Martin Special Prosecutor said that the first thing she did with Trayvon's

[gopiscrap]

parents was pray with them....I for one if I lived in Florida would sue her over thsat. I would not want elected and PUBLICLY paid officials to be praying in my name!!!!!!

[mucifer]

1. But, Trayvon's parents are religious. It's about them, not about you.

[FarPoint]

26. Well said

Bravo....

[gopiscrap]

28. But if I lived in Florida

it would be my tax dollars paying for that prayer-a viloation of my rights

[arcane1]

29. How exactly did that violate your rights? n/t

[gopiscrap]

36. spending a portion of my tax dollars

on a religious activity

[SATIRical]

76. You realize the military pay Chaplains, right?

Same with Hospice.

And you realize George Washington had a day of prayer, right?

History and reality are apparently not your friend.

[etherealtruth]

31. Do you honestly believe this?

[The Magistrate]

33. Nonesense, Sir

And that from about as hard an old infidel as can be found on this site.

She did not violate your rights, but it sounds as if you would like to abrogate her's....

[snagglepuss]

78. I am really surprised that people take issue with the OP. Perhaps

as a Canadian I am not at all used to public figures wearing religion on their sleeves so this just seems strange. That said what if the accused was Muslim and the victim and prosecutor were Hindu? I need not tell you about the antagonism between those two groups. Would not the introduction of religious sentiments create massive problems?

[The Magistrate]

83. The O.P., Ma'am, Presses A Line Far Too Hard

The action described was among people who apparently share a common religious belief. It imposed nothing on anyone. It probably made the parents of the murdered child feel they could trust this new figure in the case, to share this ritual with her, and such trust in this situation is not guaranteed; these people have excellent reason not to trust Florida law enforcement at this point.

If, on meeting the family, the prosecutor had said, 'let's bow our heads in a prayer to God' and the parents had said something ranging from 'let's not' to 'fine, Mecca's that way' and the prosecutor had proceeded to disregard their expressed sentiments and bow her head to invoke her own particular deity, then we would have a problem. But that is not what happened.

The O.P. seems to be under the belief that separation of church and state requires anyone working for the state to refrain from any religious expression, because some citizens ( myself included ) are not religious. But that is not the case, and is far too extreme a position to be sustained. What cannot be done is to make of prayer an official function, a thing others are compelled to join in, or feel compelled to join in, whether they wish personally to participate in it or not.

[uppityperson]

67. Boy, next thing you know your tax dollars will go to pay for a drone or something.

Your rights! your Rights! omg your rights are being violated!!!111

[Fawke Em]

41. Yup... it's about THEM.

Sorry if you thought Trayvon was your son.

I, for one, think that Corey is "in love" with this family - and that may be one reason. Who cares? Other than the fact that they bonded and she will tirelessly seek justice for Trayvon's mom and dad.

[jwirr]

80. Exactly. She is starting where they are at.

[CatWoman]

2. you may not believe this

but a lot of people find solace in prayer

[wandy]

21. Some people take comfort in prayer. I respect them. Some times, not often, I envy them...

If Trevon's parents are religious, if the prosecutor is religious then it was right for her to pray with them.
If none are religious then it would be right to sit down over a cup of coffee and give comfort.
This is not the act of a prosecutor. This is the act of a human being.
Something all too rare in this day.

[arcane1]

34. Perfectly said!

[Auntie Bush]

70. +100

[lamp_shade]

3. What?

[spanone]

4. she said it twice, later on in the press conference. i wonder is that is standard state procedure?

[gopiscrap]

30. That's my fear also

it also sets apart those who aren't religious...in some indiscernable way, there might be a judgement value placed on them. I am very religious, but I also never want prayer or religion to enter into the civic arena..whose prayer would be used and what theology?

[teddy51]

5. As long as we see true justice, I don't care if the Pope prays with his parents! n/t

[countingbluecars]

6. I think you are making a big deal over nothing. n/t

[xchrom]

7. How dreadful...

[WolverineDG]

8. Oh yeah, we need to throw the case out now

because the prosecutor dared to pray with the family.

[madaboutharry]

9. I think your outrage is misplaced.

It is very important for the prosecution to gain the confidence and support of the victim's family, it is very helpful to the process. She was acting in solidarity with his parents. Why would that offend you?

[hlthe2b]

10. The parents are quite religious... Honestly, can you not recognise an attempt to comfort...

appropriate to the individuals involved? Had they been self-avowed atheists, I suspect she would have found very secular means of comforting them, even if she, herself were religious. There is nothing wrong with either response, but rather something very right when the needs/desires of these grieving people are sensitively addressed.

[etherealtruth]

11. I learned a long time ago ...

... you do what comforts people in distress. Sometimes it's not about "you" ... it's about what other people need.

I would object if she initiated prayer with Trayvon's parents ... however, if they initiated it and she participated in order to give them comfort I would have nothing but praise for her.

