Letter to the Editor

Your View

Friday, September 21, 2001

A wake-up call

My co-workers and I watched on TV and listened as unspeakable horrors unfolded in New York and Washington. We cried and prayed as the freedoms we all take for granted each and every day were threatened by some evil, despicable group.

Over the last several days, we have heard stories of bravery, courage and selflessness demonstrated by Americans pulling together, standing strong and helping each other. I am sure there are many more stories like the ones we have heard that will never be told because, like the passengers and crew of the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, an untold number of Americans went down fighting.

Our country is now facing the most trying time in history. A friend of mine has a young son who put it better than anyone else I've heard. While watching the coverage on the day of the attack, he suddenly realized what the calendar date was and he said, "Mom, it's America 911." As I watch our leaders and media, one thing seems to be clear. We as a nation are calling out, "God, This is America 911."

I am so proud to hear our leaders and spokespeople calling on God to help us through this tragedy and calling on our people as a whole to pray. Still, I can't help but marvel at the thought that these same leaders have taken prayer out of our schools. They have told us that we violate others' rights when we pray. They say we should not impose our belief in the one true, powerful, almighty God on others - the same God they ask us all to call out to now in our time of need. They tell us that burning our nation's flag, the same flag that we salute, the same flag that so many men and women have died defending, is freedom of speech.

I say to them and to you, our country was founded on freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Our flag is a symbol of that freedom and any desecration of it is desecration of America. We cannot continue to leave God out of our country. We cannot continue to tolerate blatant disregard for our rights as Christians. We must remember the basic foundation of America. The reasons this great land began. On our money we say, "In God we trust." In our songs we proclaim "God Bless America." We must not only proclaim our faith in times of sorrow, but also in times of triumph and in our everyday existence. God is here with us. He will help us through this tragedy. There is now only one set of footprints in the sand because our Lord carries America in his arms.

I am a Christian. I am not perfect and have been lax in my faith, more lax than I care to admit even to myself. The past week has been a wake-up call for me, as I am sure it has been for many. We have stood by while our flag was burned, while school prayer was silenced. We all talked about how terrible it was, but still we did nothing. My excuse, like so many others was, what can one person do? Especially someone like me? I'm not anyone important. Who would listen to me? Well, no more excuses. I am someone important, I am a child of God. I cannot make the changes that need to be made on my own, but maybe, just maybe if I speak out it will give someone else the courage to do the same. I am asking everyone who reads this message to write or call our leaders and tell him or her we want prayer back in our schools. Now is the time. We can make a difference.

Dear leaders of America, the greatest land on Earth:

Please give us back our right to pray, publicly and openly, over loud speakers with loud voices. Help us teach our children to pray by giving us back prayer in our schools. Only with God by our side can we overcome adversity. You have all demonstrated your faith in these trying times. Allow all of America to join with you today and every day.

God will bless America, land that we all love. He will stand beside her and guide her through this long, dark night with his bright light from above - but only if we allow him to.

Sincerely,

Pamela M. Golden

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