Thursday, July 27, 2006

Coach can't pray?

It attacked our attention much like a blowing thunder rather than an eerie storm. But just as I was mildly upset about it, I was also quite bewildered by what was my struggling comprehension of the other side's assertion.

This issue that was debated on Quite Frankly last night, that at one point bulged my nerves, was about a New Jersey high school football coach's restriction of engaging himself in prayer with his team. Coach was threatened by the high school that in the event he doesn't stop cooperating in prayers with the team, he will get fired. As one who was part of the administration for 23 years, he took the initiative to distance himself from the kids during the solemn part of their regimen, and eventually resign from his beloved job because of too much predomination on the school's part.

Initially, I wondered whatever is wrong with that, but upon hearing the four sides of the argument, it somehow paved the way for an assumption. As the heated discussion went on, I learned that the other ones in the panel are bothered by this (solely) because they feel that Coach is the one inducting the prayers, in the sense that it becomes a provocation for the students to follow his lead, and completely disregard their right to freedom of religion. I don't blame them, it should be one of the many natural hypostheses. But jumping into conclusions and immediately judging the person is a different story.

It was stated beforehand, that this activity was never dictated by the alleged. Apparently, it has been clear that the bowing of heads has always been student-led. It was just a matter of choice. The students initiate the prayers, and the coach, who (needless to say) stands as the father of the team, surely feels the need to participate. If other students feel as though that taking the knee is opposed to their beliefs, then I honestly don't think it will even be a problem. As opposed to what the parents' are yakking about, declining will not jeopardize their kids' athletic career. I personally think that this has been extremely blown out of proportion, in which involved a sensitive topic that didn't deserve the controversy it was amidst of.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow they made a fuss over that. Though here in Norway religion or even praying is not taught in school. They give the people the right to choose their religion and paths. They don't even encourage Catholic schools to teach students for example like homosexuality is a sin blah blah since it leads to hate and the government doesnt want it. Even the chuch here is at the mercy of the government. We do have a bishop who was the guest of honour in our Gay Pride here.

Anonymous said...

I really don't see much of the need for all that fuss! That's why you have democracy...every one has the right to choose his/her religion or the activities that they wanna be part of, without the disadvantage of any prejudice.

Anonymous said...

OA naman. they're just making a big deal out of it. totally blown out of proportion. the coach should be free to do whatever he wants to do just like the kids who are free to express their religious practices. yung ayaw, eh di wag..diba

Anonymous said...

That's a really good subject for a debate. But remember that when it's a debate about RELIGION - it's like just like having an argument on tomato/tomato (to-mey-toe/to-Mah-toh)-thingy and which came in first, chicken-or-eggs?

KAI said...

Chas
Wow. It must be really nice to live there.

Jaz
Exactly!

Deb
The worry of many parents daw kasi was that, the kids might not get the desired playing time if they don't participate in prayers. Sa isip ko, di naman ganoon mga Catolico. Hindi naman tayo namimilit ng mga tao para samahan tayo magdasal. Bakit nila naiisip yun.

Vayie
You're probably right.

Anonymous said...

well, i think that's just being silly. silly in the sense that they're making such a big deal out of it. if the athletes in the "prayer huddle" aren't complaining, then why should others not involved be complaining? how unfortunate that it led to the coach resigning.

Anonymous said...

have a nice weekend..(irrelevant msg)

KAI said...

Laureen
Hence, my flabbergasted response.

Jot-jot
You too! (:

Anonymous said...

Ah yes. Ever the most sensitive topic for discussion - religion. It tops the list of argumented issues in diversity, race only being second. me thinks, that is. =)

Anonymous said...

uy filipino by heart. just like my cousin, also a texan.