race, therefore if you‘re against Islam you’re a racist.”

      Skin color has nothing to do with racism. This hatred, racism, can be based upon many criteria: ethnicity, religion, culture, politics, social status, money, weight, age, any number of criteria which sort out a select group of people.

      I hate Barney the dinosaur. I do not hate him because he is purple, I hate him because he is dinosaur. There you are, racism without skin color being an issue.

      You might hate socialists. No skin color involved there. This is racism by political philosophy. You might be more comfortable calling this “bigotry”. However, bigotry and racism are one and the same; both are irrational hatred based upon some inane criteria.

      JOSEPH 8 adds, “That’s just as wrong as assuming all Christians are white.”

      Christians are predominately white Anglos of European descent. Of course not all Christians are white, this goes without saying. We all know this, there is no need to spell this out.

      JOSEPH 8 continues, “as long as there is no deception involved…As long as we call theories theories.”

      Uh oh, you are being deceitful. Evolution is scientific fact, not a theory. Creationism is fantasy, not fact nor theory. There you are, Joseph, you are being deceitful in the name of God. You serve to prove my point, serve to prove my words are truth.

      JOSEPH 8 bemoans, “I know my communication skills aren’t as advanced as yours so try to avoid ripping into my grammar and spelling”

      Should I correct you, which I rarely do, this benefits you, your writing skills improve. This is bad?

      Reminds me of friends who will not tell you when you have a big booger hanging out from your nose. Those are not friends.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
    • Joseph8
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:44am

      I work night shifts and things get slow. You’re big problem is your using your own definition of words. Sounds like you believe any Christian is a “religious extremist” and anyone that doesn’t agree with someone else is “a racist”. The term “racist” used to mean something but it’s been crapped out so many times nobody takes it seriously anymore.
      Dictionary.com for racism
      1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
      2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
      3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
      notice how it talks about inherent differences? Is religion an inherent thing? Race is an inherent thing hence the name of the term. Nationality, ethnicity, inherent things. Again, is political philosophy an inherent trait?
      And as the whole “theory of evolution” goes, I guess I shouldn‘t assume we’re both talking about the same thing as nobody will dispute evolution in general, just the scale. When we talk about evolution vs creation, we generally talk about Darwin’s theory of evolution, which last I checked was still a theory.

      Report Post »  
    • Joseph8
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:00am

      and just for arguments sake, its a little different if your friend tells you they know they have a booger in their nose and ask you to try to avoid it talking about it. just a bad example

      Report Post »  
    • Joseph8
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:03am

      and i got my “Your” and “You’re” mixed up. there, i picked my own nose.

      Report Post »  
    • NoName22
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:50am

      Okpulot Taha

      Evolution is a theory. Not a fact. In science, there are no facts, just widely accepted theories.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-j5kKSk_6U&feature=related

      Report Post »  
    • IndianaUSA
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:26pm

      Okpulot Taha,
      Thanks for the spell check. I don‘t believe that I’m inconsistent. In your previous post you were adamant that the Constitution makes a “strict separation of church and state”. I was merely pointing out that you are incorrect in this belief and the origin of the phrase.

      Report Post »  
    • Equality 7-2521
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 11:05pm

      @Okpulot Taha

      I must disagree that you do a “bang up job defending free speech and defending White America.”

      Having read many of your posts in the past days I have concluded you do very little defending and a whole lot of attacking. While you may sometimes attack those with whom I disagree, that doesn’t justify your tactics in my eyes. Your aggression serves only to agitate and divide people. It is for this reason that I believe we would be better off ignoring you.

      Report Post » Equality 7-2521  
  • RONALDREAGAN1980
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:54pm

    Obviously it would be wrong to discipline/fire someone for advocating prayers for teachers. I watched the “short video” aka “promotional video” aka “ad”. Perhaps the principal’s contract contains a clause against doing advertisements, particularly if he brings up his responsibility/association with the school. Did anyone watch that video? Donate so that a teacher can attend for free? Did you see the donation levels? They range from $30 to $5000. Now that smells fishy. So I’ve got to wonder, just who really benefits from a $5000 donation, which only gets 8 teachers in for free. There is more to this story than what little has been reported here on the blaze.

    Report Post » RONALDREAGAN1980  
    • GnomeChomsky
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:07pm

      Ronald, way to be rational and even handed. I think you are lost, those traits are not considered to be virtues here. You’re supposed to be irrational and unobjective.

