“In God we trust!”

On the TUNNEYSIDE of SPORTS November 9, 2015 #566 Up next…” In God we trust!”

After further review… “In God we trust?” In some quarters of society those four words have become more of a question than a statement of belief. In 1861 Samuel P. Chase, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, instructed James Pollock, Director of the Philadelphia Mint, to inscribe those words on coins with this note:” Dear Sirs: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be so declared on our national coins.” While it serves as our nation’s motto and is respected by the vast majority, the practice of expressing it has come under fire.

An assistant football coach at Bremerton High School in Washington state is currently on paid administrative leave for praying with his T*E*A*M at midfield after their games. District officials took that action, after warning him to stop, saying that students who were not present or didn’t wish to participate in that ritual would necessarily “suffer a degree of coercion to participate in a religious activity when their coaches lead or endorse it.” The Seattle chapter of the Satanic Temple had filed a protest seeking to prohibit that postgame activity.

What constitutes prayer in those post-game ceremonies is unknown, and beside the point, for the view here is it not “religious” if its specific intent is to enhance the group identity of players sharing a common goal. It is doubtful that the “prayer” probes the depth or sincerity of any individual’s relationship with a higher power. How can one protest an exercise in togetherness that is designed to strengthen a T*E*A*M (Together Everyone Accomplishes More)?

Being in locker rooms and on fields before and after games, I have witnessed hundreds of these kinds of activities. It has been my observation that what is being said and professed is a summoning of one’s inner strength and determination in order to help them perform better, or a gesture of gratitude for having the opportunity to perform their duties.

The opinion here is that a safe and successful performance of one’s job is not, or shouldn’t be, dependent on a prayer for winning. Any prayer to God to win, demands, by definition, the devaluation an opponent. God doesn’t work that way. It would put God in an impossible position whenever Notre Dame plays Boston College, both Catholic-based universities! Former president Ronald Reagan put it this way: “The constitution was never meant to prevent people from praying; its declared purpose was to protect their freedom to pray.”

Will you log-in to express your opinion about Bremerton High School’s administrative decision?

To contact Jim go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.

Jim’s 11th book: “Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports” is planned to launch at the end of this month (November, 2015). Be sure to get an autographed copy by emailing him at the above address. The book will sell for $20. – shipping is included.