For prayer -- voluntarily

No one should ever be required to pray, privately or publicly. Equally, no one should be denied the right to pray, privately or publicly. Each individual should make a personal choice.

It long has been a custom in our local society, and in our nation, for public prayers to be offered -- voluntarily -- with freedom for anyone to pray or refrain. What could be fairer?

Unfortunately, an issue has arisen in our community because the long-prevailing local custom of having public prayer on a variety of public school occasions, such as at sports events and graduations, has been challenged. That regrettably has resulted in a local decision banning public school prayers offered voluntarily over loudspeakers.

In response, a large number of students and others gathered Wednesday in Veterans Memorial Park in Soddy-Daisy to express support for voluntary public prayer.

The best solution should be simple, of course: "To each his own." Allow those who want to pray in public to do so, with those who do not want to participate being free to abstain. Impose upon no one!

Those who support voluntary expression may recall the words of James in the New Testament of the Bible: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

And English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, memorably observed, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."

If denial of voluntary public prayer unfortunately prevails, there is one ultimate response: There can be no ban of silent prayer for anyone anywhere, or of non-prayer for those who prefer to refrain.

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