      Report Post »  
    • seekjusticeandmercy
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:17pm

      OK let’s examine what we do know. 1) The teachers / administrators in the ad were not compelling students to attend in the classroom. 2) In addition to the free admission the proceeds will provide “tangible” help to teachers in the classroom. Organizations do this legally ALL THE TIME. 3) The teachers / administrators CANNOT be prohibited from practicing CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARATEED rights outside of the classroom. Freedom of religion means to be able to practice your faith OPENLY, not just behind closed doors. 3) In no way did the ad infer support or approval of the prayer breakfast by the school district.

      So are we allowed to freely practice our religion or not? Was ANYBODY advocating a particular religion? Was anybody advocating the state to support a particular religion? Of course not, which does at the end of the day make even the discussion of a reprimand ludicrous and a violation of the rights of those participating in the event. I’m not willing to give up freedom of religion which our ancenstors came to this land for in the first place. Common sense and constitutionality should govern this discussion.

      Report Post »  
    • Okpulot Taha
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:33pm

      SEE JUSTICE AND MERCY comments, “In no way did the ad infer support or approval of the prayer breakfast by the school district.”

      This is untrue. Each of three boys identifies himself, associates himself with a school district or school and subtext titles are added. Those boys are “officially” representing a district or a school.

      Superintendent Santa Barbara School District, Principal Foothill School and San Marcos High School.

      Those boys know better than to do this. Each made a freewill choice to violate policy. Each is to be held accountable. This is not about religion, this is about deliberate violation of school district policy.

      Your employer sets the rules. You are expected to follow those rules.

      Okpulot Taha
      Choctaw Nation

      Report Post »  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:38pm

    Now if it had been a promo for a pot-giveaway for an underage gay rave or an abortion party for 13 yr olds, the school district would have no problem .
    How dare a bunch of adults do something benign in CA ?

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • GnomeChomsky
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:36pm

    How can you file a wrongful termination suit if you haven’t been terminated?

    Report Post »  
  • RobertCA
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:34pm

    Only in CA .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • Contrarianthinker
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:34pm

    Sounds like the thruth coming from the jerks who have brought CA to bankruptcy.

    Report Post »  
    • AngryTexanFromAmarillo
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:01am

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofHTh9EKzr4 awesome song says it all about prayer in school

      Report Post » AngryTexanFromAmarillo  
    • *************************
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:54pm

      Here’s a prayer for the progressive-communist “educators” who seek to erase God from our children’s minds:

      PSALM 109
      1 Do not keep silent,
      O God of my praise!
      2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
      Have opened against me;
      They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
      3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
      And fought against me without a cause.
      4 In return for my love they are my accusers,
      But I give myself to prayer.
      5 Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,
      And hatred for my love.
      6 Set a wicked man over him,
      And let an accuser stand at his right hand.
      7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
      And let his prayer become sin.
      8 Let his days be few,
      And let another take his office.
      9 Let his children be fatherless,
      And his wife a widow.
      10 Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg;
      Let them seek their bread also from their desolate places.
      11 Let the creditor seize all that he has,
      And let strangers plunder his labor.
      12 Let there be none to extend mercy to him,
      Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
      13 Let his posterity be cut off,
      And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
      14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
      And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
      15 Let them be continually before the LORD,
      That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
      16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,
      But persecuted the poor and needy man,
      That he might even slay the broken in heart.
      17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;
      As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
      18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
      So let it enter his body like water,
      And like oil into his bones.
      19 Let it be to him like the garment which covers him,
      And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.
      20 Let this be the LORD’S reward to my accusers,
      And to those who speak evil against my person.

      HEDLEY LAMARR: And what’s your crime?
      KKK-hooded BART: Stampeding cattle.
      HEDLEY LAMARR: That’s not much of a crime.
      KKK-hooded BART: Through the Vatican?
      HEDLEY LAMARR: Kinky! Sign here.
      -Blazing Saddles

      Report Post » WeDontNeedNoStinkinBadges  
  • angrymob
    Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:33pm

    Prayer belongs in churches not schools…oh, by the way why is sending our kids to mosque’s for a field trip ok but this is not?

    angrymob  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:41pm

      because its
      “ separation of CHURCH and state”
      There is no separation of mosque and state….

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • AmericanPatriot01
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:47pm

      IF it was a muslim prayer meeting it would be ok. Or if it was a gay awareness breakfast, I guess that would be ok. If it were any thing but a Conservatve Christian Community gathering, this would be a non issue. But, those evil, self serving Christians need to be stopped. Who do they think they are, praying for people and asserting themselves onto the community, evil they say EVIL…
      (that was sarcasm, for you libturds)

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot01  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:48pm

      It doesen’t sound like this prayer breakfast was at school, even if it was there are nastier things going on in schools right now than prayer breakfasts. Why do we always have to cater to the one or two loons that are offended by everything?

