At last week's budget address to the joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate of Pennsylvania, Gov. Rendell made some important and interesting remarks. I am not one who agrees with the governor on all of the issues. However, in the great American tradition of compassion for those in crisis both in our own country and around the world, the governor reminded the audience of the plight of the citizens of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake. He challenged the audience to "remember to pray daily for the people of Haiti."
We ought to be more open about our need for God and his involvement in the affairs of our nation.
Unbelieving or cowardly leaders have continued to remove prayer from the lives of our children in school as well as places such as the graduation ceremonies at Penn State University or local city council meetings. They cater to the complaints of a small minority.
It is time we realize, as did Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, that a great nation never can exist without the aid and guidance of God. Neither should we restrict expressions of the religion that directly influenced our nation, the Christian religion. We should not restrict our military chaplains or our legislative chaplains from praying in Jesus' name. While obscenity of language continues to degrade our dialogue in America, demeaning both the speaker and listener, thin-skinned individuals claim they are harmed by having to hear the name of Jesus. They don't even like the reminder on the top of every page of this newspaper that it was 2010 years since Jesus was born. Personally, it seems much more important to America's future to seek the blessing of God rather than exclude him.
Rev. Glen Bayly,
Mifflinburg
