Letters

When in Rome ...

By David Steele

Nov 30, 2009 1:24 am

I have been a resident of the Lewiston-Auburn community for 37 years. My children attended both Holy Cross School and Lewiston public schools. I have nothing but high regard for both systems. When I read the article "School prayer disputed" (Nov. 21), I was both disgusted and angry.

I attended the public school system in another Maine city. I remember that the school day was started in every classroom with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. I believe it was in the mid-50s when all that changed. Some group, I do not know who, took the matter of prayer to the Supreme Court, which then ruled open prayer could not be held in the classroom.

Now comes the case of a Muslim girl claiming her constitutional rights have been violated because the school will not make special accommodations for her. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is saying that unless the school gives the girl a special room, modifies school policy, institutes training and protects the student from retaliation, it will take the matter further. That sounds like a threat!

The Lewiston School Board and city should stand behind the teacher involved, as well as Principal Maureen Lachappelle, 100 percent. By threatening the school, CAIR is only drawing attention to itself and, in the long run, it will be the one who will be hurt. This advocacy group should be aware of two old adages: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," and "One bad apple spoils the barrel."

David Steele, Auburn

Comments

Perhaps a a few of you

Submitted by Ernest on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 16:39.

Perhaps a a few of you should pay attention to what is happening in Europe with the Muslim community. Then ask a muslim what an infidel is. Then read the Koran to learn what happens to infidels. Your arms might not be open so wide to embrace their views.

David Steele writes: " I do

Submitted by veritas on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 14:15.

David Steele writes:

" I do not know who, took the matter of prayer to the Supreme Court, which then ruled open prayer could not be held in the classroom."

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David - You'de better bone up on your Constitutional Law, because the Supreme Court has never ruled that 'open prayer could not be held in the class room.'

The decisions; McCollum v. Board of Education Dist. 71, 333 U.S. 203 (1948),

333 U.S. 203 (1948), Engel v. Vitale, 82 S. Ct. 1261 (1962),

Abington School District v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963)

Lee v. Weisman, 112 S. Ct. 2649 (1992)

All of these decisions rest upon the element of government (school) sponsorship of prayer or religious education. If government and/or it's agents do not instruct, lead, or sponsor the religious activity in it's facilities, there there are circumstances in which 'school prayer' is constitutionally permissable.

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When I was a young Sailor - I drank like a Sailor, fought like a Sailor, and screwed like a Sailor. Now that I am old and wise - I have a few scars, but many fond memories.

northwoods: So you get to

Submitted by veritas on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 12:23.

northwoods: So you get to be the arbiter of how a person prays??

Interesting powers you have.....

Do you also go to wedding feasts and turn water into wine??

northwoods writes: " What I

Submitted by veritas on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 18:49.

northwoods writes:

" What I am saying is the courts said that kids could not openly practice religion in school "

Really??

How about finding that Supreme Court decision for us, northwoods.

- It's not about the 'kids' - it's about what the government may or may not do.

The ruling was that the

Submitted by Rinoblast on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 22:59.

The ruling was that the school could not lead you in prayer.

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[Insert juvenile political statement here]

This'll all blow over when

Submitted by Pirate on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:01.

This'll all blow over when they get their own prayer room on school premises and foot washing stations in the bathrooms and locker rooms.

"There are only two things in life that matter, but I forget what they are". Alfred E. Neumann

This will blow over for

Submitted by Big Love on Mon, 11/30/2009 - 20:30.

This will blow over for awhile? That's probably wishful thinking. First they'll get their footbaths and prayer rooms. Then there will be a call for the banning of pork products from the lunch menu. Then there will be a call for the muslim boys to have only male teachers, preferrably clerics because, well, women are subservient to men and muslim boys shouldn't to forced to take direction from women. Then they'll say that schools with Jews and Gentiles are hostile environments and that public madrassa's should be built for them. Hmmm. I wonder what books would be allowed or banned in those libraries.

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