ACLU Again

In my own backyard. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Tennessee faxed a letter requesting a high school cancel all prayers during the graduation program. According to this story the fracas has cost the job of a "nontenured Munford High teacher" (Dr. Patricia Kilzer) faculty adviser for the newly formed ACLU campus chapter.

"A complaint filed by about a dozen Munford High School students who said they were concerned that prayers would be a part of the Munford graduation exercises. They asked that all prayers be cancelled."

Kilzer must be new to Tennessee.

ACLU executive director Hedy Weinberg said : "If the valedictorian wants to recite a prayer or thank his or her God during the time designated to them, they can do that and should not be told they can't," Weinberg said. "Our focus was to ensure that the school adhere to the constitutional guarantees and not have invited guests or school officials reciting prayer or jeopardizing religious freedom."

What a waste of ACLU time and resources. If you follow KAB you know I'm a practicing heathen yet I have no problem with prayer at public school graduations. I have no quarrel with the Jehovah Witnesses who come to my door or the church groups permitted to fund raise at Wal-Mart. I don't care if Congress has an opening prayer or not. I've no reason to believe children reciting "one nation under God" in the pledge is going to create or prevent a generation more viperous than what we have now. I've no problem with In God We Trust on my money.

Thank God Almighty today's nitpicking ACLU was not instructing MLK on the legalities of prayer and God on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Today Rev. King wouldn't pass the ACLU requirements as an invited speaker at a public high school. He might recite a prayer or jeopardize religious freedom. Maybe division is the real ACLU agenda.