http://youtu.be/YIxnhj4BuWQ
This is actually soft-peddling my message. Here's how it started:
I emailed Lois Benson (will publish soon), asking to deliver an invocation. She said I may not - basically discriminating. That's illegal act #1. In addition, the ECUA is not a legislative body (making laws), so they are not allowed to lead prayer under Galloway's protection. Finally, the elected officials THEMSELVES speak the prayers, representing an explicit endorsement of God (the paternal, one and only one). They say they do this for "collegiality" among themselve. But they lead the WHOLE ROOM. That's not their job. Even City and County leaders don't prayers themselves... for themselves.
I'll note that the ECUA's prayers are non-sectarian (no mention of Jesus). That's nice, but not necessary by law. They are fooling no one. They still alienate the "nones" (20% with no religious affiliation) in our community... plus those 100% who don't come to government meeting for prayer. A moment of silence is non-sectarian without being a hypocritical display of piety or pressuring people to pretend to pray, some against their conscience.
SCENARIO: If you came to ask the board for something, and they started with a prayer you don't believe in, would you feel pressure to participate, even if it's against your beliefs? Even if you tolerated it, I'm sure you wouldn't put up a fuss before petitioning your government for favor. That's the position the different-believers are put in when they attend a government meeting. It's wrong.
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