Russ Smith wrote:
> Brice,
>
>
>>I DID READ what Mark said, here it is -
>>
>>-----------------------
>>
>>Mayor Green was quoted as saying that if anybody is bothered by an
>>invocation,
>>then the solution is for that person to leave the council chambers until
>
> the
>
>>invocation has concluded.
>
>
> Technically, Mark's piece quoted the Mayor who said if anybody was
> 'bothered' by the invocation, they could leave the council chambers.  There
> was only an implication that someone was offended; but, I see your point.
>
> Regardless, his idea was that tax paying residents in good standing in the
> community, i.e. persons whose voices are the "We" in "We the People," should
> not have to leave the council chambers or come in after the first five
> minutes because that first five minutes is only for the tax paying residents
> in good standing in the community who also happen to have blue eyes, or
> smoke Marlboro Lights, or pray to a god named Krispy Nu.
>
> If the council members wish to meet on the front lawn and say a prayer
> before they enter the civil building and start collecting their paychecks,
> that is nobody's business but their own.  If, however, they wish to use any
> portion of the time allotted for conducting the business of the government,
> that is equivalent to state funded religion and is unconstitutional.

Not true. It only says...

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

No law has been passed. You want to prohibit the free exercise.

This country was founded by God fearing people. The word 'religion' can
be interpreted as 'denomination' *not* cult or satan worship. There was
to be no coercing to worship the same God as a particular denomination
does it. I do not believe they were trying to provide protection for
every vile cult that man can dream up.

> I realize that you see nothing wrong with the meetings beginning with a
> prayer.  And I would agree with you, so long as it's done fairly: make an
> alphabetical list of all religions recognized in the U.S. and each day the
> council meets, the next on the list gets to spend 15 minutes doing whatever
> they do.  On the morning that some group tries to splatter everyone in the
> room with goat blood, or sets off the fire alarm while burning something in
> effigy, maybe the council will reconsider.  The easiest response would be
> that only "speaking words, regardless of language, at a reasonable volume
> level" would be acceptable, except now the rules are deciding how people can
> pray.  Slippery slope time.  Best not to play at all.
>
> Rs~
>
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