Wis. board member gives secular ‘inspirational’

FFRF got special mention during the Dane County (Wis.) Board’s Sept. 19 meeting when Supervisor Michele Ritt offered a secular message to open the meeting of the 37-member board.

Ritt, a “very proud” FFRF member since 2008, is in her sixth term representing District 18 on the north side of Madison.

During each meeting, one member, going in alphabetical order, gives an “inspirational” at the start. A proposal in April 2022 to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from meetings due to its mention of God and perceived divisiveness failed 29-8.

But the board also voted then, 24-13, to no longer list a prayer on its agendas and to replace it with an inspirational message, which could include a prayer if a supervisor so desired.

District 28 Supervisor Michele Doolan said, although she’s a practicing Christian, “The first step in religious oppression is designating an official religion, and that’s what we are doing by having prayer. I want to make clear that we were founded on religious freedom, not required religion based on one God.”

Here is Ritt’s inspirational:

I am inspired by people who are kind.

I am inspired by women who lift up

other women.

I am inspired by people who display integrity, even during challenging situations.

I am inspired by people who do the right thing, even when no one is watching and there is nothing to gain personally.

I am inspired by people who share the air in a room, recognizing that there are other valid opinions.

I am inspired by those who engage in healthy dialogue instead of lashing words and bullying.

I am inspired by honesty, especially when one needs to admit a mistake.

I am inspired by those who do not hide behind religion, but live love and acceptance like Jesus, Muhammad, Siddhartha, Annie Laurie Gaylor and so many others.

I am inspired by leaders who intentionally create room for those whose voices are not already at the table.

I am inspired by those who work for peace and justice who also live that ideal.

I am inspired by folks who use their power and privilege to make others stronger and more connected.

I am also inspired by my husband, my children, my beautiful grandbaby, my dog and my hummingbird Jimmy, who flies over 600 miles to see me each year. They love me, support me and encourage me to be my best self.

Ritt will be retiring in June as a special education teacher in the Madison Metropolitan School District. She also works as a reiki practitioner.