Klarinet Archive - Posting 000573.txt from 2001/09

From: "F. S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Religous Propaganda
Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 10:34:34 -0400

on 9/16/01 9:09 AM, Lordbob563@-----.com wrote:

> Well said Jason

yes...his comment is "well said," but unfortunately he, like some on this
list, missed the point. He argues beautifully about an issue that, in my
view, was not the topic of discussion.

At the risk of annnoying many of my friends on the list, and maybe even
making some enemies, I'm going to try to distill into a few short sentences
the precise point several of us tried to make:

[1] This discussion started because several people used Christian liturgy to
frame their expressions of sympathy and condolence.

[2] Several of us asked those folks to recognize that, to many minorities
who have suffered religious persecution and exclusion, such terminology over
the years...even centuries...has become "code words" for bigotry,
discrimination, and worse. Thus, the use of such liturgy in many situations
sends a mixed message to many of the recipients.

[3] Then, we simply asked that those people be sensitive to this fact and we
recommended they think about using more secular language when addressing a
diverse audience.

The bottom line is...and this may not sound very nice but I think the point
needs to be stated forcibly...if you don't care how the use of your
religious liturgy affects others not of the same faith in many
circumstances, you are certainly free to do whatever you want. You have
every right in this country to express your religious preferences in any
way, publicly or privately, and no one can stop or criticize you.

If, on the other hand, you are sensitive to the fact and concerned that such
usage may hurt or even offend those not of the same faith, try something
more generic and secular.

[I promise this is my last post on this subject. I apologize to anyone who's
been offended or annoyed by any of this. I just happen to think it's a
subject worth discussing.]

Fred Sterns

---------------------------------------------------------------------