Thank you for your personal reflection. It is surprising how oblivious self proclaimed Christians can be in regards to others who do not share their beliefs.
I certainly hope that your plea is heard by Iowa coaches, but I’m not hopeful. I was horrified, but not surprised at the Bremerton ruling by the Supreme Court. My awareness stems from my children’s experiences as athletes in Indianola. My tennis- and volleyball-playing daughter never ran into this. How I did not know after watching multiple football seasons in the 1990s that when the team gathered kneeling in the end zone before the game they were praying? My two older football-player sons never said a word to me; had I been aware I as a member of the Board of Education I would have addressed this. It was only in the 2002 football season that I became aware of the team kneeling at one end of the field praying while my youngest son stood alone down the sidelines: I later learned he was avoiding the prayer. As the starting quarterback, he could weather that pressure. That image still evokes anger and sadness in me. Anyone whose children have participated in high school athletics knows there is no such thing as “optional” practice nor “voluntary” participation in prayer.
Thank you for your personal reflection. It is surprising how oblivious self proclaimed Christians can be in regards to others who do not share their beliefs.
It's striking, especially since some of them can be so quick to accuse others of trying to indoctrinate kids.
Thank you for this important perspective!
I certainly hope that your plea is heard by Iowa coaches, but I’m not hopeful. I was horrified, but not surprised at the Bremerton ruling by the Supreme Court. My awareness stems from my children’s experiences as athletes in Indianola. My tennis- and volleyball-playing daughter never ran into this. How I did not know after watching multiple football seasons in the 1990s that when the team gathered kneeling in the end zone before the game they were praying? My two older football-player sons never said a word to me; had I been aware I as a member of the Board of Education I would have addressed this. It was only in the 2002 football season that I became aware of the team kneeling at one end of the field praying while my youngest son stood alone down the sidelines: I later learned he was avoiding the prayer. As the starting quarterback, he could weather that pressure. That image still evokes anger and sadness in me. Anyone whose children have participated in high school athletics knows there is no such thing as “optional” practice nor “voluntary” participation in prayer.
Thank you for sharing that. Kids know what's expected of them. It's unfortunate that some coaches can't resist abusing their power.
I am also not very hopeful. As I wrote, in many communities coaches who bring religion into team sports will be treated like heroes.