Readers should lay off the boys becoming men

Frank X. Muscatello

The two letters, “Public game an improper place for private prayer”

and “God doesn’t have a favorite team” published in Friday’s edition

of the Daily Pilot Mailbag are perfect examples of so-called

“grown-ups” in a frenzy to have their opinions expressed and imposed

without full knowledge of the facts surrounding the incident that

they are addressing.

In the first letter, writer Larry Platt posed the following

questions: Why is the Newport Harbor football team “huddling” for

prayer? Why does the school allow this in the first place? Has

Newport Harbor been converted to a private religious academy, some

sort of Christian institute?

It is unclear if he was actually seeking answers to these

questions or just jumping at the opportunity to trumpet a misguided

separation-of-state-and-religious, right-taking-over-America

argument. Regardless, here are some facts, some answers and a few

questions in return.

The prayer in question took place following Newport Harbor’s

defeat in the CIF Division VI championship game. The “huddle” was the

last of the season, and for many of the seniors, the last of their

lifetime. There were no coaches included or involved. Senior Steve

Joslin said a prayer, the content of which neither you nor I heard,

or deserve to know. The words were shared with a group of young men

who have worked together, sacrificed together, battled together, won

and lost together. They did not ask for the school’s or anyone else’s

approval to say a prayer. And, in my humble opinion, the only

approval they needed was from each other.

Are you suggesting that this band of brothers, these young men, do

not have the right to express themselves with a group prayer? Have

you heard of freedom of speech? Why do you automatically assume that

the prayer involved Christianity? I’m pretty sure you were not in the

huddle!

The writer of “God doesn’t have a favorite team,” Jay B. Litvak,

provided us all with four paragraphs in which he rants about his

displeasure with the “blasphemous practice” whereby athletes thank

God for scoring touchdowns or hitting a home run. He even offers to

send them all Bibles to be used as coasters if he sees one more

athlete engaging in the practice.

May I offer these words of advice: Get the facts straight before

offering an opinion, especially in writing. Joslin’s prayer took

place after Newport Harbor was defeated by a score of 35-6. It is

unlikely that he was thanking God for their performance. As for

praying to God to intervene on Newport’s behalf, barring a miracle,

that chance expired with the fourth-quarter clock.

Give me your address and I’ll send you a whole set of Bible

coasters! When are adults ever going to learn that the constant

meddling, critiquing, guiding, and imposing of our beliefs on our

children is not always right, wanted or necessary? There are times

when the need to demonstrate one’s political correctness or voice

religious beliefs and constitutional interpretations should be held

in check. This is one of those times.

Let our boys become men. They have spoken. Respect them.

* FRANK X. MUSCATELLO is a resident of Newport Beach.