home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
AOL File Library: 3,701 to 3,800
/
aol-file-protocol-4400-3701-to-3800.zip
/
AOLDLs
/
Religious Publications Library
/
Expository Files 2.6 (June, Mac)
/
EF2.6.sea
/
EF2.6.rsrc
/
TEXT_129.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-05-25
|
3KB
|
85 lines
Expository Files 2.6
June 1995
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE FRONT PAGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's that time of year again. School's out, just like
every year since the beginning of our nation. Graduates
are marching down the aisles and receiving their diplomas
and degrees, just like every year since the beginning of
our nation. The musicians are playing "Pomp and
Circumstance", just like every year since the beginning of
our nation. The graduates are being congratulated for
their good work and are being encouraged to make their
future a success, just like every year since the beginning
of our nation. Prayers and blessings are being offered in
their behalf, just like every year since...
No, it's not like every year since the beginning of
our nation. God is no longer permitted to be mentioned at
our graduation exercises, let alone petitioned. It has
been decided by the powers that be that such would violate
the constitution. One wonders why the original framers of
the constitution did not realize this!
It was three years ago that I was asked to give a
prayer at our oldest daughter's graduation from eighth
grade. The principal and I talked at length about the
direction that the nation was going. He talked of the
changes he had seen during his career. He expressed fear
that it would not be long until the school administration
would have to stop the practice of graduation prayer. In
fact, he said all it would take is one complaint. Rather
than be entangled in an expensive legal dispute, the
school board would simply drop the practice. I offered
the prayer at the graduation ceremony.
One parent mockingly shouted "Hallelujah" at then end, and was the
recipient of many glares as a consequence for this. It was
plain that most parents wanted this part of the ceremony
to remain.
It was the next month that the Supreme Court seemed to
rule that my prayer had been unconstitutional. This is
because some had argued that such a prayer consists of the
school, an organ of the state, endorsing a religion.
However, the school had no idea what I would say in my
prayer. They had set no limitations, neither had they
demanded anything be included. It had been completely up
to me. So what about my right to speak my conscience as an
individual when asked?
Of course, participation should and must be voluntary,
just as it is with the Pledge of Allegiance or the singing
of the national anthem. Or will we also forbid them if
someone objects? After all, both mention God (although you
have to sing the third verse of the Star Spangled Banner
to find Him.)
Anyway, because of the Supreme Court's ruling, mine
was the last prayer offered at graduation exercises in our
public school district. As the foundation of our morality
continues to be attacked, the eroding of our moral
standards will continue. Of course, prayer at graduations
will not save our nation, but a proper reverence for God
and His Law most certainly will.
Jon Quinn
JWQuinn@AOL
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>