In reference to the Big Red Machine playing “Amazing Grace” at the end of Crestview High football games, I’d like to quote the “Bad News Bears” by saying, “Let them play!”
Ah, prayer in school: the hot-button topic that has set a legal precedent in favor of the separation of church and state. Only, in this case, we’re not talking about prayer. We’re talking about a song; one that is played at military and first responder funerals as well as memorials throughout the country.
I know one BRM parent who has said that people come for the game and stay for the band. Most stadiums empty at the end of a high school football game; but not Jack Foster Stadium.
To me, this is where I draw the line for political correctness. I know I’ve fanned the flames of the last few religious topics, but on this issue, I must put my foot down and say enough is enough!
No one is forcing these kids — I’ll say again: kids — to play this song. Every member of the Big Red Machine is a willful participant and is proud to play in a nationally recognized band. I’m sure if the time came where a student was uncomfortable playing “Amazing Grace” that they would have the option to stand aside while the rest of his or her band mates respected their decision and continued to play.
When I went to school, we had “see you at the flag pole” days that continue to this day. Some of my classmates would sport a T-shirt saying, “I broke a rule, I prayed in school.” I always thought that the saying was out of place because, as far as I knew, willful prayer in school has never been forbidden. What was forbidden was a public school requiring prayer — respecting one religion while keeping out others.
This brings me back to a conversation I had with the Crestview Bulldogs’ “unofficial” chaplain on the sidelines at the Kickoff Classic. The school could not fund having a chaplain for a team to any official capacity, which to me was understandable, considering taxpayer dollars were involved.
My solution to that was having the boosters cover the cost. As far as I know, the boosters for the Bulldogs are private citizens who can make suggestions on how money is earmarked. It’s not tax money and it’s coming from a private fund, and the team can continue to have their tradition of faith without getting any courts involved.
Another example is when I cover the Baker football games (as a freelance writer for the News Bulletin). At the end of the game, the players, cheerleaders and coaches all say the Lord’s Prayer. They are all willing participants, and I’m one of them.
At the end of the day, those in opposition of these traditions — BRM playing “Amazing Grace” going for 25 years — are lumping them in with religious imposition, and it’s not.
No one is twisting the arms of these kids to participate. Let them play and let them pray.
Johnny C. Alexander is a Crestview resident and freelance writer, photographer and videographer.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Let Crestview High’s band play — and let them pray