Prayer Supporters Rally at County Building (VIDEO)

JoAnn Nicholls April 18, 2011 at 12:44 pm

I am in support of the Tea Party. I support the Commissioners Constitutional right to open their meeting with the pledge and a prayer. As a matter of fact, the Senate, under the leadership of Harry Reid, opens his debates with a prayer. But I do not want to make religious ideals my focus for what I am angry about with respect to our political mess we're in. Although, if the TEA Party (Taxed Enough Already) is ineffective in their ability to have our elected officials close up the purse strings, prayer may be all we have left...........just sayin

sid April 18, 2011 at 01:40 pm

As a Chaplain I am in full support of prayer. Prayer does not mean others are forced to join in. Stand up for persons of faith and traditional marriage. here. http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=97059459144

Rob Green April 18, 2011 at 05:57 pm

I'd rate this a 1 on my scale of concerns. I'm more worried about Howard's thoughts on the involvement of the public in government.

Kym Byrnes (Editor) April 18, 2011 at 06:53 pm

Rob, tell me more. What do you mean, the "involvement of the public in government"? Inquiring minds want to know, and curious journalists want to help you find the answers.

Rob Green April 19, 2011 at 12:08 am

I got hip to this by way of Neil Ridgely's blog:
http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/releases/Ten%20Governing.pdf 9. Straight Talk & Citizen Participation: ... Additionally, this Board will promote better communication with citizens by scheduling key hearings on evenings or weekends, and provide increased opportunity for two-way dialogue at our public hearings. "I mean, why do we even get the community involved?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVEFMRE-Kdk

JoAnn Nicholls April 19, 2011 at 01:20 am

@Rob...uh, Dude, it's their freakin tax money they're spending. That's why the community should be involved. Something folks like Neil Ridgely just doesn't get. He thinks it is a privilege for a citizen to have government rape their wallet with their mouth taped closed..........

Rob Green April 19, 2011 at 01:49 am

I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear, but that quote was from Doug Howard. I agree that the government should always seek the voice of the people on matters like this.

Bonnie Grady April 20, 2011 at 02:48 am

@JoAnn...uh, Dudette, it's NOT their freakin tax money....it's OUR freakin tax money and we deserve to have a voice in how it is spent, contrary to Mr. Howard's opinion! Your comment seems contradictory. And as for your comment about Mr. Ridgely, I have to wonder whether you've read his blog; apparently not.

DAVID JONES April 20, 2011 at 06:08 am

I think JoAnn needs another cup of tea, or kool aid, or whatever else Michelle Jefferson is serving up this week.

JoAnn Nicholls April 20, 2011 at 01:17 pm

We've got you all so scared, don't we? Too bad for you that 77% of of citizens connect with the message of smaller government, cutting spending and lower taxes.......You must be on the government IV drip.......
http://scaredmonkeys.com/2011/01/15/77-of-americans-agreee-with-tea-party-and-not-democrats-want-to-cut-spending/ @Bonnie....we all know your agenda ...President of Synergetic Energy Pools, Inc. .....describes herself as buy green/earn green......You've got a fan Bonnie dear........http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/charles-manson-rants-on-global-warming-20110420 @David.......soooooooooo bitter aren't we...........http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/4568/Carroll-County-Commissioner-David-Jones/

Jill April 20, 2011 at 02:07 pm

Hurray for the commissioners standing up for the right to pray. That's why Carroll County is the greatest area to live in Maryland!

Kym Byrnes (Editor) April 20, 2011 at 02:16 pm

Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this online community. I just want to remind you that we are happy to have your comments as long as you remain respectful and appropriate. Our goal is to provide a forum for intelligent and informed debate and conversation. Any commenters who turn this into a mechanism to personally attack other individuals will be blocked from the comment thread.

