
By Donald Gates
I don’t believe in Santa Claus, but I’m not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don’t agree with Darwin, but I didn’t go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what’s the big deal? It’s not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They’re just talking to a God they believe in and asking Him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
“But it’s a Christian prayer” some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America, founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect — somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.
And I wouldn’t be offended. It wouldn’t bother me one bit.
When in Rome ……
“But what about the atheists?” is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We’re not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that’s asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of earplugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don’t think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world’s foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It’s time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn’t care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It’s time we tell them, “You don’t have to pray; you don’t have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don’t have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.”
That is your right, and we will honor your right. But by golly you are no longer going to take our rights away! We are fighting back and we WILL WIN!
God bless us one and all…God bless America! Despite all our faults we are still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.
Let’s make 2019/2020 the year the silent majority is heard, and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions and our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up. Amen!
Andy Rooney died in 2011 and was an atheist and a liberal. This was not written by him (or by Paul Harvey). Please do a minimum of research before misattributing such things.
Thank you Donald for the Andy Rooney article. So nice to know that the view is still circulated in our society. GOD continue to bless the USA!
How about a current politically incorrect approach? How about a period of silence where everyone can pray, meditate, or whatever (Maybe, “When does this end so we can get on with why we’re really here”?). I have attended ballgames where a period of silence is taken, and I was moved by the sight of people praying silently and earnestly. Yes, people will have to pray themselves instead of someone else doing it for them.
God Bless America!! Amen!!
First I say “Amen”. Then I say “God bless Donald Gates and God rest Andy’s Rooney’s soul”
Amen