A prayer at my public HS Reunion...

[drgnfly30]

I do not want this to turn into a debate... But, it seemed so ODD to me that I had to turn to the Dis and ask for opinions....

Last night at my 20th (public) High School Reunion, one of the committee members said a prayer during the "welcome" speech. She asked that we all bow our heads & pray. Then went for it... Again, I went to a Public high school, so obviously there was no praying going on!! I know for a fact that many people there were not of a Christian faith so how did THEY feel?!

The person that did it, was NOT a religious person back in the day, so my assumption is that she has found God.. which is great, but was it appropriate?! I'm not the most religious person but it seemed out of place to me.

 

[eclectics]

Totally inappropriate, imho. Assuming that a crowd of people you went to a public school with and that you haven't known in 20 years would care to partake in a religious prayer was very rude indeed.

 

[Kimberle]

HS reunions are generally arranged by a small group of people/graduates, not by the school. Putting together an event of any kind envolves an enormous amount of work. So, no, it wouldn't bother me.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I do not want this to turn into a debate...

Good Luck with that.

 

[Hedy]

Totally inappropriate, imho. Assuming that a crowd of people you went to a public school with and that you haven't known in 20 years would care to partake in a religious prayer was very rude indeed.

Agreed. I'd write a letter of complaint.

 

[aprilgail2]

Totally inappropriate and I would not have done it! It is very rude to do with a group of people whos religious beliefs are not known to you.

 

[Beth76]

Agreed. I'd write a letter of complaint.

To whom? Yes, it was inappropriate, but it's done and no one got hurt. It can't be changed. The person who did it doubtfully would apologize for it. And I don't think the OP is looking for an apology either. Just mentioning a strange occurance at this event.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

Christians aren't the only people that pray. And there are worse things that could happen at a reunion. I think it is unusual, and I would have suggested a prayer not be said, but I don't think it's a horrible thing, given it's Thanksgiving weekend.

And yeah, good luck on the no debate thing.

 

[auntpolly]

Totally inappropriate but not illegal, I don't think.

I'd complain to the organizers, but that's just me. You don't have to make it a big crusade, just voice your concern for future reunions. I mean, they can't just keep thinking that's OK.

 

[themarquis]

I would be pretty upset, too.

This is a large function consisting of a mixed group of people clearly not affiliated with a particular church. To try to press everyone into praying together would be totally inappropriate, and actually really rude. Whether or not some people spent lots of time organizing the activity doesn't give them the right to make everyone pray together. It would be like if I did a lot of work organizing my reunion and therefore decided it would be appropriate for me to force everyone to do the hokey pokey with me. (course that might actually be fun lol) Inappropriate, weird, and rude.

 

[drgnfly30]

I'm not complaining, nor will I mention it outside of this forum... just thought odd & possibly inappropriate...

 

[smartestnumber5]

I agree I find it inapropriate and rude unless it was a religious school to begin with. I'd never get up there and ask everyone to join me in an atheist blessing in which we recite an argument demonstrating that God doesn't exist. I expect the same courtesy.

I ran into the same issue when I was in high school and asked to give the Benediction at our public high school's honors award ceremony. The school gave me no guidelines--just said it's a goodbye kind of thing at the end of the ceremony. Later my parents told me that it usually is some kind of prayer. I believe the person who did the Invocation did a generic prayer of some sort. I don't know if that was what the school (a public school!) was expecting, or what, but they sure didn't get it from me. I had a horrible cold at that time and just the day before the event I was losing my voice. I went to a doctor who gave me some medicine for a short-term basis that would stop me from losing it anymore. I thanked him in my benediction.

 

[auntpolly]

I'm not complaining, nor will I mention it outside of this forum... just thought odd & possibly inappropriate...

That's cool - I'm such a trouble maker!!!

 

[Honu]

Wow. Completely inappropriate. I might have had to start a chick fight.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

Although it wouldn't bother me, I think it was a very rude and inappropriate thing for her to do.

 

[cristit14]

I do not want this to turn into a debate... But, it seemed so ODD to me that I had to turn to the Dis and ask for opinions....

Last night at my 20th (public) High School Reunion, one of the committee members said a prayer during the "welcome" speech. She asked that we all bow our heads & pray. Then went for it... Again, I went to a Public high school, so obviously there was no praying going on!! I know for a fact that many people there were not of a Christian faith so how did THEY feel?!

The person that did it, was NOT a religious person back in the day, so my assumption is that she has found God.. which is great, but was it appropriate?! I'm not the most religious person but it seemed out of place to me.

They did this at my HS reunion this summer too. I thought it a little odd, but then I remembered that I did graduate in the bible belt.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I'm very sure you knew the answer to the question even before posting this, the answer is right in your post. It is very inappropriate. Did she forget that the school she went to was a public school? I'm glad she found her God.. but should have not been brought to the reunion.

 

[Galahad]

I'm very sure you knew the answer to the question even before posting this, the answer is right in your post. It is very inappropriate. Did she forget that the school she went to was a public school? I'm glad she found her God.. but should have not been brought to the reunion.

In may have been inappropriate, but it's completely irrelevant that it was for a public high school unless the reunion was organized by and put on at the school itself.

 

[shortbun]

We always have one. It's actually a moment of silence for our passed classmates followed by a blessing. I'll take a blessing from anyone. I don't think it's unusual and although I have plenty of atheist friends, I don't think they'd be suprised either. Eh, just one of those things that are not important enuf to battle over.

 

[Galahad]

We always have one. It's actually a moment of silence for our passed classmates followed by a blessing. I'll take a blessing from anyone. I don't think it's unusual and although I have plenty of atheist friends, I don't think they'd be suprised either. Eh, just one of those things that are not important enuf to battle over.