Letters to the Editors

Time to consider 1st Amendment in prayer debate

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 10, 2001

Editor: Re: Religion in the schools:

Having responded earlier at a very personal level to the issue of prayer at Citrus County School Board meetings, I would like to defend, once again, the position of Carol Snyder, new to this community and to our School Board.

While I've not personally heard Mrs. Snyder's comments, what I have read suggests she is speaking out for those students who may be feeling like second-class citizens (maybe aliens?) because they are not Christians. As demonstrated in a recent letter from a local teacher, Snyder's position seems to be in accord with the law. She has sought a legal opinion from the School Board's attorney.

To the best of my (fading) memory, none of the letter writers, thus far, have mentioned the First Amendment. My understanding of it is that those who wrote our Constitution wanted to be certain that the United States never established a state church. When governmental bodies -- school boards, county commissions, city councils, Congress, etc. -- open their meetings with prayer, they risk violation of that important principle. When schools allow religious recruitment within their secular walls, they do likewise.

I greatly admire Snyder and her defender, Lynn DeLong, both practicing Christians who may exemplify the best of Christianity in their concern for the sensitivities of all children.
-- Jackie Evans, charter member, Nature Coast Unitarian Universalists

Outpouring against Snyder unacceptable, unjustified

Editor: My wife and I feel compelled to write and express our dismay with the attacks that have been directed at Carol Snyder, and her expression of support for the Constitution of the United States. We are citizens of Citrus County, both teachers in the Citrus County schools, and committed Christians deeply involved in several ministries at our own parish (St. Anne's Episcopal Church).

Our Christian beliefs compel us to speak out against the unacceptable things that have been said by uninformed and intolerant people in our community. Very simply put, Ms. Snyder is right: There is no justification for using prayers that exclude non-Christians, or to promote activities that endorse the views of a particular religious group during the school day.

It is important, and appropriate, to invoke God's blessings and the influence of his Spirit at the beginning of a meeting of public officials. When it is correctly done in such a group, those with differing views may interpret, each in his own heart, how that request should be phrased, but none should be specifically excluded. Certainly, before and after school, students may be invited to activities expressing the views of religious groups, but during the school day (excluding schoolwide open activity periods), such activities are specifically prohibited by law.

Our Constitution gives to everyone the freedom to hold his own beliefs and forbids imposing the beliefs of one group upon others. We, as Christians, are ministers through our own actions each day. If we do not persuade students how God wants us to live through our example, we are not living our faith, but only mouthing platitudes. Talk is not a substitute for faith.

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." -- James 1:26.
-- Paul and Linda Harley, Homosassa

Churches and homes are places for rituals, not our schools

Editor: This letter is in support of School Board member Carol Snyder. Her efforts to preserve our constitutional protection of separation of church and state are greatly applauded and appreciated.

Certainly, all religions should practice their rituals and traditions, but churches and homes are the proper venues for such practice, not the public schools.
-- Lee Brannon, Inverness

Being living witness does more to show beliefs than attacks

Editor: The attacks on Carol Snyder are very troubling and unjustified. The public school system and the government are not supposed to support or promote any one religious belief.

When I was in grammar school in North Carolina in the late 1940s and early '50s, we had mandatory chapel, Bible studies and prayer in the public schools. One would think all the children would have been honest and well-behaved, given all the exposure to religion, but this was not the case.

Several families in our neighborhood never attended church, were quite loose with their morals and did not train their children very well. These children were exposed to religious teaching in school, yet they broke the law, dropped out of school and had a lot of problems in their lives. We did not have school shootings, but the schools were segregated and racism was the norm. The religious community did not complain.

Trying to force one's beliefs on others is the very worst way to win them over. I think many in the conservative or fundamentalist Christian movement should rethink their tactics and stop their attacks on Mrs. Snyder and others who disagree with them.

All of our churches need to be meeting the needs in our community. Citrus County has people who are homeless, hungry, lonely, mentally and physically ill, stressed out with no one to talk with, in nursing homes with no family to visit or housebound and in need of a friend. Some of them probably are your neighbors or live near your church. Our many wonderful volunteer organizations are begging for help.

