Allow prayer, not appeasement

When I pray, I pray to God - the God in whom I trust, and the same God that our forefathers trusted and prayed to for guidance while building our great nation. Why, for the sake of political correctness, would I want to pray to someone or something in which I do not believe?

When you pray, you should pray according to your own convictions. I do not try to cover all bases just to appease folks as Robert Altman suggests ("Prayer marred bike-race opening," April 30).

In his opinion, it may have been appropriate to have invited a priest, a rabbi, a Protestant minister, a Muslim cleric, a Hindu, an atheist, a satanist, etc. You know, something for everybody.

The prayer that he condemns was offered in the shadow of a remarkable church that was the seed of opportunity for many. Maybe we should have had it covered with canvas so as not to have offended Mr. Altman.

Yes, I do believe in cultural diversity and religious sensitivity. But I don't believe that the minister's prayer was directed toward anyone at the Tour de Georgia. His prayer was directed to God.

Thank God that Mr. Altman doesn't speak for us all.

Mike Lane, Millen