Rockingham Remembered
Short Stories
Paul Harvey and Prayer
(footnote added 010708 - this prayer should have attributed to Nick
Gholson, according to Snopes.com)
Paul Harvey says:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to
sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in
December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go
out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher
taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be
endangered because someone says a 30-second
prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up
there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just
talking to a God they believe in and asking him to
grant safety to the players on the field and the fans
going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a
country founded on Christian principles. According
to our very own phone book, Christian churches
outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what
would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would
expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would
expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would
expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me
one bit.

When in Rome ..

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument.

What about them?

Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not
going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for
30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a
Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom.
Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or
two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.
I don't think a short prayer at a football game is
going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other
cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our
parents and grandparents taught us to pray before
eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to
cease praying.

God, help us.

And if that last sentence offends you, well ... just
sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's
time we let that one or two who scream loud enough
to be heard .... that the vast majority don't care
what they want. It is time the majority rules! It's
time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't
have to say the pledge of allegiance; you don't have
to believe in God or attend services that honor Him.
That is your right, and we will honor your right. But
by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights
away. We are fighting back ...
and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all ... especially those who
denounce Him. God bless America, despite all her
faults. She is still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to
protect our right to pray and worship God.

May 2005 be the year the silent majority is heard
and we put God back as the foundation of our
families and institutions.
Keep looking up.