[Vision2020] Public prayer on public money

[Pat Kraut]

Where do you find that 'wall of separation' in the constitution??


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
To: "'Donovan Arnold'" <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>;
<joanopyr at earthlink.net>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 5:32 AM
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Public prayer on public money


No, no, no, Arnold -

"Establishment", according to the Supreme Court of the United States
(SCOTUS), concerns the recognition of any one faith above all others.  I
draw your attention to Thomas Jefferson's "Wall of Separation" which has
been cited in several SCOTUS opinions (pronounced "decisions") and discussed
here in V2020 extensively.

By praying, the city council does just that.

Comprende?

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"I think one of the best ways to support education is to make successful
private schools like Logos prosper through tax exemption."

- Donovan Arnold (July 11, 2005)

-----Original Message-----

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 10:05 PM
To: joanopyr at earthlink.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Public prayer on public money

Saying a prayer before a public meeting is not an
establishment of religion. Establishment of religion
is when the government, king, dictator, etc. supports,
funds and defines a religion as the official religion
of a nation or state. In the past, the government
would often give special privilege to those that
practiced that official established religion. In some
cases, people were killed or persecuted for not
following the faith as prescribed by the government.
This is what the establishment of religion means, and
what was meant when the forefathers wrote the
Constitution. How do we know? Because US Congress has
always had prayer before business. So people can twist
it all they want, but it was not meant to prevent
prayer before a public meeting.

It is not true to say the 1st amendment was designed
to prevent public prayer. Nor is saying a prayer
establishment of a religion. God is on our money and
in our pledge and those that try to remove it are just
idiots with obvious nothing better to do than bitch
and complain and force themselves on everyone else. It
is my belief that a few people are trying to prevent
me and others from practicing our religion and prayer.
Those that do this are forcing their beliefs on me and
95% of those that wish to worship and appreciate what
God has given them. If you do not want to pray, DON'T
PRAY, nobody is forcing you to, but do not prevent the
rest of us from doing so.

Donovan J Arnold



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