[K Gardner]

12. Bingo. Thread over. Thank you. n/t

[freshwest]

16. +1

[jillan]

73. Excellent response - thanks!

I feel the same way but you explained it perfectly.

[tularetom]

13. It wouldn't be the first thing I wanted her to do

but she was quite emphatic in stressing that her office works for the VICTIM and their family. And if they wanted to pray with her and felt it would provide guidance to help her in her job, then why the fuck would anybody care. It's their call and she complied with their wishes.

Don't read so much into a simple statement.

[southernyankeebelle]

14. Good lord maybe Trayvon mother asked her to pray with her. Lighten up. Who the heck is

it hurting? I am a firm believer of separation of church and state but this was private.

[gopiscrap]

40. Doesn't make it legal

and btw the way I organized and held a pretty big (for Tacoma) prayer vigil at my church the justice for the Martins.

[arcane1]

42. It's not illegal either

People in public office are not forbidden to pray, no matter how futile it is. What IS illegal is for them to make US pray.

Big big difference.

[uppityperson]

43. A client asks an attny to pray with them. You say it's illegal to agree to do so. Wow.

[arcane1]

52. Right?

If I were a fundie trying to parody the "separation" crowd, I could do no better than this.

(Mods: not that I'm saying anything sinister about the OP itself, just the language)

[southernyankeebelle]

55. I am not questioning your feeling about religion. I just think sometimes we have to make parents

feel comfortable. I am sure Mrs Martin appreciated her praying with her. By the way that was really nice you had a vigil for him at your church. You at least did something good.

[flamingdem]

15. Ut oh. Does Corey have ambitions for office?

The prayer and Rick Scott's appointment have me wondering

[Bjorn Against]

19. This case would probably not help a Republican win office

Zimmerman has a lot of supporters in the GOP and they will not vote for his prosecutor, Democrats will not vote for her because she is too far to the right. While this case will make her a household name I don't think she has elected office in mind, she may have other ambitions however and this case could certainly move her up in the legal world.

[gopiscrap]

32. No shit all you folks thinking

prayer is ok for publicly elected and paid officials, might want to rethink it..btw: before you think I am pro Zimmerman, I put together a vigil to call fvor justice for the Martins and held it at a church!

[flamingdem]

37. I don't think it's okay BUT

we're talking Florida here, they have religious blinders one

[uppityperson]

46. "publicly elected and paid officials" are prohibited from prayer? Seriously? No, they can pray if

they want to. Just because you are elected and paid doesn't mean you give up your right to your religious thingies.

[K Gardner]

66. OMG.. I hope nobody prayed there !!

[WolverineDG]

81. "Publicly elected & paid officials" have First Amendment rights too

it ain't all about YOU, ya know.

[Solomon]

17. Like other people here, the op is stunned by the charge.

Not liking it at all.

[badtoworse]

18. What an insensitive, ignorant post. It's not about you.

[MADem]

20. If the parents didn't have a problem, I don't either.

They're all citizens, and they can do what they want, so long as it doesn't cost ME any additional money and all parties involved are onboard with it. It's not like they were forcing any of us to participate or even watch. It was a private moment and I'll wager it gave the family some comfort.

Now, if she ordered YOU to pray along with them, you'd have something to gripe about.

And I doubt they were praying "in your name"--unless your name happens to be Jesus Christ Almighty.

Big eye roll on this gripe, frankly.

[JI7]

22. she wasn't praying in your name

[Daniel537]

23. Failure. n/t

[H2O Man]

24. oh deer

[Xipe Totec]

25. It's time to voluntarily withdraw your post

Seriously, and I sympathize with your cause, this is not helpful.

[arcane1]

27. I believe the prayer was likely in Trayvon's name

I'm an atheist, but I don't see a problem with her statement. There is definitely nothing to sue for.

[gopiscrap]

35. I grieve for the Martins and hope they throw the book at that fucker Zimmerman

but, the prayer warriors of the right wing pull this sort of shit all the time...it's an emotionally chartged case and by slipping ion prayer there on the public dime, is one more foot down the slippery slope towards having the thocrats rule our lives. It's gotta be a complete wall-with these fuckers. If she wants to pray with the family and I would love it if she does, then she needs to do it on her own time and not on the taxpayers dime!!!

[etherealtruth]

51. I am going to try this from an other approach ...

I have never been a government employee or an elected official ... I have had two careers that have involved "up close and personal" interactions with people in distress.

During the course of my work I have been asked by very distraught people to pray with them ... this is not something I do (left to my own devices); however, my response to people in great distress has always been "of course."

It is a small act on my part ... and it brings comfort to those requesting it. Trayvon Martin's family (at least the mom) appear to be very religious ... look at it as the prosecutor offering comfort to a grieving distraught family on your dime.

Do you honestly think it would have served this particular family well if she had refused?

[Autumn]

38. That was nice. They have been through a lot and prayer

can be very uplifting and comforting.