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • Deda1
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 9:54pm

      What he does on his own free time is his business and not the school system or the gov’ts. Read the constitution.

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:20pm

      If the man did this on his own time, away from the school grounds or endorsed school district functions than there should be no problems. But yet, once again the Progressive vultures of the California wish to destroy yet another Christian based on his personal beliefs.

      It comes to a simple equasion to me, Progressive = enslavement of the masses to a few people. Christian = freedom for all of humanity to make your OWN choices in life. The freedom of choice is what we still have – for now – and may we be able to keep it.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mixed art)

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • A1955Rosie
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:21pm

      “For educators to be acknowledged and prayed for is both an encouragement and an honor,” is correct. As for religion not in schools..You may want to do a fact check on your Declaration & Constitution. Including writtings of our forefathers. On this day that we celebrate as Columbus day. it is the discovery of the country that devised the UNIQUE “Great Experiment.” Where by they believed in religion & freedom. Not to be confused w/ a “specific” religion and a tolerance of athiesm. You see if we loose the fundamental values that made this country great, we leave the door wide open and sharia is knocking.

      Report Post » A1955Rosie  
    • NoName22
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:25pm

      No seperation of mosque and state…..Amen to that.

      Report Post »  
    • NoName22
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:33pm

      A1955Rosie

      Atheism is a religion too.

      Report Post »  
    • LONGLEGGEDMACKDADDY
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 10:33pm

      Yo snow lepard, what do those stupid cat drawings got to do with politics? Is they supposed to be Obama?

      Report Post »  
    • tom
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:19pm

      Read the article. The event wasn’t IN a school. Also, the principal didn’t even attend, he just appeared in an ad. Sounds like a violation of his constitutional right to free speech.

      Report Post »  
    • solaveritas
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:26pm

      @Cheezwiz, you got cheese for brains? “‘CHURCH” means churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc.

      Secondly, there is no separation of church and state. The Constitution keeps the government out of (controlling) churches, but does NOT say that God must stay out of the state.

      We can make advances with Tea Party politics, but we will NOT heal this nation without getting GOD back into the public square, and into the hearts of citizens.

      Keeping public schools void of God is ATHEISM, and that is a religion. So, that keeps the schools atheistic and THAT is a violation of “an establishment” of religion. So, since the country is based on God, then the official government position is that GOD EXISTS, though the Atheists are free to not believe that.

      Report Post » solaveritas  
    • Robert W
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:39pm

      cheezwiz- Theres no such thing as separation of church and state. The founding fathers wrote about the freedom of religion not freedom from religion. Yea angrymob, God forbid kids pray on school. We wouldnt want the to acknowledge the Creator. Lets pass out condoms instead.

      Report Post »  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on October 12, 2010 at 11:56pm

      I have a copy of the constitution in front of me. Please show me where there is a “separation of church and state”.

      Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:06am

      @ solaveritas
      We have a regime which has problem with celebrating “ National day of prayer” but celebrates Ramadan .

      We have a regime which promotes a mosque at a location where none existed , but makes sure a Church that already existed doesn’t get rebuilt.

      We have a school system which finds Christmas and American flag inciteful but kids are led by their noses to a mosque and taught to pray like a muslim.

      This same school district would have had no problem with teachers and students organizing amnesty rallies for illegals during school hours.

      So yes, this WH is sending a message–“ separation of Church and state” means exactly that, — separate the Church. It doesn’t matter what is in the Constitution or not, the Constitution is what THEY SAY the Constitution is.

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:09am

      @ Robert W

      I‘m not for schools telling kids what to believe that’s the job of parents and I’m not for schools giving out condoms either.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:14am

      @ truthtalker

      Remember our founders didn’t want government sponsored religion.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • HEARDENOUGHCRAP
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:31am

      Anyone who thinks there is no prayer in schools, has not been there at test time, or in the girls bathroom when the head cheerleader is 3 weeks late.

      Report Post »  
    • Robert W
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:42am

      angrymob- Saying a 20 second prayer before school starts can hardly be called “govt sponsored religion”. Remember that only recently in this countrys history has praying in school not been allowed. Was this country in better shape back then or now? Thats an easy one.

      Report Post »  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:59am

      Agreed Angry mob. Neither do I. I just grow weary of the “separation of Church and State” argument with no back up.

      Report Post »  
    • Robert W
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:00am

      Angrymob remember, the founding fathers used to pray before sessions of congress. If its good enough for them Its good enough us. Thats a weird post name “angrymob”, isnt that what the progressives call tea party members? And your against praying in school….hmmm. Be careful Beck fans, there are wolves in sheeps clothing lurking about.

