Re: Stuart Bechman’s May 9 commentary, “Using prayer rallies to intimidate others�:
The National Day of Prayer was inaugurated by President Truman in 1952. The official day of observance, the first Thursday in May, was inaugurated by President Reagan in the 1980s. So this celebration of prayer has been in our collective thought for more than 50 years and is supported by a great many Americans.
I've attended several of these worship meetings over the years and have found them to be spiritually uplifting, unifying and inclusive of many religious beliefs.
The statements made by Bechman, "that Jesus himself mocked those who pray in public as hypocrites" and "that Jesus would be appalled at these gross expressions of Christian egoism" are the personal opinions of one writer. They deserve clarification from a different point of view.
The Bible reports that Jesus himself prayed in public (John 11:41, 42). So he wasn't mocking or condemning public prayer. What he was talking about was the vain display of public prayer for personal adulation. I can assure you that there was no ostentatious display at the May 3 National Day of Prayer I attended. On the contrary, humility, gratitude and simplicity were beautifully expressed by all who shared their inspiration verbally and musically.
In our world of many conflicting opinions, finding our points of agreement especially appeals to me. When Jews, Muslims and Christians meet, they can unite in worshiping one God. And the many different Christian religions find unity in the Lord's Prayer, a prayer that covers all their needs.
Each of us, believers and nonbelievers, are fellow compatriots, united together in a great nation based on freedom of thought. Embracing one another in kindness, patience and tolerance will establish harmony among us and can aid in healing our world.
— Anne Condon, Westlake Village
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