Column: A moment of silence ... is that too much to ask ?

Sports

October 2, 2006

Jimmy Ivey The Weatherford Democrat Mon Oct 02, 2006, 04:01 PM CDT

I am an American and a Christian and I believe in freedom of expression.

People are entitled to think and do what they want to, within the law, but I would hope they would do so with taste and class.

That is what made me a little queasy about what I witnessed Friday night in Stephenville.

Now, by all means, I like a rowdy crowd at a football game, especially high school. There is something fundamental about rabid fans rooting for their school, their children, their neighbors’ children. There is something fantastic about high school students being completely engrossed in a football game. There are kids having pride in a school and in their friends, something which is missing at times in today’s youth.

But what I saw Friday went above and beyond that. It was questionable and was not in good taste and lacked much of the class Aledo fans pride themselves on.

Part of what makes high school football great is creativity. Before the game, Aledo fans were carrying around orange kazoos that when multiplied by several hundred made the loudest duck call I have ever heard. The only problem with those kazoos was that they were so loud that no one in the visitor stands could hear the public address announcer ask for the people in Tarleton Memorial Stadium to stand and observe a moment of silence. Did most of the Aledo fans observe it? No. They were still blowing on those kazoos and being encouraged to do so, to create the perfect high school football game atmosphere. That was not what some of the Stephenville fans thought, as one guy holding a cowboy hat waved his arms in the universal sign of ‘What do you think you are doing?’ while looking somewhat disgusted with the behavior.

Let’s be honest. The moment of silence is the closest thing there is to prayer, of any kind, in public schools.

Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia (en.wikipedia.org), defines a moment of silence as the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation.

Wikipedia also states, “Public moments of silence in the United States both arise from and contribute to this debate over prayer, and the separation of church and state. A moment of silence lacks any specific religious formulation, and therefore it has been presented as a way of creating reflection and respect without endorsing any particular sect.”

Whether you pray to the god of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindu or one you create in your mind, one should have respect for the moment.

It doesn’t have to be prayer. It could be to remember the brave men and women who have fought and died to give us the freedoms we enjoy in this country. It could be so that we remember our police officers, EMS personnel and fire fighters who are working the game. It could be so we remember that we are not supposed to be crass with the concession stand workers because we have been standing in line for longer than what we wanted so we could get a Coke.

In my opinion, not observing a moment of silence, when asked to do so at a public event, is no better than not standing to attention for the playing of our national anthem.

And this disturbance was not just for the moment of silence. Aledo fans probably had a hard time hearing their band start playing the school song, until it was well under way. Something similar happened at the beginning of the National Anthem, but that could have been because I don’t know that the P.A. announcer ever announced that it was being played or because it was being sung by a choir at one end of the football field.

As Americans, you have to choose whether or not to observe a moment of silence. It is not law that you do so. But it is the right thing to do, whether you are religious or not. When did communities stop believing in what is right, having manners and being polite, just because they want to get excited for a football game?

Text Only

Sports

Eagles rebound, advance to regional finals
Brock had a score to settle with the Troy Trojans after the opening game of their Class 2A, Region II semifinal series on Wednesday.

May 27, 2012 1 Photo
Roos get taste of “real” football in annual spring scrimmage
Weatherford football coaches, along with a healthy contingent of Roo football fans, got an early look at next season's players on Thursday at Kangaroo Stadium. The finale to spring drills spawned the 2012 version of the annual Blue-White game, with the Blue taking the controlled scrimmage, 14-3.

May 27, 2012 1 Photo
OK, let’s give it a rest — Column
Ever since the Texas Ranger’s last home stand, not the one they are in the middle of right now _ the local radio heads have kept the controversy alive concerning the decision by Coach Wash to rest some of his starting lineup (i.e., stars) during the short series with Oakland.

May 27, 2012
Knight inks with Jacksonville's new tennis program
Fresh off a Class 2A boys doubles state championship, Millsap senior Gabe Knight put finishing touches on a stellar prep tennis career recently, signing a letter-of-intent to attend and play tennis at Jacksonville College.

May 27, 2012 1 Photo
Eagles look to even series on Friday
The Brock Eagles drew first blood on Wednesday, and then drew a little more before their Class 2A regional semifinal opponents found their bats in a big way.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
McDonald heads to national competition
Tyler McDonald competed in the Cadet division in the 145-pound class last weekend at the Texas USA Wrestling State Tournament in Lewisville, and finished as the state runner-up.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
WHS play out intra-squad match
The annual Roos Blue-White scrimmage heralded the conclusion of spring drills as Weatherford coaches got a preview of the players who will suit up in the fall.

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Riggins tags sponsor
May 24, 2012
Making History
Heather Henson and Bailey Duvall became the first girls in the history of the Poolville High School tennis program, recently, to ever qualify and compete at the state championship tournament.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Sports briefs - May 22, 2012

Brock schedule finalized for regional semifinal series

Staff Report

After eliminating Melissa on Friday night with a 4-2 win, the Brock Eagles baseball team had to wait until Saturday's rubber match between Teague and Troy to see who its opponent would be.

May 22, 2012
More Sports Headlines

The Air Force Academy recently graduated their first openly gay cadets. What does this signify?

Sports

Search Results

Column: A moment of silence ... is that too much to ask ?

The Air Force Academy recently graduated their first openly gay cadets. What does this signify?

Site Map

Contact Weatherford Democrat