Quit trying to force your ideas on others through the school system, politics and the government and be a living witness with your understanding, compassion and actions. We will all be better off.
-- Judy Groner, Lecanto

Elections supervisor happy to be chadless in Citrus County

Editor: I would like to thank everyone who worked on the historic presidential election of 2000 and were instrumental in ensuring that things went smoothly.

First, I would like to thank the County Commission that in 1997 approved the request for the purchase of a new voting system for Citrus County. They took the heat from many citizens who did not want to spend the money on a new election system. Former county Commissioner Brad Thorpe, who had been a member of canvassing boards, prophetically stated that the antiquated data punch system had the potential for disaster. How right he was! Most other commissioners agreed. The Board, consisting of Commissioners Thorpe, Gary Bartell, Jim Fowler, Vicki Phillips and Roger Batchelor, voted to purchase the new system.

Canvassing Board members Judge Mark Yerman and Commissioner Fowler were invaluable in making the important decisions concerning the conduct of the election. They are both very busy people, but made their canvassing board responsibilities their first priority. Both Judge Yerman and Commissioner Fowler were available for whatever step would come next in the process. Their good counsel, judgment and availability are very much appreciated.

The wonderful elections office staff carried out their responsibilities very professionally. I am very proud of them and thankful for their initiative and dedication to the tasks at hand and the willingness to put in the long hours necessary to get the job done. This was a stressful time for everyone and the staff, like cream, rose to the top. This was a time when the staff had to address many questions and concerns from the public. There were many people in the office from political campaigns, the media, and also concerned voters. I knew I could count on the staff no matter what happened.

We cannot conduct an election without the clerks, poll workers and deputies at the 34 various polling places throughout the county. It takes about 400 election workers to conduct a general election in Citrus County. Believe me, these dedicated election workers participate in the election process because of a strong sense of civic duty. Election Day is a more than 13-hour day for the workers. They do not do it for the money because, frankly, we do not pay them that much. Yet, election after election, we have many of the same dedicated election workers come back to work the elections for our county. If you know an election worker, please say thank you.

A special group of election workers came in to assist with the election-related activities of preparing absentee ballots for mailing and to conduct supervised voting at nursing homes in the county and to prepare election equipment for delivery to the polling places. Again, they were always pleasant, willing and wanting to ensure the election process here would go smoothly.

Some of these same election workers were the ones we called on at a moment's notice to participate in a recount or search for undervotes. Whatever was necessary these people were there for us.

Thanks also to all the Citrus County government entities that offered to provide staffing and equipment to get the job done. The Sheriff's Office was there by our side to provide the security. Interim County Administrator Richard Wesch offered county assistance for anything we might need. County Attorneys Larry Haag and Carl Kern provided the legal assistance needed when we were sued in federal court in Tallahassee, as well as being available on Dec. 9 for counting the undervotes.

The local reporters from the Citrus County Chronicle and the St. Petersburg Times were most understanding of the day-to-day uncertainty of events. I am thankful to have good relationships with both newspapers. Mike Wright from the Chronicle and Jim Ross from the Times are the ones I have the most contact with. I know our relationships are built on mutual respect and that is why it works.

Lastly, I want to thank all my friends and family who were so supportive during this time. Even though things went relatively well in Citrus County, this was a personally stressful time for me. This was an unprecedented presidential election. The stakes were high, and I was very cognitive of my responsibilities. I received many cards and calls of support from my friends and family. Thanks to all who tried to make this time easier for me.

What happens from here will be most interesting. We definitely will see changes in election laws and probably changes in election systems for some counties. Changes will come on the state and federal level. The State Association of Supervisors of Elections looks forward to working with our legislators to effect some changes in the law. Governmental task forces have been created to study election issues. In the past, election-related items were put on the back burner. Only when something drastic happens does it become apparent that some changes are needed. I hope we will see thoughtful, sensible changes.

I feel very fortunate to be Citrus County supervisor of elections. It is my pleasure and honor to hold this office. I look forward to my next four years in office. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan may be Sleepless in Seattle, but I am certainly thankful to be chadless in Citrus.
-- Susan Gill, Supervisor of Elections

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