Letter to the editor: Says prayer issue is of respect, not opinion

I was greatly troubled to read the article in the June 12-25 issue of the Chronicle regarding Michele Gowdy’s memo to the Board of Supervisors. As the county attorney, she suggests the practice of asking people to stand for prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance might “run afoul” of the Supereme Court’s decision on prayer.

The notion of asking people to stand for a prayer is not “inappropriate.” Standing for a prayer is not mandatory participation, but a gesture of respect. You might not like the bride or groom, but at a wedding, you stand when the bride comes down the aisle. At a funeral, you may not know the family of their religious affiliation, but you stand when teh family enters the service. You may not be a citizen of the U.S., but you stand when the National Anthem is played or when the Pledge of Allegiance is recited. These are just a few examples of showing respect.

Respect is something sorely lacking in our society. I see no violation of law or court ruling if supervisors asked people to stand out of respect for their prayer and pledge. Respect is, after all, a two-way street.

Tom Doubt
Quinton