Editorial draws response

Hannah Asbury is to be commended for her love for this community and her obvious writing skills. I must respectfully disagree, however, with the conclusions she reached in her editorial on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Her opinion seems to be that it was wrong for the school to allow this student-initiated time of inspiration and reverence to be held around the flag pole on school grounds. Furthermore, it was wrong for the school to allow an announcement of the informal meeting to be given to students to take home. She urges that a strong, unwavering line should exist between church and state.

There was a strong connection between church and state in our country after 9/11. I recall that there was a religious service held in Washington National Cathedral, with our President and his officials, senators and representatives by the score, held in a packed sanctuary. There was no hair-splitting that day about government and religion being apart in all respects. We all wanted prayer at that time of national crisis. Prayers were said everywhere, then, and in most ways we have recovered. Now, as a nation and as individuals, we still need God's help, in my opinion.

I believe it is Liberty Insurance Company that has a TV ad that says, "You are good at doing many things. But, parallel parking is not one of them."

I want to suggest that The Brazil Times does many things well and deserves to be commended for them. Presenting an editorial, however, that disparages a wholesome, inspiring activity like "Meet Me at the Pole" is not one of them.

If the students at Northview want to attend a short, spontaneous activity around the pole for a word of blessing and inspiration, before the school day begins, I see it as a good thing. I believe that it reflects the values of our community. Good, spontaneous things happen in our community all the time. This is one of them.