by Dennis Krivda

Created on: July 05, 2010   Last Updated: July 07, 2010

He almost got it right. When he proclaimed June 27th, 2010 as a day of prayer for the state of Louisiana, Republican governor Bobby Jindal almost got it right. He almost got it right the way the Titanic almost made it across the Atlantic.

Clearly, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico represents an economic and environmental catastrophe of epic proportions. And - rightly so - Bobby Jindal himself seems eager to tell the nation that nobody should politicize or trivialize the impact of this man-made disaster. To his credit, Governor Jindal has taken an aggressive, proactive approach in dealing with, and minimizing the effects of crude oil washing up on his state's shorelines. Even declaring a day of prayer for his state should be commended as effective leadership - considering the composition of his constituency. Unfortunately, Governor Jindal's proclamation surrounding that day of prayer went a step too far.

Even for those who do not believe in an almighty god, prayer (in the form of meditation) can function as a powerful balm during times of trouble. Prayer or meditation can distract the mind just enough during stressful situations to help an individual or a group survive even the deepest of crises. So, Bobby Jindal made the right decision when he declared Jun 27th, 2010 as a day of prayer for the people of Louisiana.

His declaration, however, couldn't steer clear of the proverbial iceberg.

All decrees by high-ranking government officials must come with paperwork, and Jindal's "Day of Prayer" decree is no exception. But, like that over-sized scroll that dwarfed the hands of Munckinland's coroner, Bobby Jindal's decree has managed to commit the very sin he wished to avoid. Through his lengthy prayer decree, he has trivialized and politicized the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

His prayer proclamation could have been very simple. Governor Jindal could have simply declared, "In facing the economic and environmental catastrophe of the oil spill that is washing up on our shorelines, I do hereby designate June 27th, 2010 as a day of prayer for the people of Louisiana. On that day, the people of Louisiana (together with all Americans) should pray for perseverance and divine guidance as we struggle to minimize, prevent, and reverse the effects of this overwhelming, man-made disaster."

Such a simple imperative would have succinctly addressed the need and desire of the citizenry to feel united in (and comforted by) their collective spiritual temperament.

But

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