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If by law we are required to tolerate an increasingâ€" ly offensive popular culture pushed on by the commercial interests, then I don‘t see why we can‘t at least allow God equal time. Yet, the atheists will feel uncomfortable. But let me offer some words of reassurance to them. An atheist is usually a sincere person who is trying to be humanitarian and broadâ€" Marc Lepine‘s come from.) Almost everyone is offended by these things, and yet if society makes any move to curb them, some party claims that their freedom is being limited. And so we are forced to go on tolerating it. But let anyone invoke the name of God in a public place, and suddenly this is a thing which can not be tolerated. GOD has become the subject that may only be mentioned behind closed doors betweed consenting adults What has hapâ€" pened to our world anyway? and violence and urge us to drink and gamble. Where if young people, quite naturally, want to go out for some entertainment or have a few friends in to watch a video, there is virtually nothing available to them which isn‘t lurid and filled with random violence. (And then we wonder where the Ian Kirkby speaks of "prayer" as if it were a dirty word, an evil menace that must be wiped out. How in the world have our values become so completely turned upside down? We live in a world where you can‘t stand in line at the supermarket checkâ€"out without being exposed to sexually suggestive pictures and headlines on the covers of magazines and tabloids. Where you can‘t watch the TV news without commercial interruptions which glorify sex I didn‘t know whether to laugh or to cry at Ian Kirkby‘s editorial page column claiming that public prayer is a denial of human rights! In a world like ours, what could be further from the truth? Let me begin by saying that I am a nonâ€"Christian, a convert to another faith. And I thought that the prayer quoted by Mr. Kirkby, the prayer they say at Waterloo City Council, was simply beautiful. I was so happy to hear that our public servants still see the value in acknowledging God before they begin their proceedings. It warmed my heart. If the prayer had been the Lord‘s Prayer or if it had concluded with "in Jesus‘ name, Amen‘" that would offend me and other nonâ€"Christians. But the prayer as it is given is perfectly nonâ€"sectarian, and I simply can‘t imagine that any of our Yugoslav or Chinese or American Indian or East Indian citizens could find it offensive. God deserves . equal time PAGE A8 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13, 1989 CHRISTMAS ACCENTS FOR THE HOME 20% ()FF ALL CHRISTMAS POTPOURRLI, CHRISsTMAs itEMs ~RLMAYER 450 ERB ST. W., WATERLOO (BEECHWOOD PLAZA) 747â€"3181 Personal Bath Items * Unique Hostess Gifts * Gift Baskets BATH & GIFT BOUTIQUE Thanks to the support of many, many businesses and private individuals, our communities in the Waterlooâ€"Wellington district have a far greater understanding of our organization and its goals and objectives. A special thanks to the media, especially the Waterloo Chronicle, for their outstanding coverage during the month. for a small (but growing!) group such as ours, reading and hearing about our activities, seeing business signs saluting "our month," having stores distribute our flyers, and having a crowded Kâ€"W Hospital Auditorium for our open house was more than we ever hoped for. As our slogan says, "The Pain is Real," but your support in the past month has greatly eased that pain. Thank you. Beth Thompson Publicity Chairman CFIC Waterlooâ€"Wellington The Waterlooâ€"Wellington chapter of the Canadian Foundation for Heitis and Colitis would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the community for sharing in our November Awareness Month. Thanks for easing the pain fi-i:ded,n.kthimwxiym&uayhohmw scientifically observe the religious experience in men and v:;n, if h.h::.:l not wish to participate. Let him observe ives are stabilâ€" societies more peacefu}, when a heartfelt religion is practiced. If in our school system and our political gatherings we attempt to depict man as a nonâ€"reliâ€" gious being, we simply are not looking at human beings as they are. If we deprive man of God, we make him half a man, a fish out of water, lost in his perplexity. A society that thinks it doesn‘t need to pray is a society that needs condoms in high school waâ€" shrooms. Is this the kind of rudderless society we want to preserve? In order to cherish tolerance and diversity, as Mr. Kirkby wishes to do, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE GODLESS. It is necessary, on the contrary, to cherish the totality of man, including his religious experience. So let us defend the human right to pray. To pray much, and openly. For heaven‘s sake let us, let us pray. Eleanor Grant Waterloo MMIW L THE INVOICE PRICE immamiiat 1 .---------------------‘ NOTVALDNCONJUC"ONWH’HMYMADW!DSPECIAL OFFERS VALID WITH COUPON THROUGH 123189 AT WATERLOO LOCATION ONLY. ; _ Z9 nsrauu I I *Fits Many Domestic Cars I g :1 Year Warranty I ; * Pipes, Clamps & Hangers Extra [ WATERLOO se en teym s a oo i‘l Year Warranty I Ath FREE! * Pipes, Clamps & Hangers Extra [ ‘--------_---â€"_,_,â€"-------- . 23 For an appointment call 886â€"7723 373 Bridge St. W. 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