      Report Post »  
    • ozz
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:27am

      JUST SAY IT ALREADY!! Because liberal progressives hate what America stands for. They have been using our own freedoms against us to tear us down brick by brick for a hundred years. They have been progressively brain washing our children in our schools with lies for years. We need to expose them and oust them all before we have a second civil war.

      Report Post » ozz  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:41am

      @ Robert W and truthtalker

      I call myself “Angrymob” because progressives call American’s concerned with big government “angrymobs” and so what if we are…they’ve given us plenty of reason to be. In calling myself angrymob it is those concerned Americans I identify most with. :)

      Yes, our founders were people of faith but I hardly believe that keeping schools neutral where religion is concerned harms anyone (and I believe evolution should NOT be taught in schools either). I’m not for government sponsored religion because one day it maybe some other religion that dominates the landscape and that concerns me too.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:46am

      @ Robert W

      I’ve been called a troll before…blah blah blah. I don‘t consider myself a democrat or republican I’m a center of the road individual that happens to lean right where I feel it counts most. I hope I cleared things up because people are too quick to label me when they don’t agree with me. Our differences don’t matter…only our simularities. If you stand for less government in your life, equality and fairness for all, and lesser taxes then I fail to see why you’d have a problem with me.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • RVing-Patriot
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 2:20am

      Excuse me… you said “Prayer belongs in churches not schools.” Prayer is not something to belong anywhere. Prayer is right of every individual to communicate to their G-d whenever and wherever they wish. I’m one of those people who thinks most of our educational problems began when prayer and G-d was taken out of our schools.

      Report Post » RVing-Patriot  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 2:32am

      @ RVing-Patriot

      You got me there! Oh wait…there are schools that allow prayer in them…they are private religious schools and should remain detached from government altogther maybe that’s why they work so well. But you are right, pray whenever and wherever you want.

      Also what happens when every religion under the sun want equal prayer time in school doesn’t that sound confusing for the children?

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • Post-Progressive American
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:21am

      Absolutely ridiculous.

      How about we just privatize schools…all the separation you could hope for.

      Report Post » Post-Progressive American  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:46am

      Sorry AngryMob,
      Sounds like you violated the rules of ideological purity and brought a storm down on your head. Please try to stop thinking for yourself and being consistent with your small government beliefs.

      Report Post »  
    • rudianger2
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:53am

      There is no such thing as “separation of church and state” in the Constitution. It is a perversion of the progressives.

      Report Post » Rudi  
    • Sane and in my Right Mind
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:21am

      To “CHEEZWIZ” (for brains, apparently),
      What is “its”? I have to assume that like most anti-Christian “activists” you are referring to the First Amendment of the the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Well – “separation of church and state” is not in the First Amendment. The First Amendment also has a “Free Exercise” clause – Protecting Americans who wish to worship God from punishment for doing so; like loosing their job for supporting a prayer breakfast….

      Report Post » Sane and in my Right Mind  
    • RONALDREAGAN1980
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:22am

      truthtalker and rudianger– believe it it or not, there are a lot of concepts this democratic society holds dear, that don’t appear word for word in the constitution. How about “innocent until proven guilty”? It is a complete nonargument to say, “it’s not in the constitution”. Separation of church and state is another long-standing concept, it wasn’t invented by the progressives.

      “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

      Report Post » RONALDREAGAN1980  
    • Bronco II
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 8:08am

      I remember when I was in school we prayed and guess what I turned out to be just fine matter of fact I’m a conservative,christian and if GOD wasn’t in my life I might have turned out like alot of the kids we see today who along with their parents are all about ME and no GOD and their lives and troubles are the living proof.

      Report Post » Bronco II  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 8:48am

      There is a room for prayer everywhere, not just in churches. If you ever went to church, you would know that.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • USINGMYBRAIN
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:15am

      Everyone should read David Barton’s book “Four Centuries of American Education.”

      Report Post » USINGMYBRAIN  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 10:28am

      @ PubliusPencilman

      Why is it anytime someone stands up for what they believe they either are not thinking for themselves or are a troll on this message board? Which is it? Yes, I believe that religion has it’s place but I believe it should be in a house of worship…not in our schools. My reason? Did any of you like the story about kids being taken on a field trip to a mosque? I didn’t. That was my point. Everyone please go back and read my original comment.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • tim151
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 10:56am

      Prayer belongs anywhere an individual or group decides to pray. That is called freedom of religion. There is no such thing as ” separation of church and state.” If anyone can show me these words in the constitution I will recant that. Until then, that is called freedom from government oppression.

