In reviewing this week’s letters to the editor, and one particular column by my friend, columnist Herb Siegel, I am reminded of Rodney King’s lament a few years ago saying “Why can’t we all just get along?”

It all started last week when Pastor Dr. Joseph Guadagnino of South Florida Bible College, located on Federal Highway here in Deerfield Beach, attended the Deerfield City Commission meeting with about 100 fellow Christians requesting that the City Commission re-instate clergy-led prayers to open their meetings. He went on the say that, “For a time, Pompano Beach did not allow clergy-led prayers, but they do now. We oppose your decision to not have clergy-led prayers. I am offended. Christians are under attack.”

Mayor Capellini then read a letter from the ACLU suggesting the organization would sue the city if clergy-led prayers were not halted. An attorney in the audience offered to defend the city free of charge if that happened. Commissioner Pam Militello asked what was wrong with one moment of silence?

As a matter of coincidence, before I came into the Observer office that morning, I had been watching the U.S. Congress on C-Span. They opened their session with a prayer by a minister. Why isn’t the ACLU threatening them? Could it be because they know they would lose, maybe already have lost, and find it much more convenient to go around with bully tactics threatening towns like Deerfield Beach?

God bless Dr. Guadagnino and his congregates. I’m not one of them, but I appreciate what he and his congregation are doing to shine some light on this matter. And Herb, God bless you too! But incidentally, you were wrong when you assumed Christians don’t study the Old Testament. I know they do because I teach it at my church.

David Eller
Publisher