The Cranston West prayer banner.
Before they next threaten a teenage girl or insult a judge, some defenders of that Cranston prayer banner would do well to read the thing.
For between the much publicized “Our Heavenly Father” and “Amen” are words that seem to have been missed.
Grant us, it asks, the desire “To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers.”
Was it kindness that inspired state Rep. Paul Palumbo to call 16-year-old Jessica Ahlquist an “evil little thing” during a talk radio appearance? Or the classmates who so mercilessly baited Jessica that she had to leave school for awhile. Or the tweeter who opined,“This girl honestly needs to be punched in the face?”
That tweeter also seems to have overlooked the be “honest with ourselves as well as others” part when he/she neglected to put a signature behind that brave threat.
“Help us to be good sports,” the banner continues, “and smile when we lose as well as when we win.”
Was that what talk show hosts and callers had in mind when they heaped abuse on Judge Lageux for ruling on the side of separation of church and state? When they threatened the ouster of any committee member with the temerity to obey that judge’s ruling? Was that what some students were thinking when they attempted a walkout upon learning of the decision?
“Teach us the value of friendship.” Was it in this spirit that classmates and others went on line to taunt and threaten this girl physically and sexually? “i cant wait to hear about you getting curb stomped you *----ing worthless -----,” one wrote.
“Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West,” the banner concludes.
Was it the school’s good name that motivated the microphone screamers, the meeting disrupters, the threateners, the talk show bullies, the obscene web posters?
Those messages in the middle seem lost on some defenders of the banner.
Comments
Jrceegal 3 months, 1 week ago
As a member of the Cranston School Committee I feel the need to respond to this story from my point of view. I have been disheartened to read the messages and comments in the various articles, Twitter and Facebook pages, the radio shows and television shows that allowed people to speak out regarding this issue in inflammatory ways . I believe if you cannot make your point without resorting to profanity, name calling, threats or other abuses then you should probably not comment. I do want to make clear that those who have done this are not all who are in defense of the banner. My colleagues on the School Committee and I have received many email messages that included profanity, name calling, threats and other abuses by people who identified themselves as supporters of removal of the banner. We also received the same from people who support the banner as it stands. In this one area I think all groups should receive admonishment. As an elected official I understand that this comes with the territory, but it does not make it any more pleasant to read. I have found during this process that people find some sort of bravado behind the anonymity of posts or emails. Our culture has become one that feels the need to spew every action or thought ( see Twitter ) that they have without any thought to consequences or to the human being at the other end. I agree with the author of this story that the message of this banner was somehow lost along the way...it is a sad commentary on society and humanity.
Janice Ruggieri Cranston School Committee Ward 4
HockeyBobS 3 months, 1 week ago
While I appreciate Committee member Ruggieri's comments, I'd like to point out that the vast majority of the abuse has been coming from prayer banner supporters, and that the estimated population of the Cranston High School West student body is as high as 95% Catholic; do not attempt to equate the vast majority of abuse, threats of rape, other violence, and even death, that Jessica has endured at the hands of these Christians, with the lunatic fringe of the general population; it is very disingenuous at best.
Having said that, it must also be said that display of the banner was violating the US Constitution the instant it was placed upon the wall [see Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)]; no amount of the passage of time can lessen these violations - it is beyond shocking to comprehend why not one person bothered to call this to the attention of the Cranston School Board - or if anyone did, why the board refused to correct this egregious violation before Jessica bravely did.
Jessica Ahlquist has done as much, or even more, to defend the Constitution of the United States, than any member of our armed forces has ever done; she is a true American patriot, and I am proud to say I support her 100%.
To the people of Cranston, Rhode Island, I must say this - the entire world is watching you. Try not to embarrass yourselves anymore than has already happened. You have not lost your right to pray - everyone is still free to do so, on their own time, in their own homes, at their leisure. The only thing that this ruling does is make sure the government remains neutral in the realm of religion. That's the single most important reason your very state was founded upon, if you'd bother to actually learn some of your own history; Roger Williams would disown each and every one of the prayer banner supporters for their despicable behavior. Now, you have the opportunity to correct your mistakes - please do so posthaste.
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