A group of busy body interventionist atheists from Wisconsin is suing the governor of Texas for his participation in a public prayer rally in Houston due to happen next month. Now try as I might I can’t seem to rap my head around the Texas- Wisconsin connection. The Freedom from Religion Foundation is supposedly filing its lawsuit on behalf of Texas Members. The problem is, in my experience, the term “on behalf of,” is often dubious in the extreme. How many times in history has tyranny been imposed “on behalf of,” one group, onto another? I’m frankly, not all that concerned with what a tiny minority, hundreds of miles away has to say about a religious prayer meeting here in Texas.

And so what if the Governor is a religious man, and finds prayer helpful? I’d wager most Texans espouse some kind of religious view! If anything, Governor Perry’s faith makes him a more accurate representative of his constituents. The fact is the August meeting is a non-denominational, non- sectarian event. Everyone is welcome and no one is required. As far as I can see prohibiting the Governor from attending amounts to nothing more than an infringement of his right of free association.

What annoys me most about the whole episode is that, anytime a public figure who happens to be a Christian wants to meet with other Christians, the “smart people” come out of the wood work to moralize about their interpretation of the “separation of church and state;” unless of course that public figure happens to be President Obama. The fact is no one will be hurt by the Governor attending a prayer rally. But some folks just can’t tolerate other people’s pursuit of happiness. I suggest the Wisconsin atheists hold their own uh… symposium on the ineffectiveness of public prayer. I won’t attend, but I promise not to sue either.