School Prayer

This is an answer to the various emails I receive expressing the idea that the violence we see today among our young people is due to the fact that we do not have prayer in our public schools. Prayer is important and I will include some paragraphs that I think express that fact well. But my question is Where? and When? and With Whom? and What prayer?

If some of our children lack high moral values whose fault is it? Don’t blame our public education system. The blame lies with the parents and the churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship. They have failed to instill the values in our children. Prayer must be taught and practiced in the home and in the houses of worship. Group prayer is most appropriate there at any time. (Silent, individual prayer is appropriate at any time, when needed, for a person, or child, in a stressful situation.)

When I see busloads of children brought to the ski centers by the Baptist Churches I applaud that move in the right direction. Healthy outdoor activity is an excellent way to direct the excess energy of teenagers and a most appropriate time to teach the high moral values that seem sometimes to be lacking in our culture. I have also seen busloads of children in Utah being brought to swimming pools by the Mormon Church, in summer. We do not need prayer in our public schools, but rather more outreach by the houses of worship. Perhaps it is our religious institutions that have failed us and not our public education system.

When I was teaching, in New York City, a very long time ago, children were released from classrooms to go to their respective religious intuitions on Wednesday afternoons for “religious instruction”. Even if you wanted prayer in the school classroom, what prayer when half of the students were Jewish, another large segment, Catholic, and a few Protestants in some of the classrooms? I am sure that now there are even more religious groups represented in New York City.

About Prayer

“Prayer invites God to let his presence suffuse our spirits, to let His will prevail in our lives. Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, nor mend a broken bridge, nor rebuilt a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.”

“Pray as if everything depended on God; act as if everything depended on you.

Who rise from prayer better persons, their prayer is answered.”

The above quotations are from the “Gates of Prayer”A Reform Jewish prayer book

On this note I would also like to comment on the term “Christian Values” that is used in so many of the emails. Aren’t they really Hebraic- Christian Values, going back to the time when Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mr. Sinai?

I regularly receive emails from friends expressing various opinions about the state of our country. Sometimes I am tempted to answer them.

I also, have been a student of history for many years. I feel now that our democracy, ruled by the “middle class” is in extreme danger. Statistics and numbers can be used in many ways. Our country’s deficit is now enormous and growing. We no longer produce in our country the materials we need to survive as a country. Our imports grow every day. Manufacturing and jobs have been outsourced. The middle class no longer is in charge. Multinational corporations and big business is in control through George Bush and the Republicans that are still in Congress. But why did our working middle class vote them in? The issues of the election that influenced their vote were, abortion rights, prayer in school, and most ridiculous of all, gay marriage. I respect the sincerity of these voters, but they were and are being USED to increase the profits and lifestyle of corporation executives and those who are heavily invested in the stock market which is doing very well, while wages are falling, healthcare benefits are disappearing, etc.

Yes, George Bush put new members on the Supreme Court. They voted to disallow late term abortions. I do not know if I am personally for or against an abortion at that time but the health and life of the mother was not included in that law. In my religion, it is stated that the health of the mother comes before that of the baby. We, in this country, have many different religions and we should all think about, and respect that. But, more important to me, is the fact that over 3,000 of our young people have been killed in a useless war and thousands wounded physically and mentally. On some days I almost want to cry when I her that more of our young people are being killed. I believe in the “Right To Life” and the life of these young people was destroyed. Why? Not for democracy in Iraq. They do not want it and it is impossible to achieve. Bush and his corporate friends wanted a share in the oil and are now getting rich by participating in the war.

According to the various emails I receive, helping our poor and our citizens is what is bankrupting America. No, it is this useless war, and the money that is going to the corporations that are supplying our troops, particularly Halliburton.

Do I always agree with the Democrats? No. The influx of illegal aliens is another factor that decreases wages and puts a drain on the resourses paid for by our citizens. In this respect, George Bush, and the corporations that hire them are as much to blame as the Democrats who are supporting them. If the influx into our country continues at this rate it can eventually lead to the destruction of the U.S., as we know it.