Stop That Praying

At Chesapeake City Council meetings you can carry a gun in plain sight. You can holler, yell, cuss, insult people, say intentionally mean things about groups and individuals. What you’d better not do is to introduce a cleric who’s there to offer a prayer. That’s over the line, just too much, outrageous, insufferable, offensive, appalling, unconstitutional.

A group of atheists from Wisconsin began the current bun fight. Must be a dull life up there in Wisconsin, nothing to fuss about. They sent a letter to Council demanding a cessation of the traditional kick-off prayer. Why? Because the prayer included reference to Jesus.

Council responded that when they have a Rabbi pray, he can pray to whomever he pleases, as is the case when a Muslim cleric prays. Someone has taken the trouble to round up representatives of various religions, including those with no Chesapeake congregation. Sooner or later everybody gets a shot at praying to their respective deity, asking for a blessing on Chesapeake Council proceedings. Chesapeake takes no chances. They’re going to be blessed or know the reason why.

Family Foundation has adopted City Council as their latest cause, will support them in court. On the other side is the ACLU…and that bunch from Wisconsin.

I have a solution. It is NOT against the law for individuals to pray wherever and whenever they please…to whatever they like. I suggest that instead of spending taxpayer money on a losing cause, Chesapeake City Council members bust out spontaneously praying now and then during Council meetings…if they feel the need. And so should meeting attendees. Just speak up and talk to God. "Oh, Lord, is this meeting ever going to end?"

One’s freedom of speech extends to times of sitting, bored to tears, in Council meetings. Just as it would be legal for a council member to lean over and whisper to one of his peers, “I need coffee. This is such a snoozer,” he could close his eyes and say, “Dear Father in Heaven, don’t let me sleep through the next vote, Thank you. Amen.” Nothing whatsoever to prevent that.

You know, I'm thinking of sending T-Bone, general delivery, to that town in Wisconsin, home to those now pestering the Chesapeake, Virginia, City Council. T-Bone could make an atheist pray without even breaking a sweat. At least he'd give those folks something to do, chase them around, give them a bit of exercise other than minding other people's business.

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