County Commissioners vote to display copies of the Ten Commandments; American Atheists State Director Carletta Sims is shut out of proceedings, as one officials claims "nobody wanted to hear what she had to say..."

ommissioners in Hawkins County, Tennessee voted unanimously Monday evening to request that state and national political leaders enact resolutions supporting "voluntary" prayer in public schools. The non-binding declaration warned that "the call for separation of church and state evokes fear for religious freedom..." and claims that "the founders of the American dream knew that the highest ideals of the American system reflected the Bible-based Judeo-Christian heritage of our citizens..." Introduced by Commissioner Boyd Goodson, the resolution cited a national "dependency on God" with the inclusion of religious mottoes on currency ("In God We Trust"), and added that "public prayer in the classrooms and assemblies of our nation will be an expression of our religious faith and gratitude to Almighty God."

   The meeting of the Hawkins County Commissioners began with a prayer and the Pledge to the flag which included the usual "god phrase" which was inserted into the pledge nearly forty years ago.

   According to the Kingsport Times newspaper, the resolution "passed to the rousing applause and standing ovation of the nearly (sic) capacity crowd in the Hawkins County courtroom where the commission meets." The paper noted that Tennessee American Atheist State Director Carletta Sims "was not permitted to speak in opposition of the resolution. She did not request to be placed on the agenda time to participate in the discussion..."

   Commission executive Heiskell Winstead, a supporter of the resolution, said that Sims "would have been allowed to speak had a commissioner requested it." Wintstead claimed that "nobody there wanted to hear what she had to say..."

   But Ms. Sims told AANEWS that she takes issue with Commissioner Winstead's summary of events. "They didn't publicize this resolution widely," noted Sims. "The news media found out about it on Friday night, and I learned about it shortly thereafter from a contact in the press." The resolution was formally introduced on May 7. At the Monday meeting, the resolution was item number 7, listed as ": Requesting The Members Of The TN. Congressional Delegation And Other National leaders To Enact Legislation That Would Permit Voluntary Prayer In Our Public Schools."

Sims attempted to speak once the resolution was seconded, in keeping with Commission rules; but Commissioner Roy Hawkins ignored her request, called for questions from the commission and an immediate vote.. "It was a done deal," noted Sims.

   According to Mr. Winstead, the goal of the resolution is to see Congress enact legislation which will allow orchestrated, unison prayer recitation in schools during the class day.

"Commission executive Heiskell Winstead, a supporter of the resolution, said that Sims 'would have been allowed to speak had a commissioner requested.' Winstead claimed that 'nobody there wanted to hear what she had to say...'"

Current law prohibits such a practice, but allows students to voluntarily pray outside the classroom. "There should be sufficient legal minds in Washington to take care of writing a law that would be constitutionally firm," Winstead declared after Monday's meeting. "I think we are absolutely sending the wrong message to our young people when they're of the opinion they can't pray and that we've taken God out of the schools."

   Sims, who has opposed display of the Ten Commandments in government buildings and a religious "released time" program in the local school system, did manage to distribute a written statement to the Board and media. "Coerced prayer is what you are asking for, and that is unconstitutional," noted Ms.Sims. "This legislation would be in violation of the establishment clause of the United State Constitution, and would fail the three prongs of the Lemon test in LEMON v. KURTZMAN..."

   Sims added that "prayer is clearly not secular," and would advance religion.

   "Our schools are made up of a variety of religions as well as atheists who support the tax base of our schools... We don't want to go back to the time when some children were ostracized because they either had to stand in the hall, go to the library, or sit there mute while they endured what they were wholly against. This can cause only conflict, divisiveness and segregation of the different sects of religion and nonbelievers..."

   Ms. Sims also noted hat "Bible scripture commands you to remain in the closet to pray," and referred to the verses of Matthew 6:5-6. "Let's keep the school free from coerced religious practices," she concluded.

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