I was reading an article today, and discovered that New York City Mayor Bloomberg has decided not to ask clergymen of any religion to be part of the September 11th ten year anniversary. http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/08/families_of_911_victims_knocking_on_americas_door.html
I remember about 15 years ago, in a quilt guild meeting in Raleigh. This was a group largely composed of women who were raised in the Christian tradition. Someone was conducting the meeting, which included a potluck supper, and she made a flippant remark, "I feel like we should say grace before we eat, but we won't, since that's against the law."
I was shocked she said that, even in jest, because No, It Wasn't Against The Law. If our quilt guild had a blessing on the food, the state Brown Shirts would not have come pouring in and beating us with clubs.
Yet her joking perpetuated the myth that was starting in the 1990's that you should NEVER mix religion with secular things. "Because you would get in trouble."
People began thinking that it was against the law, and the more they think it, the more it comes true, at least in culture if not yet in legalese.
If everyone believes "religion in public" is against the law, and acts accordingly, doesn't that achieve the same result?
There is a difference between 'not allowing' religion and simply not giving religion a special status at a secular function.
ReplyDeleteReligious people are still welcome to participate, and are perfectly free to hold their own memorial services in their own traditions. Since there were victims of the attack from every religion (and non-religion), it seems prudent not to give one or two religions preferred status at the official ceremony. This is simply the mayor keeping things fair in what is one of the most culturally and religiously diverse cities in the world.
Would it make sense to give time to every belief system held by the victims? Would that even be possible given time restraints? What about the innocent American Muslims who were killed? We'd need to give an imam equal time- I'm sure THAT would get people in an uproar.
It's much easier to simply keep the ceremony secular in order to be fair and compassionate to everyone involved.