I'm a member of a group whose most vocal elements disturb me. As a conservative Christian, I can quickly scan talk shows decrying the "removal of our rights as Christians" in a public arena.

But my beliefs also run fairly consistent with those of Henry David Thoreau, whose essay on civil disobedience should be read by all Americans.

If (and that's a huge "IF") prayer in public schools mattered to me, I'd be in there praying. I would teach my children to go in there praying. Compulsory attendance laws mandate their attendance in public schools if they are enrolled in those schools, and the administration could not legally expel them for practicing their faith. Sure, I'd be kicked out, but I'd be back. All the court challenges in the world could not keep me from respectfully praying on school grounds.

Similarly, if (again, a huge "IF") my visible presence as an opponent of the abortion industry mattered to me, I'd be at the abortion clinic at every opportunity, visibly praying at the entrance, not blocking any entryways and not addressing any of the patients or workers at the clinic unless I was first addressed. My presence would say enough. Again, I would willingly violate court orders (possibly incurring jail time) to continue doing what I was doing, because I know one thing:

In BOTH of these cases, any attempt to legally bar my kids or I from doing what we are doing wouldn't survive a Supreme Court challenge. They couldn't; there's simply no merit. You see, if I'm not disturbing the peace, if I'm not obstructing traffic, if I'm not threatening anyone, there's very little the aforementioned schools or abortion clinics could do to stop me. And frankly, if my presence wasn't threatening, there's very little most authorities WOULD do to stop me (in the case of the school, my prayer might rightfully be confined to the outside of the building for the security of the students, but that's a reasonable precaution).

I'd probably spend a good deal of time in jail before everything shook out, but I would be willing to do so. You see, a faith worth having is to me a faith worth defending, and if I don't stand up, who will?

But since faith is not a justification for being a jerk, I would have to conduct any protest silently and respectfully. In both of these cases, because the school AND most abortion clinics are run by secular organizations, AND because I have the option (as do fellow Christians), of not supporting either institution, I simply do not see it as my battle to fight. But if I did, you can rest assured, I'd fight it...damn the torpedoes and all!