JoAnn Nicholls April 20, 2011 at 02:58 pm

Thank you Kym....I wish to speak my mind about the facts....but if I am personally attacked, I won't sit back silent......And to be clear to Ms. Grady...."it is their money they're spending" was considered to mean "tax payers money" in response to Rob's statement of..."why do we even get the citizens involved?". The government wouldn't exist without the worker bees earning income and paying taxes. For the first time in decades, conservatives are taking an active role in all areas of government. Liberals are having a tough time accepting counter ideas and badly lost elections. The above posts to my response is the proof of the pudding. Insults such as drinking kool aid, and needing another cup of tea, or whatever Michelle is serving up, is over the top, and somewhat sad from a man who ran a campaign for Commissioner as a Republican. Just sayin..............

Rob Green April 21, 2011 at 02:02 am

Again, the quote was not mine but Doug Howard's.

JoAnn Nicholls April 21, 2011 at 12:46 pm

@Rob......love the way you guys spin the actual meaning of Commissioner Howard's remarks....Actually, and sadly for you and others who want to defame these men and women into being contradictory to their principles, I watched the entire meeting via cable channel 24. When Commissioner Howard made this remark, it was about having citizen approval on the architectural design of a school or an addition. He merely stated that he received a very good education in some very square, architecturally deficient buildings. Commissioner Howard wants the money to go to the teachers and the kids. AND SO DO MANY OF THE CITIZENS ROB. There isn't any money to be wasted any longer on fancy additions, fancy titles in the bloated school board administration and elsewhere. STOP THE SPIN!!! WE'RE WIDE AWAKE!!!!

CJ23 April 22, 2011 at 05:46 pm

Opening prayers for county government meetings? What better to way to let the non-Christian citizens of the county know that they are not really included in the community or the government.

JoAnn Nicholls April 23, 2011 at 12:07 am

CJ23....perhaps you'd better start listening to C-Span.....Harry Reid, whom I assume you approve of, opens his debates with a prayer ALWAYS...And just for your convenience, I am offering you a link to the Maryland Constitution. Please read Article 36 of the declaration of Rights....I'm sure after you read that you'll be as outraged as I am that we've been lied to about something called a separation of church and state....
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/43const/html/00dec.html

CJ23 April 25, 2011 at 02:54 pm

So you don't think there is anything wrong with communicating to non-Christian citizens that they aren't really permitted into the community and the government is not really for them?

JoAnn Nicholls April 25, 2011 at 03:27 pm

CJ23.....Right or wrong is NOT the issue at hand. The issue is whether the Commissioners are within their legal right to open a public hearing with the "Pledge" and a "prayer". The Constitution CLEARLY states that they have committed no crime, and are clearly within their right to pray at a public hearing . "Feeling" left out of Government because one prays differently than you, is not necessarily an unlawful act. The law was not designed for one's "feelings".
It was alleged by the ACLU and the far left, that the Commissioners have violated law......Many of us disagree, and it is of NO ISSUE TO US, what a human being in any walk of life decides with respect to their religious belief, and where they choose to do so. Therefore, I charge that ANYONE who feels that the Commissioners have done wrong, to bring on the lawsuit and stop the assault against the character of those who disagree with you. And when you do so, better bring one against Harry Reid and the US Senate as well, because they open all their hearings with a prayer to guide them.

Wearedoomedcc April 29, 2011 at 05:51 am

@JoAnn Nichols, your comments about the prayer issue are off base. Not one person said that the Commissioners cannot say a prayer, but the prayer they choose to use is one that is not inclusive of all citizens of the county. We are not a county or state or country made up of Christians. If they can't say a non-secatarian (or maybe that is too big a word for people like you and I will simplifiy it )RELIGIOIS or prayer inclusive to ONE religion no matter if it is Christian, Jewish, Muslim and so forth, they should not say one at all when opening a Government (which the BOC is part of) meeting. Have you watched the meetings lately? Now they sit and pray to "Jesus" and then say the pledge. I'm sure that this is offensive to many religous groups as it shows insincerity and only done for SHOW and the media.

Wearedoomedcc April 29, 2011 at 05:53 am

*RELIGIOUS