On Irrelevant Religious Expression
My father, who is 92 years old now, was a B-17 pilot during WWII. About 10 years ago, he attended a Memorial Day event at the cemetery in the small California town where he lives. He's a well-known man in that town, since he served as the Chief of the town's volunteer Fire Department for almost 30 years. He is also a non-religious person who simply has never had any time for religion, although he really never speaks of it.
Anyhow, the organizers of that Memorial Day event had asked a local pastor to speak at the event, as they always did each year. That particular year, however, the pastor they chose took the occasion to deliver a speech that addressed only abortion and gays in dramatic, negative and vehement words. He went on for about 5 minutes, until my father had his fill of it. My father stood up in the audience and interrupted the pastor. He said, very pointedly, and I paraphrase:
"Excuse me, but that is NOT why we have gathered in this place today. This gathering is to commemorate the brave people who have lost their lives during wartime. Everyone here knew someone who died in battle, and we have come here to honor them, not to listen to someone complain about things that are not relevant to that. So, sir, if you do not have something so say in honor of those people, then I suggest that you sit down and stop talking. We do not want to listen to any more of what you have been saying."
Then, my father sat down again. Slowly, applause began to build in the group that had gathered. The pastor left the podium and walked away from the gathering. The next speaker on the program stepped up and began his speech commemorating those who served and the program continued without further interruption.
When the subject of a religious expression in public places is irrelevant to the situation, it serves no purpose and should not occur. If it does occur, it should be interrupted and the person making it told of its irrelevancy. Not every expression is suitable to every occasion. All too often, we allow religious expression to interfere with people's lives and do not speak out in fear of being impolite. We should stop doing that, really. We should not be afraid to stand up and insist that relevance be considered when people are gathered for a particular reason.
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I would have been among those applauding him.
His "negative and vehement words."
for your Dad.
If I had been in his time, I'd have danced with him at the USO. (To MineralMan's Dad: Sir, YOU are a hero. 
) 
