Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jamie_L · 04-29-2003, 01:04 PM

I was listening to NPR this morning. The national feed was interrupted, as usual, near the hour to provide local (Washington, D.C.) traffic reporting. Before giving the report, the reporter said "This traffic report brought to you by the National Day of Prayer".

Now, I don't know exactly what's going on, but...

When that spot is "brought to me" by a company, it's because the company paid money to fund the traffic spot, and as an ulterior motive, to get mentioned on the air. It's a kind of advertising.

So, based on today's blurb, it appears the National Day of Prayer has a budget, and it's using some of that budget to fund at least one traffic spot. By implication, the purpose of that budget is to promote the Day of Prayer.

Now, I don't know if this is a private group promoting the Day of Prayer, but it didin't say "Friends of the Day or Prayer" or "Day of Prayer Organization". It said "Brought to you by the National Day of Prayer."

Is it just me, or would it be stepping over a bigger line for the National Day of Prayer to have a government funded promotional budget? (Bigger than the line crossed by merely having the Day of Prayer in the first place.)

Jamie

Toto · 04-29-2003, 01:55 PM

Americans United Press Release on NDofP

Quote:

Most NDP events are coordinated by the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a group headed by Shirley Dobson, wife of controversial Religious Right radio broadcaster James Dobson. The Task Force, which limits its events to �Judeo-Christian� worship, operates from Dobson�s Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Focus on the Family.

Although a private group, the Task Force has achieved quasi-official status. The Dobsons and their Religious Right allies have visited the Bush White House for the past two years to observe the prayer day.

The Religious Right, AU�s Lynn asserts, has taken over the event to promote the fundamentalist Christian political agenda, including strident opposition to church-state separation.

In materials promoting this year�s event, Mrs. Dobson criticized court rulings against government display of the Ten Commandments and use of the phrase �one nation under God� in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Religious Tolerance.org on the National Day of Prayer

There is no mention of an appropriation for the NDofP. Focus on the Family has enough resources to fund an advertising campaign, and spending their money on NPR is a good use for it.

Toto · 04-29-2003, 02:40 PM

The National Day of Prayer Task Force has written a prayer for you. No wimpy liberal ecumencism.

Quote:

Prayer for the Nation
By Dr. Luis Palau

Our Father and our God,
We thank you for the many blessings You have poured out on America and we praise You for Your mercy.

You have said: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." We confess, O Lord, our national and personal sins. We repent and ask forgiveness for all actions that dishonor You.

O God, bless our President and other leaders. Provide them with wisdom and move them to honor You.

Deliver this great nation from all our enemies as we recommit ourselves to trust, serve and obey Your commands.

We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Amen.

04-30-2003, 12:50 AM

I was listening to talk-radio earlier and heard the "day of prayer" commercial several times. It includes a child's voice ("I'm praying for my daddy") and all kinds of crap about how we should all be on our knees praying for our great president and for victory in Iraq. It made me sick.

It's really kind of frightening to see so many of my fellow citizens participating in these stupid, primitive rituals in this day and age. It's almost like living in the Twilight Zone. :banghead:

beekay · 04-30-2003, 03:15 AM

I have a quick questions concerning this day of prayer crap as it pertains to schools.

A friend mentioned to me that his high school is having day of prayer observances for ten minutes at the end of each lunch period (three lunch periods in the day). He didn't mention any other details, but I'll try to wrangle more info out of him when I get a chance.

This sends up the ol' red flag for me. But, as always, this kind of thing is a bit confusing concerning what can and cannot be done.

I think that if the ten minute sessions are led by school staff, then something is really wrong. On the other hand, this is a national deal signed off by the president himself. The "saving grace" of the sessions is that they are strictly voluntary.

Are there any lines here that should not be crossed by the school in this situation?

openeyes · 05-01-2003, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by atheist_in_foxhole
I was listening to talk-radio earlier and heard the "day of prayer" commercial several times. It includes a child's voice ("I'm praying for my daddy") and all kinds of crap about how we should all be on our knees praying for our great president and for victory in Iraq. It made me sick.

It's really kind of frightening to see so many of my fellow citizens participating in these stupid, primitive rituals in this day and age. It's almost like living in the Twilight Zone. :banghead:

Yeah, that's a good way to describe the frightening, unreal sense that I've had lately about so many things. But I can't seem to find the remote to turn it off!

Ronin · 05-01-2003, 04:34 PM

In honor of this day's National Day of Prayer ~ I'm off to watch Father Ted on BBCAmerica...tonight's episode "Kicking Father Brennan Up The Arse".

Gotta go, I've a Guinness calling my name.

04-29-2003, 01:04 PM	#1
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	National Day of Prayer promoting itself I was listening to NPR this morning. The national feed was interrupted, as usual, near the hour to provide local (Washington, D.C.) traffic reporting. Before giving the report, the reporter said "This traffic report brought to you by the National Day of Prayer". Now, I don't know exactly what's going on, but... When that spot is "brought to me" by a company, it's because the company paid money to fund the traffic spot, and as an ulterior motive, to get mentioned on the air. It's a kind of advertising. So, based on today's blurb, it appears the National Day of Prayer has a budget, and it's using some of that budget to fund at least one traffic spot. By implication, the purpose of that budget is to promote the Day of Prayer. Now, I don't know if this is a private group promoting the Day of Prayer, but it didin't say "Friends of the Day or Prayer" or "Day of Prayer Organization". It said "Brought to you by the National Day of Prayer." Is it just me, or would it be stepping over a bigger line for the National Day of Prayer to have a government funded promotional budget? (Bigger than the line crossed by merely having the Day of Prayer in the first place.) Jamie

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04-30-2003, 12:50 AM	#4
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	I was listening to talk-radio earlier and heard the "day of prayer" commercial several times. It includes a child's voice ("I'm praying for my daddy") and all kinds of crap about how we should all be on our knees praying for our great president and for victory in Iraq. It made me sick. It's really kind of frightening to see so many of my fellow citizens participating in these stupid, primitive rituals in this day and age. It's almost like living in the Twilight Zone. :banghead:

04-30-2003, 03:15 AM	#5
beekay Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 121	I have a quick questions concerning this day of prayer crap as it pertains to schools. A friend mentioned to me that his high school is having day of prayer observances for ten minutes at the end of each lunch period (three lunch periods in the day). He didn't mention any other details, but I'll try to wrangle more info out of him when I get a chance. This sends up the ol' red flag for me. But, as always, this kind of thing is a bit confusing concerning what can and cannot be done. I think that if the ten minute sessions are led by school staff, then something is really wrong. On the other hand, this is a national deal signed off by the president himself. The "saving grace" of the sessions is that they are strictly voluntary. Are there any lines here that should not be crossed by the school in this situation?

05-01-2003, 04:34 PM	#7
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	In honor of this day's National Day of Prayer ~ I'm off to watch Father Ted on BBCAmerica...tonight's episode "Kicking Father Brennan Up The Arse". Gotta go, I've a Guinness calling my name.

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