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**Yswxomvy** · 10-27-2011, 07:41 PM

I didn't mean to imply that I disagree with you that the First Amendment binds only the government. I am with you 100%. My point is that it is unconstitutional for a state actor (in the OP, that would be the administrators of the public school district) to require the citizenry to listed to prayers as a pre-condition to taking part in or observing a public event. THAT is the definition of unconstitutional. In fact, the plaintiff might have a good case for a civil rights action against the school district since the unconstitutionality of forced prayer is a well-settled point of law.

But no one forced them to listen to it. No one said "if you don't listen to this, you aren't allowed to any more games." That person could have gotten up and left until the prayer part was over or not listened to it. It's not that difficult. What it seems like some atheists are trying to do is completely eradicate religion and that is not what this country was founded on and that is not the oath I took. Freedom of religion is in the Constitution - whether I agree with it or not.

But when someone does force a prayer or religion than fine. That's unconstitutional. Until that forcing of religion or non-religion is made, it's not.

10-27-2011, 07:41 PM	#14
Yswxomvy Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 523 Senior Member	I didn't mean to imply that I disagree with you that the First Amendment binds only the government. I am with you 100%. My point is that it is unconstitutional for a state actor (in the OP, that would be the administrators of the public school district) to require the citizenry to listed to prayers as a pre-condition to taking part in or observing a public event. THAT is the definition of unconstitutional. In fact, the plaintiff might have a good case for a civil rights action against the school district since the unconstitutionality of forced prayer is a well-settled point of law. But no one forced them to listen to it. No one said "if you don't listen to this, you aren't allowed to any more games." That person could have gotten up and left until the prayer part was over or not listened to it. It's not that difficult. What it seems like some atheists are trying to do is completely eradicate religion and that is not what this country was founded on and that is not the oath I took. Freedom of religion is in the Constitution - whether I agree with it or not. But when someone does force a prayer or religion than fine. That's unconstitutional. Until that forcing of religion or non-religion is made, it's not.
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