The Smalkowski family is suing Hardesty, Okla., for violating the separation of church and state. The family claims it has been discriminated against for being atheists, and that the religious town has tried to drive them out for holding different beliefs.From 2020 By JOHN STOSSEL, SYLVIA JOHNSON, and LYNN REDMONDMay 11, 2007 Three years ago the Smalkowski family moved to an 80-acre ranch in Oklahoma, and Nicole Smalkowski, who was 13 years old at the time, was excited about it. "We have a whole bunch of land that's ours, you can walk on it, you can camp on your own land." Nicole said. She looked forward to playing sports at her new high school. Editor's PicksIn the Grip of the DevilThe Power of Faith: Do You Believe in Magical Thinking?The Silent Sisters: Sacrifices for FaithAre We Built to Believe in God?Audrey Santo: The Miracle Worker?The Hugging SaintNicole is a remarkable athlete, and when school started she became the only girl to play on the boys' football team. The boys accepted her, she said, because she kept up with them. Then came basketball season, and at the first game, everything changed -- because after the game the girls gathered to recite the Lord's Prayer. From the Church to the Basketball CourtNicole said, "I didn't think they had religion in sports. But when it came to basketball they would pray before and after practices. They would pray during games. And you know, praying was a tradition for them and that is what they said." Even the opposing basketball team joined in -- from the stands, school officials bowed their heads. "You could see that all of the teachers that work at the school, the administration had their heads bowed and were saying the Lord's Prayer with the kids. Coach has his head bowed. It's a thing that everyone does," Nicole said. This was a very uncomfortable situation for Nicole, who has been an atheist all her life. "I wouldn't do it because it's disrespectful to me. I think it's disrespectful to them. Why would they want an atheist in their circle saying the Lord's Prayer? I mean, if I was a Jew or Muslim or Hindu, I would have a problem with that prayer." http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3164811&page=1Read More By Clicking Above...
The Smalkowski family is suing Hardesty, Okla., for violating the separation of church and state. The family claims it has been discriminated against for being atheists, and that the religious town has tried to drive them out for holding different beliefs.From 2020 By JOHN STOSSEL, SYLVIA JOHNSON, and LYNN REDMONDMay 11, 2007 Three years ago the Smalkowski family moved to an 80-acre ranch in Oklahoma, and Nicole Smalkowski, who was 13 years old at the time, was excited about it. "We have a whole bunch of land that's ours, you can walk on it, you can camp on your own land." Nicole said. She looked forward to playing sports at her new high school. Editor's PicksIn the Grip of the DevilThe Power of Faith: Do You Believe in Magical Thinking?The Silent Sisters: Sacrifices for FaithAre We Built to Believe in God?Audrey Santo: The Miracle Worker?The Hugging SaintNicole is a remarkable athlete, and when school started she became the only girl to play on the boys' football team. The boys accepted her, she said, because she kept up with them. Then came basketball season, and at the first game, everything changed -- because after the game the girls gathered to recite the Lord's Prayer. From the Church to the Basketball CourtNicole said, "I didn't think they had religion in sports. But when it came to basketball they would pray before and after practices. They would pray during games. And you know, praying was a tradition for them and that is what they said." Even the opposing basketball team joined in -- from the stands, school officials bowed their heads. "You could see that all of the teachers that work at the school, the administration had their heads bowed and were saying the Lord's Prayer with the kids. Coach has his head bowed. It's a thing that everyone does," Nicole said. This was a very uncomfortable situation for Nicole, who has been an atheist all her life. "I wouldn't do it because it's disrespectful to me. I think it's disrespectful to them. Why would they want an atheist in their circle saying the Lord's Prayer? I mean, if I was a Jew or Muslim or Hindu, I would have a problem with that prayer." http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3164811&page=1Read More By Clicking Above...
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