[Logical]

39. You are 100% correct. But the clueless here will rip you.

[uppityperson]

47. Only the "clueless" feel the Martin's request for praying together should've been honored? Oh. Kay.

[Logical]

49. Yes, what about slaughtering a chicken? Or praying to Zeus? OK also?

h

[uppityperson]

53. Sure. Why not? It wasn't in a public forum, so why not?

[Logical]

56. Not sure I want public officials in their professional role doing religion.

[uppityperson]

58. If they force it on others, no. But if the client asked them to, or appreciated it, no problem

[etherealtruth]

60. May I ask you a question that I asked the OP?

If in the course of your duties/work you were confronted be an extremely distraught person that requested that you pray with them ... would you refuse? ... or would you view it as an act of comfort.

I would have very serious problems if an elected official, during the conductance of her duties, requested folk to pray ... but I don't know how one can refuse this act and still convey a sense of sympathy and support to those that request it ... ?

[Logical]

63. I don't want government employees on duty praying with anyone. Especially when they are....

trying to remain neutral and unemotional about the suspect/victim.

I work in private business. Not government.

[etherealtruth]

65. The prosecutor is not neutral (she takes the side of the victim)

I am interested in how one refuses this request and still remain sympathetic?

I too have only worked in the private sector, my personality tends to be very nurturing ... so I can't fathom turning down a request like this (my first career was as a nurse which hopefully explains how this came up again and again for me).

I don't understand how someone can disengage from this request (under the circumstances) without causing discomfort ...?

[uppityperson]

68. Attorneys aren't neutral. Why ever would you think that? nt

[Tikki]

44. If she came to my house, I would ask her not to do that...I am sure she would oblige...

If she came to my house, I would want it not to be under such tragic circumstances.


Tikki

[The Straight Story]

45. And they better not offer them water or go to the bathroom on my dime either dang it

And Prayer?? OMG I am soooo scared now! Being I am really weak this has made me feel scared and I have converted - praise be to jeebus!


Some people, having beliefs I don't at work and PRAYING on company time? Holy fucking shit - the world will end in 2012.

The outrage. I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight.

I thought it was bad being out of work, no pay or UE for 4 months, car junked, and had to walk 3 miles to a DQ just to apply for a part time job because I don't have more than 3 pennies (which I found on the ground).

Now I see how much worse it could all be and I feel ashamed. Someone was comforting people in a way they felt comfortable with and they work for the government.

Damn.

[lonestarnot]

48. Well if you did, good luck with that. Hmmmf.

[Justice wanted]

50. FIRST Of all SHE DID NOT LEAD A PRAYER IN PUBLIC! If anything --I don't want this to sound rude--

she was probably doing something that would give the parents trust in her. Keep in mind how many days the police and officals sat on there thumbs about finding justice. She wanted to put a HUMAN touch to the office. This was something she did in private with them. It is no different than me sitting at my desk finding out a friend's mother died and offering a moment of "Prayer" with her to comfort her.


There is seperation that needs to be realized the woman doing something publically in front of a judge and a court room and something done in her private office to comfort the victim's family.

[dionysus]

54. oh for fucks sake.

[mucifer]

57. So now people don't have the right to pray together or discuss praying together?

I'm Jewish. I get sensitive about religious freedoms. But, they have the right to pray and they have the right to say they do so. A horrible thing happened and for them it helps.

[slackmaster]

59. That doesn't appear to me to rise to the level of establishing a state religion

I wouldn't worry about it. If it happened here in California I might feel differently.

[frylock]

61. you should move to fl and sue her then..

i'm an atheist, and IMHO your concern over this "issue" is positively laughable.

[Ian David]

62. Are you really an Atheist, or just pretending to be one to see who falls for this? n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

64. she didn't pray in your name-

get over yourself.

There is plenty to be distressed about in life, you don't need to go looking for silly shit.
'sue her' for what???

[pinboy3niner]

69. You mean she DIDN'T say, "Lord, in the name of gopiscrap, let us pray..."?

Well that's very different! ...

[MrBig]

71. I literally LOL'ed n/t

[Matariki]

72. oh ffs

They are grieving. Get over yourself.

[Nye Bevan]

74. Wow. Congress made a law respecting the establishment of religion.

That really sucks.

[Bucky]

75. You must be running out of things to be irate about.

[LynneSin]

77. Really?

There is nothing wrong with a publically elected official praying. I thought it was a very nice thing that she said. Not all religion is hateful and many of us DUers here are Christians.

I'll pray for you to not be so hateful and closeminded when it comes to religion. I know my faith has some real assholes but Jesus was more like us liberals - openminded, accepting and giving to others.

[alp227]

79. Shouldn't prosecutors be IMPARTIAL to all parties in criminal cases

and avoid such activities like the prayer thing in the first place?

[WolverineDG]

82. Where do you get the idea that attorneys are supposed to be "impartial?"

The judge, yes, must be impartial to both sides. The prosecutor advocates for the State, taking a decidedly anti-defendant stance in doing so.