I guess we must all learn to face facts. Even those of us here in the great state of Louisiana are subject to the growing tide of America's "Cancel Culture."

In a land formerly run as a democracy, where the majority ruled, we now find ourselves bowing to the complaints of the few. And in this case, the complaint of one. Uno. Solo. A single complaint was the impetus to totally remove student led prayer at Riverbend Elementary School in West Monroe, Louisiana.

New Testament
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That complaint compelled Ouachita Parish Schools to cease the tradition of what most of us would consider to be an incredible way for school kids to start the day.

In an article from shreveporttimes.com, we see that the student led prayer on the school's intercom was the same every day:

"Father God,

Come be with us today.

Fill our hearts with joy.

Fill our minds with learning.

Fill our classrooms with peace.

Fill our lessons with fun.

Fill our friendships with kindness.

Fill Riverbend Elementary with love.

Amen. "

While I feel most would be hard pressed to see anything offensive in the prayer, one person did and apparently that was enough.

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William Thomas Cain/Getty Images
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We've learned that each morning, a student would lead the school over the intercom in the Pledge of Allegiance and follow that with the prayer and according to the Freedom From Religion Foundation, this violates the Supreme Court's ruling on prayer in school since,

....all students and employees are required to be present, as opposed to an event on school property.

Freedomforuminstitute.org, a group dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment says:

Contrary to popular myth, the Supreme Court has never outlawed “prayer in schools.” Students are free to pray alone or in groups, as long as such prayers are not disruptive and do not infringe upon the rights of others. But this right “to engage in voluntary prayer does not include the right to have a captive audience listen or to compel other students to participate.”

Apparently, the fact that the prayer was voiced over the school's intercom is the issue, and because of that, Ouachita Parish Superintendent Don Coker has stated that the issue has been addressed.  According to Coker, "The principal knows that we won't be reading prayers over the intercom."  "It has actually been handled and dealt with. Now I think they do a moment of silence."

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So, that's it? No fight? No search for a way to uphold the Constitution and still maintain a spirit of Christianity?  Just cancel it and move down the road? What about the protection of the rights of the Christian kids who were blessed to start each day in prayer?

Apparently not.  All it takes is one. Scary isn't it?

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