Letters
When in Rome ...
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
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verified Perhaps a a few of you
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.
I believe infidels are
I believe infidels are non-believers in the muslim faith. A far as what the Koran says to do to them I dont know what it says because the only koran I have ever seen are in arabic (which I dont speak or read).
verified David Steele writes: " I do
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.
And before everyone states
And before everyone states saying the girl was quitely praying like so many people do before a test, game, or meal think about the difference between the two prays. one involves asking for gods (or who ever) help. The other involves facing east while kneeling and praising ali whiling placing your head near or on the floor (making it look like you are bobbing up and down). one is destracting the other is not. My question to you is if you dont consider the muslim pray destracting for a bunch of kids would consider it all right for a kid to cut the head off a chicken in school because it is part of their pray (as long as they were quite about it).
verified northwoods: So you get to
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??
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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.
no I think people should be
no I think people should be allowed to pray at school. What I am saying is the courts said that kids could not openly practice religion in school basically meaning no open pray (a person praising Ali by bowing repeatedly is openly praying just the same someone openly saying a pray to God giving thanks). Either people need to only say a pray in their mind or people shold be allowed to openly pray we cannot say one group should be allowed to openly pray and another can only pray if noone knows they are praying.
no I think people should be
no I think people should be allowed to pray at school. What I am saying is the courts said that kids could not openly practice religion in school basically meaning no open pray (a person praising Ali by bowing repeatedly is openly praying just the same someone openly saying a pray to God giving thanks). Either people need to only say a pray in their mind or people shold be allowed to openly pray we cannot say one group should be allowed to openly pray and another can only pray if noone knows they are praying.
verified northwoods writes: " What I
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.
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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.
Veritas You are more than
Veritas
You are more than likely right. But I was in school when the ruling came down and I remember my teacher telling us we could not pray aloud at the begin of school.
The ruling was that the
The ruling was that the school could not lead you in prayer.
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[Insert juvenile political statement here]
I agree 100%
I agree 100%
verified This'll all blow over when
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
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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