In 2014 a low life mouth breather engaged in a drive by shooting. Among the victims were two young children who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. As often happens after these tragedies, family, friends, neighbors and concerned citizens held a prayer vigil. At the gathering the Chief of Police was asked to speak during which he asked for help from the community to identify the killers. It was by all accounts a moving event that helped lend emotional support to the family.

You probably know what happened next. A group of atheists showed up and were offended that there were Christian prayers at what was clearly billed as a prayer vigil. They were even more offended that the Chief and several of his officers were at the ‘religious’ ceremony. This of course violated their first amendment rights. They sued. This week a federal judge agreed that the atheists did have their first amendment rights violated. That is so wrong.

First of all, did government officials force you to attend the ceremony? Did jack booted thugs come to your home and drag you against your will? Were you forced to your knees to pray? No, you were not. You had the choice to stay away from the gathering that had been clearly advertised as a prayer vigil. You made the free choice to attend and participate.

Afterwards, were you approached by government officials of any kind and told that you had to attend another religious ceremony of any denomination? Of course not. You were allowed to go home and continue believing what you believe.

What damages did you really suffer? Because someone prayed and delivered a message of reconciliation and hope, did you suffer emotional trauma? Did you require hospitalization or medical treatment because of what you heard and saw? No, you did not.

Quite simply, your rights were not violated. You are just whining, spoiled, little brats that love to force your views on others by claiming that others were forcing their views upon you. Unfortunately you found another activist judge that clearly got his law degree from an indoctrination center rather than an educational institution.

The establishment clause of the Constitution was designed to prevent any governmental authority from forcing a single religion upon its citizens and forcing them to participate. Maybe if you’d have learned about history and King George’s action in this regard, you would understand the distinction between real establishment and public officials participating in a non-denominational prayer vigil intended to bring people together and promote healing for those that suffered a terrible tragedy.

And don’t tell us that because the officers were wearing their uniforms and were on duty that their actions constituted an establishment of religion. That’s a false argument, despite it having been accepted by some in the judiciary. Those officers did not take any ACTIONS to force you to join in the ceremony or convert to their belief system. You are the ones that did that. God is a part of this country’s belief system and founding. A specific denomination is not. You are free to practice your belief system and that has not changed. The one thing that has changed is too many people believe others are not allowed to practice their religion. Maybe that’s why we’ve seen the decline in our societal standards.

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