*Ø* Blogmanac | Hear! Hear!

Move over, God, it's time to make room for a real power
By Peter FitzSimons

"Honestly now, what would you think if before our politicians got down to the nitty-gritty of Parliament every day - steering the great affairs of state and working the machinery to make the country run - they paused to ask an imaginary spirit for some guidance on what kind of decisions they should make?

"I know. I'd think the same.

"Why then, do federal and state parliaments ? in 2004! ? still begin with a Christian prayer session?

"With minor variations, it goes like this: 'Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to vouchsafe Thy special blessing upon this Parliament, and that Thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper the work of Thy servants to the advancement of Thy glory and to the true welfare of the people of Australia.'

"This is followed shortly afterwards by the Lord's Prayer.

"And it's 2004! Here we are with one of the most central planks of our democratic system being the 'separation of church and state' and yet every parliamentary session begins with a formal doffing of the lid and humble beseeching of the church ..."
Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Would that they were only beseeching the church, which actually exists. Thanks Baz le Tuff for this one. Baz has been a great help to the Blogmanac since I pawned my sense of humour. He sent in this one, too: Modern Drunkard Magazine.