Let us pray!

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 and Canada , countries 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.

This was not written by Paul Harvey or Andy Rooney but by sports columnist Nick Gholson, Wichita Falls Times Record News, 1999 (Edited)