PETE ALLEN; Asheville, NC |
I recently read on the national newswire a story that was quite shocking. It appears that a local Tumwater football player named Ronnie Hastie was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct call. This occurred during a game with East Valley. The reason this made national news was because the flag was thrown for — prayer.
I am not sure how Tacoma or Olympia residents feel about Ronnie praying. I am not sure how the referee, coach or school officials feel about Ronnie praying. I will say that I and many other American know how we feel about Ronnie praying.
All I can say is that if this act did not delay the game, disrupt the game, or was intended to demean or demoralize an opponent — then it is legal, regardless of any sports rulebook.
I am not sure if the school board or school administrators have consulted their attorney regarding this. If not, they may want to do so very quickly. There is no valid public interest in a penalty for this conduct.
Neither could a rule that necessitates a call for this conduct be upheld. Whether on field, or off, Ronnie has a legal, First Amendment right to express through speech or other means his religious or personal views as an individual.
The school did not mandate his conduct, but neither can they disallow his conduct.
Ronnie, keep pointing to the heavens.
Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/12/11/1470586/tumwater-player-had-a-right-to.html#ixzz17ruFZsfG
Well, we've got people in North Carolina using our Daily Kinda Newspaper as a proselyting tool for their religious agenda.
Hey, Pete, let me clue you in. I'm the follower of two religious schools that were in the State Playoffs this year (one took the championship) and none of their players have to put on a spectacle for God. First of all, God knows they scored - right? If any player wants to thank God for their score, all they have to do is hand the ball to the referee run on over to the sidelines and in a quiet, non-showmanship manner, say "thanks, God".
As long as you are going to spread your religious manure our way, I'll send you back a little taste of Matthew 6:5 - "be not like the hypocrites, praying in public to be seen by men"
The boy broke a rule - 17 times. Officials are afraid of Christians pulling their martyrism (as you've so perfectly demonstrated 3,000 miles away), thus they ignored him. They were wrong. The coach was wrong for not counciling him about the rules.
If all the other Christian players can get it right, Ronnie can. Oh wait....the kid said he wouldn't do it anymore. It's just you buttheads that keep beating the drum.
6 comments:
Larry, same letter was printed in the Zero (http://www.theolympian.com/2010/12/11/1470586/tumwater-player-had-a-right-to.html) and presently has 173 comments. One of the first comments was:
Anonymii Today 03:02 AM
Olympian, how many LTEs by local residents were passed over in order to print this one from North Carolina? Did you print it only because the author is obviously religious? We have already had local LTEs covering the religious aspects-- we didn't need another one. Enough already, we thoroughly beat this weeks-old topic to death long ago! The attacks launched from there and of course, the bulk of the comments degenerated into religious vs non-religious.
That's what I said....the News Tribune Jr. LOL
Sent to Ashville Newspaper:
An Ashville Citizen, Pete Allen, wrote to our local paper about an incident where a football player was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for prayer display in the endzone. The call was 100% accurate, per the rules in the WIAA.
Allen is suggesting that the School board "consult their attorney" and I'm suggesting that Allen consult his Holy Bible - try Matthew 6:5. Jesus taught about making prayer a public issue and suggested that you "go to your prayer closet".
The ball player was allowed to violate the rule 17 times because people are intimidated by the loud minority of pushy Christians, as opposed to those who quietly go about their faith. Of course, the teen said he'd no longer do it as it penalizes his team.
Funny how kids have more sense than adults with an agenda.
Larry Hill - Olympia, WA
Duh! Ya got me, Larry-- I skipped right over the "Jr.".... LOL
Good letter. Wonder how it will be received in NC, where it seems like overt expression of Christian faith is not only acceptable, but it is expected. They may wish you'd butt out as much as we think Pete Allen should.
winer - I'm betting that it never runs
I knew this issue would take center stage on the Christian Dog and Pony Show because they all avoid the violation of a rule that every other team in the State of Washington knows and abides by.
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