Comments on: American Legion pulls scholarships over Veteran’s Day school prayer

By: Mike W.

Mike W. — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:31:38 +0000

In 2007, then-State Senator Dean Johnson gave the Veteran’s Day address at our local school district. For those not familiar with Sen. Johnson, he is an ordained Lutheran minister, military chaplain, and veteran. He certainly did not need to lead the entire assembly in prayer, even though he easily could have done so.

Perhaps the folks at the Bloomington Legion and VFW posts need to visit with Rev. Johnson about the role of religion in public life. Just a thought….

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:18:05 +0000

Dan religion “in public” is fine. The line has to be drawn at government sponsorship of religion. In other words, you are free to put up Christmas trees, pass around rattlesnakes, or erect shrines for the return of John Frum. It has to be YOUR thing–the government can’t endorse it.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:16:14 +0000

First off, its their money. They have every right to distribute it as they see fit. Second, people ignorant of the Constitution and their own rights. The 1st Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”. It says nothing about no religion in public, no Christmas decorations, no prayer in school. If anything, it seems it should encourage it.

By: Rainman

Rainman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:31:13 +0000

It would kill the atheists to show a little tolerance toward Christians? Ironic that those that scream “tolerance” the loudest are the first to be offended.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:46:45 +0000

While it is very unfortunate that the children who could have gotten scholarship funds have missed out, it is their money to do with what they will. Perhaps, next year, they could hold their own ceremony in their legion and then they could lead it however they like. It’s regretable that it had to end up like this.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:27:59 +0000

Still disappointing that they don’t know any better.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:39:23 +0000

Interesting–they are taking their ball (money) and going home in a tizzy. Yes, the possible recepients will be left out–but the VFW and the American Legion are both groups of over the hill drunks who live in the past. And their “God” ain’t gonna change that. No matter how many times they pray!

By: NEWS DAY | General vs. General on the Afghan quagmire / H1N1 update / No pray, no pay / Academic ethics / more « Mary Turck

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:19:36 +0000

[...] the district refused to let the VFW lead students in prayer during in-school Veterans Day programs. Minnesota Independent reports: School officials said the group led the students in prayer during the 2008 Veteran’s Day [...]

By: Northeaster

Northeaster — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:59:31 +0000

As long as there are pop-quizzes, there will always be prayer in public schools.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:20:41 +0000

Dennis, sorry, when prayer was “allowed” gun-ownership rates were far lower and the access to around-the-clock news was — oh, nill. And the prevelance for pedophile priests was higher.
And if the VFW had any sense of the history of America’s foreign-wars, then they’d remeber the Treaty of Tripoli – article 11 which explicitly claims “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;…”
That was signed by none other than our country’s famous founding-father John Adams, with the words (added by him) : “Now be it known, That I John Adams, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the said Treaty do, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, accept, ratify, and confirm the same, and every clause and article thereof.”