National Day of Prayer

May 6, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair Dr. Jean Howard-Hill National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC]

Blog http://nraac.blogspot.com http://www.nraacaucus.org

The National Republican African American Caucus Has It's Say!: 18 Day Political Revival

May 6th - The National Day of Prayer: A call to both pray and examine our individual lives to see if we are living examples of what is right, just and good.

I realize that the injection of religion into any political discussion is volatile because of the misinterpretation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution, which has led us to the false belief that no mentioning of God or of one's faith is permissible in government or politics. But it is necessary and is within our constitutional right.

Because of the process of political socialization, regardless of what one believes, it is hard and to some degree even impossible not to interject religion. It is a part of our individual social DNA as we undergo the process of political socialization, which helps to fashion our beliefs in every aspect of our lives.

One's faith and the freedom to exercise the right to believe is a fundamental right of all citizens, regardless of what one believes. We are grateful for this right. Because to not have the individual right to believe as we wish, would indeed force upon us a religion or belief of which we might not have chosen. This is the tenement of the Establishment Clause - that Congress does not have the right to force a national religion upon its citizens. However, it also does not have the right to separate citizens from their God or what they believe.

No doubt, today there will be many because of their faith and religious belief in a God who answers prayers, will gather around the flag pole to offer petitions to God on this National Day of Prayer. Without a doubt America and her people are in great need of prayer for divine guidance, protection, help and even forgiveness. But, I cannot help but wonder what America would be like if everyday - 365 days of the year, was national days of prayer.

I also cannot help but wonder what it would be like if we actually lived what we preach and insisted others do. After all, it is how we live our lives, and the deeds and actions of our everyday interactions and dealings with others, that determine how potent and valued our prayers offered up to God will be. Therefore, when we think of prayer or religion, we should not only think about what we believe, but also how we live and if we are holding ourselves accountable for what we do with what we believe.

Prayer is simply a communication between those who believe and their God.

Because of the intimate nature of prayer, it is not anything that government can regulate, nor can it tell us if we can or if we cannot pray. For no one can stop the soul from crying out to its Creator and God. Not even silence or its prohibition can hinder prayer.

We are grateful for a National Day of Prayer, and we encourage all of our membership to participate. However, government need not tell us to pray. Because each day is a national day of prayer as we offer up supplication and petitions for our government and those in leadership, our country, our states, our communities, our schools, our families and our neighbors.

Also, if we lived each day holding true to our faith, while daily exemplifying principled moral values as a way of life, then there would be so little to pray about and even more about which to offer up in praise.

So let us not forget that today is not only a day of prayer, but also it is a day to examine our own individual lives to see if we are living examples of what is right, just and good.

To reach the NRAAC national chair:
Jean Howard-Hill 423-702-5622 NRAAC office
nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com

[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus. She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics. More information on the NRAACcan be found at: http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.