prayer?

     "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you—Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom." 
—From a video played during the Chancellor's Fall Opening Session, 2009
     As you know, the U.S. Constitution states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." Nevertheless, for decades, the SOCCCD board of trustees, a "legislative body," has imposed prayer upon many during public events. And it has supported district and college officials doing so.
     Some objected to such imposition--as far back as 1992.
     By the end of the first decade of the new millennium, the right-wing board and Chancellor seemed to raise the temp, in part because one trustee, Don Wagner, was running for State Assembly and sought attention that would please his Neanderthalic base.
     That all came to a head in 2009.

• Without a Prayer - LA Times, Dec. 10, 1992 - way pre-Westphal
• Prayer and being "out of the picture" at the South Orange County Community College District - November 4, 2006 - pre-Westphal
• The troubling sentiment - September 2, 2009
• The SOCCCD’s “prayer practice” in the courts - November 19, 2009
• AUSCS press release: targeting SOCCCD's "prayer practice" - November 20, 2009
• The OC Reg reports on the "prayer" lawsuit - November 23, 2009
• Praying man v. "atheist professor" and "leftist secular group" - November 25, 2009
• Good news in Westphal v. Wagner - April 7, 2010
• Wagner v. Westphal: motion for preliminary injunction denied - May 12, 2010
• Prayer suit demagogued; John Edwards criticized; plaintiffs tarred with "atheist" brush; Wayne Ward remembered - May 14, 2010
• $2 million to defend an arrogant board? - May 23, 2010
• Our Founding Parental Units vs. defenders of the right and the normal - June 3, 2010
• Update on Westphal v. Wagner — The District "outs" the student plaintiffs - October 31, 2010
• The latest developments in the "prayer" lawsuit—with fun/disturbing details! - November 6, 2010
• Westphal v. Wagner: yesterday's fascinating hearing - December 7, 2010
• What's up with the prayer lawsuit? (Fun excerpts—including emails!) - December 18, 2010
• The latest on the "prayer" lawsuit (Wagner v. Westphal) - January 31, 2011


• Queen Nancy's premature pronouncement - February 4, 2011
• Nancy's spin: Americans United responds - February 7, 2011
• A strange world - February 7, 2011
• "Westphal v. Wagner" (prayer) settlement! - April 6, 2011
• "Jesus and the American soldier" - April 15, 2011
• The district issues a statement re "Westphal v. Wagner" (FACT CHECK) - April 19, 2011
• "Westphal v. Wagner" resolution (up for approval Monday) - April 21, 2011
• Inside "Westphal v. Wagner," Part 1: Judge Gandhi glowers at Nancy Padberg and crew! - April 29, 2011
• Who does Tod Burnett think he is? Saddleback Prez imposes prayer at commencement - May 10, 2011
• A lawless board: the district won't comply - May 12, 2011
• The district prevails re Burnett's imposition of prayer onto tomorrow's commencement - May 19, 2011
• The Saddleback College Academic Senate pushes back against Prayer Boy - March 7, 2012
• Let's get appointed to those "commencement" committees! - June 24, 2013
• Yet another FUBAR: the "commencement prayer" issue at IVC - Dec. 21, 2013

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