I have to make this column fit into about 650 words.
I could probably use 6,500. Or more.
In my 28-plus years of getting paid to write, I don't think I have
ever seen a local display of pure emotion, of such anger, such
frustration as I have seen around Lawrenceburg since the news broke last
Wednesday that the Anderson County High School football coach Mark
Peach and his coaching staff could no longer pray with the Bearcat team.
This is not simply an on-field disappointment. Those hurt for a few
hours, maybe even a few days, but eventually all is fine and you just
try to get better.
But to those who hold their religious faith close to their heart and
wear it on their sleeve, this is about real life. It's more than
stopping an opponent on fourth-and-1 inside the 10-yard-line and the
outrage that many have expressed is understandable.
I believe the outrage is warranted. To whom it should be directed, however, is not clear.
I also know there are some who disagree, who feel the anger and
frustration are misguided and that the decision to keep the coaching
staff out of the team prayers was a good one.
Some thoughts...
First, Anderson County school superintendent Sheila Mitchell was
caught in a no-win situation in this matter. She, like many other school
districts in Kentucky, have received threats of litigation from the
American Civil Liberties Union over the practice of the Gideons
distributing Bibles in schools. The next obvious step would deal with
prayers, even if they are student-led, when school personnel are present
in official capacities.
Since Peach learned he would have to step away from his team's
prayers or simply offer a moment of silence, there are many that are
ready to fight the ACLU and stand up for what they believe to be their
First Amendment rights. To do so would probably be a politically popular
move.
However, a fight invites more litigation, which means thousands,
maybe even millions of dollars in legal fees. Mitchell's decision, while
not popular, was undoubtedly made with this in mind.
Secondly, the First Amendment says that government shall not
establish religion, nor prohibit the free exercise thereof. I have been
to every game Mark Peach has coached at Anderson County. While there is
little doubt about his Christian world view, I have never seen him push
his faith on anyone. For that matter, I have never seen him offer a
prayer.
How a generic prayer is establishing religion is beyond me. The
coaches are not coming around on Sunday and rounding up kids to go to
church with them. They are not saying a kid must attend church to play
linebacker. Are the coaches' rights being violated? I don't have the
answer, but it is worth looking into.
Thirdly, kids have not been denied the right to pray. If a kid wants
to pray and the desire was not the idea of a teacher, the kid can pray.
Even the ACLU agrees on that.
Fourth, to make an issue of the way one prays is just sad. No other words are necessary.
Finally, the ACLU and similar groups like to use “tolerance” as a
buzz word. Leslie Sparrow, of Anderson County, dropped me a note after
Friday's game, asking the questions many are asking.
“Since when did tolerance become a one way street?” she wrote. “My
kids have to be 'tolerant' of the kids they sit next to in class who
refuse to stand for the flag because that is their 'right.' … When
teachers speak of 'being made of stardust', my kids must be 'tolerant'
and sit quietly. Oh, the list could continue. Where are my kids' rights?
Who is 'tolerant' of their beliefs and allows them to express it?”
It's a question many want to ask when it seems like those who preach
“tolerance” define that as simply agreeing with their positions.
