Dear John Locke,
Maybe this Halloween you could bring your ghostly self up from the grave to Lake Orion. There are some here who have forgotten about separation of church and state. Bring your friend Thomas Jefferson, too. We could use his wisdom on the first amendment and religion’s place in government and schools ? that is, there isn’t one.
Thanks, man. See ya.

Dear Township Board of Trustees,
I think it’s completely inappropriate that you pray before your meetings. It’s not that I’m against prayer. Far from it, in fact. I was raised Protestant, spent every Sunday at church service, spent Tuesday evenings at youth group and spent 17 summers of my life at Bible camp. I’m cool with prayer in your personal life. But, when you pray to God at the start of a meeting, you set an improper tone.
You have an obligation to your diverse set of constituents and to the doctrine separating religion and government. What about the atheists in the community? And the Hindus? Or anyone, frankly, who’s not interested in the obvious Christian undertones of your prayers? How do they know you’ll have their best interests at heart if you begin with a ritual that goes against their very beliefs? Prayer is, and should always be, a personal choice, not something forced upon the public at a governmental meeting.
Here’s part of the prayer led by Trustee JoAnn Van Tassel before your Oct. 19 meeting:
‘As we gather tonight to do the people’s business, we ask that You be with us and that You give a blessing to the members of this township board and to the public who are here to participate in the meeting. And we ask as we go into this fall season, that You nudge us from time to time to take a minute, to pause and enjoy the marvels of the season that You have provided. Help us enjoy the harvest of this season. Help us enjoy the beautiful fall colors that You provide. And help us remember that You are the Creator and that we are the created, the sheep of Your flock. ‘We ask that You provide special protection to our troops that are in Iraq and in Afghanistan and other areas across this globe. We ask that You be with them, that You shield them from harm and that You bring them all safely home. We ask this all in Your gracious name, Amen.?
The things that Van Tassel asks for in the prayer are good and wholesome things, but it’s not right for any representative at any level of government to impose such a personal custom. In the prayer, it sounds like she’s asking God to guide the board, which grinds so loudly against the grain of United States? secularism it’s hurting my ears.
I seriously hope you’ll reconsider praying at your meetings.
See ya ’round.

Dear Lake Orion Community Schools,
You’re freaking me out a little by allowing churches to hold service in your schools on Sunday. I realize that school’s not in session then, but you’re coming a little too close to the line between church and state. Maybe you should consider toeing it back just a bit.
Students who happen to attend those churches might begin associating school with religion or Christianity. Not that those things are bad or wrong ? it just could be an unintentional consequence that I don’t think is in the district’s mission statement.
But at least you’re not praying before class. Are you?
Get back to me.

Dear Lake Orion Village Council,
Thank you for not praying before meetings. Even though the majority of the board and audience is probably Christian, I’m glad you keep meetings neat, tidy and free of religious connotations.
Nice work.See you Monday.