      Report Post »  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 11:11am

      @ tim151

      If prayers were allowed in public schools it would be a very broad conception of a god rather than “the God” in Christianity, to be as careful as possible not to offend anyone. To think that liberals would sit back and allow such a narrow concept such as Christianity to take hold in such a diverse place…it will never happen. To think otherwise is wishful thinking.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 11:15am

      @ Gonzo

      whatever.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • Xyskalla
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:14pm

      I agree with you, Angrymob. Prayer DOES belong in the Church. And since the Church is not a building, but the Body of Christ (you could burn every building down and we would still be the Church), we take the Church with us wherever we go, so we pray wherever we go.

      It amazes me how people criticize Christians for being Sunday hypocrites (people who put on their Sunday best for church when it doesn’t make a difference in their lives the rest of the week), and at the same time tell Christians to keep their religious activities confined to a particular building. The Bible tells me to pray at all times, in all circumstances. So what you’re telling me, then, is that you want me to stop acting like a Christian except for when I‘m in the Church’s place of gathering? You actually want me to be a hypocrite?

      Report Post »  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:18pm

      You can pray wherever and whenever you like…that’s not my point.

      In other words, public schools should be religion free zones because I don‘t want children to be indoctrinated by other religions and that I didn’t believe in government sponsored religion. Period!

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • BlazingInSC
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:47pm

      @AngryMob – I can appreciate you not wanting yoru child to be influenced by another child who has different beliefs. I feel the same way. My issue is that to deny children their rights to exercise their first amendment rights for the sake of political correctness at the behest of a minority is ludicrous. There is aboslutely NO reason why a school should not be allowed to offer 30 seconds of silence to their children (like I had in school) while allowing those children to silently use that time however they wish — to pray to the Judeo-Christian God, to pray to Allah, to pray a Pastafarian prayer, or to just stand there silently. There is no “government sponsored religion” there and each child are free to practice their right without infringing on the right of others.

      Report Post »  
    • fliptailhunter
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:47pm

      separation of CHURCH and state, can not be found in the Constitution, in fact it gives him the right to practice his faith…the school board violated his rights.

      Report Post » fliptailhunter  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 12:56pm

      @ BlazingInSC

      A moment of silence in schools? I could live with that…and thank you for seeing my point. :)

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:00pm

      I mean…as long as they can pray to whom they want in silence…that’s fine with me.

      And I feel that I should clarify…I don’t think the guy that did this should be fired or anything like that – just be careful what you allow because of the controversy.

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • Xyskalla
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 1:04pm

      Asking people to support a breakfast where they will pray for the teachers is not the same thing as indoctrinating our children. We don‘t pray because we’re trying to indoctrinate anyone. We pray because we ourselves need God. But if you refuse to allow voluntary prayer, that is certainly indoctrinating our children toward an anti-religious bias, because it sends a loud message to the children, and they hear you loud and clear.

      Besides, there’s no place where it is inappropriate to pray, because there’s not a God-free zone anywhere in the universe. God tells us to pray at all times and in every circumstance, and He’s in charge, so we pray. No one has the right to tell us not to pray. They told Daniel not to pray or he‘d be thrown into the lion’s den, but he prayed anyway and accepted the consequences. We need more Daniels in the world.

      Report Post »  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:02pm

      @ Xyskalla

      sigh…

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • Robert W
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:52pm

      Angrymob- You cant equate children praying in school to them being taken to a mosque. The vast majority of people in this country are Christian. I dont think your a troll and I respect your opinion. But your wrong!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

      Report Post »  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:44pm

      @ Robert W

      I respect your opinion too. :)))))

      It‘s ok that we don’t agree, however – if liberals ARE taking kids to mosques and having them pray to Allah when they’ve shouted the most to follow the “seperation of church and state” mantra, What will they try to push on children if religion is allowed in public schools – that’s my deepest concern here…

      In my college science book they are already talking about how Christians in the dark ages held science, math, and progress back in the name of God and how Muslims preserved science and math and contributed much to us having that knowledge today. True, but it‘s what they it comes across that I don’t like.

      Without directly saying it Liberals are telling college students: Christians are backwords thinking people who can not be trusted with our future.

      I think we need seperation of church and state to keep this kind of dialogue OUT of our schools…they are trying to brainwash the youth of America.

      I’m really not against things like Bible Literature in schools, but if you do it for one ALL will want it too and where do you draw a line?

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • huufarted
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 2:24am

      lmao@turdwhiz…

      Report Post »  
    • Redhawk
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 4:11am

      Why is it ok to send kids on a field trip to a mosque and have them bow to allah but it’s unconstitutional to have prayer in school? Where are the liberals screaming, “separation of church and state?”

      Report Post »  
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