If ever a perfect illustration of utter lunacy, of the sheer, unadulterated application of the strict letter of the law with no due, sensible reference to its heart and spirit - and indeed actual, original, bleedingly obvious intent and purpose - were desired/required/sought for...
...one could do far worse than look to the case of the Seattle (Washington State) coach, Joe Kennedy, fired recently for engaging in a group/team prayer at the commencement of a game there...
Without entering into a discussion of the efficacy of such prayer - except to say (and thereby leave readers in no doubt whatsoever) that this punter, anyhow, like any reputable preacher I've ever happened to hear preach thereupon, considers such prayer to be the sort of (utterly trivial request) that the Deity does not deign to dignify with a (positive - or, for that matter, negative) response...
...with the possible exception of those - extremely few and far between - instances whereby much greater issues are 'in play'(no pun intended) and/or personal destinies are at stake, etcetera...
That being said - yes, as advised above, my 'briefest' discussion thereabouts! - said scenario, by no means the *sole, solitary instance thereof in (especially) the U S of A of recent times...
...leaves most of us either scratching our heads or pulling our (remaining, upper) hair out...and/or in utter **conniptions at how daft our present crop of 'up-and-coming' Western 'leadership' would appear to be proving...
Hey, back up a moment, you're thinking, in just what does the crime of said individual consist?
I'm glad you asked. Let me sum it up - to the best of my understanding - as best I can...
Joe Kennedy, coach of some sports-team, I believe (American) football (or baseball?) - you can see I'm no sportsperson, much less one of the multitudes of vicarious acolytes thereof - being dismissed from his job...
...for having the sheer effrontery, the arrogance and the gall - the sheer, unadulterated nerve! - to...
guess what, folks? Kneel down with arms outstretched in blessing upon his team...
and...pray!
Yes, you heard it - first - here, folks, and yes, you heard me aright, (assorted) sirs and madam(e)s...-yep, he actually had the ************ to pray!
No, I for once am left almost speechless...but not wordless (as is obvious)...
*Just as the case - I personally was, however inadvertently, alerted/'privy' to - of a piece of (not necessarily 'prime') real estate no longer in public hands in the great city of San Diego (California) ...because it was considered - doubtless by the American Centre for Civil Liberties - a transgression of the aforementioned amendment to the United States Constitution, to have - guess what? -a cross! - displayed publicly up/on public land...
**Apologies if no such word exists, I've heard it mentioned a few times over the years and was even almost dead certain it did indeed truly exist (though my ever trusty Chambers Concise Dictionary advises otherwise)...
...one could do far worse than look to the case of the Seattle (Washington State) coach, Joe Kennedy, fired recently for engaging in a group/team prayer at the commencement of a game there...
Without entering into a discussion of the efficacy of such prayer - except to say (and thereby leave readers in no doubt whatsoever) that this punter, anyhow, like any reputable preacher I've ever happened to hear preach thereupon, considers such prayer to be the sort of (utterly trivial request) that the Deity does not deign to dignify with a (positive - or, for that matter, negative) response...
...with the possible exception of those - extremely few and far between - instances whereby much greater issues are 'in play'(no pun intended) and/or personal destinies are at stake, etcetera...
That being said - yes, as advised above, my 'briefest' discussion thereabouts! - said scenario, by no means the *sole, solitary instance thereof in (especially) the U S of A of recent times...
...leaves most of us either scratching our heads or pulling our (remaining, upper) hair out...and/or in utter **conniptions at how daft our present crop of 'up-and-coming' Western 'leadership' would appear to be proving...
Hey, back up a moment, you're thinking, in just what does the crime of said individual consist?
I'm glad you asked. Let me sum it up - to the best of my understanding - as best I can...
Joe Kennedy, coach of some sports-team, I believe (American) football (or baseball?) - you can see I'm no sportsperson, much less one of the multitudes of vicarious acolytes thereof - being dismissed from his job...
...for having the sheer effrontery, the arrogance and the gall - the sheer, unadulterated nerve! - to...
guess what, folks? Kneel down with arms outstretched in blessing upon his team...
and...pray!
Yes, you heard it - first - here, folks, and yes, you heard me aright, (assorted) sirs and madam(e)s...-yep, he actually had the ************ to pray!
No, I for once am left almost speechless...but not wordless (as is obvious)...
*Just as the case - I personally was, however inadvertently, alerted/'privy' to - of a piece of (not necessarily 'prime') real estate no longer in public hands in the great city of San Diego (California) ...because it was considered - doubtless by the American Centre for Civil Liberties - a transgression of the aforementioned amendment to the United States Constitution, to have - guess what? -a cross! - displayed publicly up/on public land...
**Apologies if no such word exists, I've heard it mentioned a few times over the years and was even almost dead certain it did indeed truly exist (though my ever trusty Chambers Concise Dictionary advises otherwise)...
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