VIDEO: BOCC 3.5.15 My PF Comments - STILL No Written Policy

VIDEO:  http://youtu.be/dXYKqn67kxk

They cut the time short this month. Here's my FULL comments, as I intended them:

I'm here to talk about government-led public prayer. By a narrow 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court ruled, in May 2014 that bodies like this MAY hold invocations before their meetings. If you wish to continue leading prayer, it's this board's duty to comport with the Galloway decision, which is clear. It provides guidelines for appropriate content. More importantly, Galloway outlines who can give invocations, saying: 
"a minister or layperson of ANY persuasion, including an atheist, could give the invocation" and adding "So long as the town maintains a policy of nondiscrimination..." 

I'm sorry to say that this board FAILS to guide content or to assure nondiscrimination. Despite Mr Robinson's contention last month that "no one has denied other individuals who have come forward", that is exactly what has happened. Most commissioners smartly don't even answer requests from minority religion... but I have emails from Mr Robertson refusing to consider atheists, agnostics, Humanists or Pagans. In fact, I'd bet Mr Robertson has NEVER asked a non-Christian to speak. Instead, the record shows he repeats his favorite speakers, all while new requests are pending. You all do it. Three particularly privileged pastors, including a County employee, actually provided 1/3 of the prayers over the last 2 years. One even repeated 3 meetings in a row. And yet, you claim to welcome diversity? 

What's more, the County extends prayer well beyond this LEGISLATIVE body, though Galloway does not allow it. People are now reporting to me that lesser boards, including the TPO, Merit Protection Board and Planning Board, all hold Christian prayer - provided by board members themselves. And they have denied requests from non-Christians to participate. Madame County Attorney - WHY on earth are non-elected officials starting government committee meetings with an official prayer? Have they heard of the 1st Amendment? The citizens deserve to know how you justify this or it needs to stop! 

This is not about appeasement or begrudging token inclusion. That time has passed. At this point, the only solution is a clear policy that assures nondiscrimination. I've been asking for this policy for 8 months now. Mr. Robinson promised last month "We have a policy, we'll be happy to put it down in writing". Still, all I've heard was that it has been passed on to the County Attorney... again. 

Madame Attorney, I understand that you cannot commit the current policy to writing. To do so would admit discrimination is happening. So, I offered a fair policy last month - with a random choosing of speakers, clear content guidelines, and no exclusion. This board will not consider it. To do so would welcome all faiths equally and that's almost as bad as an inclusive Moment of Silence allowing everyone pray (or not) as they wish. So you continue, as quietly as possible, to support this special, but illegal Christian privilege. 

Well... this board WILL have a fair policy. It can come voluntarily OR it will, inevitably, be forced on this board by court order. I'm urging this body to take action BEFORE that happens. 

Let's face it, despite the pews, NO ONE comes to this meeting to hear a prayer. They come to participate in the business of government. So why are we still pretending to pray? Besides the political patronage, I believe you want to display your piety to the largest audience possible. Otherwise, you'd hold prayer at less-attended meetings too. By showing that you all pray to the "same Jesus" as Mr Underhill said last meeting, you get votes. 

I have not been able to convince you using, law, reason or empathy. So perhaps you'll consider the words of your savior. In Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus said: 
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." 

One final thought - what do I want? Besides a fair, WRITTEN policy free of discrimination and calls for salvation, I think Penn Jillette summed up what I want best: "All I want is for more people to be included in more things. And this courthouse should really belong to everybody. So let's put as few things in that are exclusive and as many things in that are inclusive."