Klarinet Archive - Posting 000518.txt from 2001/09

From: "Ian Black" <clarinet1@-----.uk>
Subj: [kl] re-posting (was "This Horrible Event")
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 15:23:12 -0400

Sorry - just had an email highlighting that my additions were not easily
distinguishable from the original message to which I was replying. I'll try
to figure out a better way...

Meanwhile, each section now preceded by (V) for Virginia's original post, or
(I) for my comments.

Sorry for the confusion.

Ian

-----Original Message-----
From: Virginia Anderson [mailto:assembly1@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] This horrible event
(I)
<< some parts snipped for brevity>>

(V)
Hi Fred,

I think that we should get on by sharing our common experience,
not by fostering religious sectarianism and political jingoism.

(I)
Hear Hear!

(V)
In all six years my husband and I never had a single approach to join any
religion other than Christian, despite the fact that we were only one of
three non-Asian households on a very long street, and despite the fact that
we had a major Sikh community centre, a mosque and a Hindu temple closer
than a C of E church. Instead, we did what neighbours do: swapped recipes
and lent power tools, congratulated each other on weddings and births,
watered each other's plants and watched for intruders during vacations, gave
suitable best wishes for relevant religious holidays. Their religious
beliefs are their own and mine are my own and we never offended each other
by pushing our own views as if they were the one true way.

(I)
Sorry, did I miss a post in which anybody on this list was "pushing ...
views as if they were the one true way"? If there have been any posts which
were making an "approach to join any religion", I certainly missed them. The
religious quotations which I have seen have had a clear
comforting/reassuring message and I believe they were made with this
intention, and not one of seeking converts.

(V)
"Thought for the Day", the BBC radio programme Ian mentions, is a religious
programme, so
I'd be surprised if the Muslim cleric did not quote from the Koran (I'd be
really ticked off if he had done so on "Today", the current events programme
which surrounds it).

(I)
Granted, "Thought for the Day" is a religious programme. It occupies 3-5
minutes as a break from the "Today" (news/current affairs) programme on
Radio 4, and also appears (if I remember correctly) as a break from a
music-orientated programme on Radio 2. My point was not so much that he
quoted the Koran (I would not have expected otherwise), but that I did not
find it offensive. That his words and those which he quoted were intended to
comfort and support instead of recruit. Of course a religious recruitment
exercise is inappropriate on this list - my argument is that I have not seen
anything at which I would take offense, nor anything at which I would do so
were it to come from texts/followers of a different religion.

(V)
It is not that I object when people merely mention Bible verses as example
in conversation, either (like Greek myth - I think comparing Christian
liturgy to Grimm's Fairy Tales is a bit irreligious - it is part of our
literary heritage), but when they offer Bible verses as prescriptives for
the entire membership, ignoring those who don't believe or, perhaps, hoping
that they can convert them, I find it rude and insensitive.

(I)
As per my earlier answer, I have not seen any post here which did anything
other than offer comfort. Certainly nothing seeking to convert people. If I
quote Shakespeare in any posting, I'm hardly trying to encourage everyone on
the list to go out and buy the Complete Works and read it cover to cover in
the hope of "converting" them. If I quote from the "Clarinet and Saxophone"
magazine, does it immediately become my intention to persuade others on this
list to sign up?

(V)
This list is
not a religious forum like the multi-denominational service or "Thought for
the Day", or perhaps if it is, I'd better skedaddle and you guys had better
re-name it the Khristian Klarinet List or something to prevent people like
me from signing up.

(I)
I have no intention of trying to scare anyone away from this list. As Mark C
says, we do sometimes meander through off-topic subjects, but we always
revert to the clarinet and musical discussions for which this forum exists.

(V)
The attacks have affected all of us, so it's right to deal with them and
with our shock, both musical and non-musical. But bludgeoning us with flag
and religion is preaching exclusion at a time when we need inclusion.

(I)
You (and others) may have this viewpoint, and I respect that. I will,
however, defend my right to offer sympathy and support to other members of
this community in whatever words I feel are appropriate. (May I reiterate
that I believe this is only appropriate following such a tragedy.) I will
also defend the right of others to do likewise whether from a religious
viewpoint or not. I am making no attempt to bludgeon anyone with religion, I
am not presenting any one religion as the "one true way". Instead, I am
suggesting that everyone on this list be allowed to express their thoughts
and messages of empathy with whatever words they feel appropriate. I am also
suggesting that if you find any post with religious content offensive, you
could make an exception to the norm, and simply delete it without presenting
your own anti-religious viewpoint as the "one true way". You are, of course,
free to disagree, but please do not try to censor others.

Regards,

Ian

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