The Cranston West prayer banner.
Before they next threaten a teenage girl or insult a judge, some defenders of that Cranston prayer banner would do well to read the thing.
For between the much publicized “Our Heavenly Father” and “Amen” are words that seem to have been missed.
Grant us, it asks, the desire “To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers.”
Was it kindness that inspired state Rep. Paul Palumbo to call 16-year-old Jessica Ahlquist an “evil little thing” during a talk radio appearance? Or the classmates who so mercilessly baited Jessica that she had to leave school for awhile. Or the tweeter who opined,“This girl honestly needs to be punched in the face?”
That tweeter also seems to have overlooked the be “honest with ourselves as well as others” part when he/she neglected to put a signature behind that brave threat.
“Help us to be good sports,” the banner continues, “and smile when we lose as well as when we win.”
Was that what talk show hosts and callers had in mind when they heaped abuse on Judge Lageux for ruling on the side of separation of church and state? When they threatened the ouster of any committee member with the temerity to obey that judge’s ruling? Was that what some students were thinking when they attempted a walkout upon learning of the decision?
“Teach us the value of friendship.” Was it in this spirit that classmates and others went on line to taunt and threaten this girl physically and sexually? “i cant wait to hear about you getting curb stomped you *----ing worthless -----,” one wrote.
“Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West,” the banner concludes.
Was it the school’s good name that motivated the microphone screamers, the meeting disrupters, the threateners, the talk show bullies, the obscene web posters?
Those messages in the middle seem lost on some defenders of the banner.
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