[CSPS] letter to Eagle re Mayor Silva's comments
Larry Oliver
larryo49 at hotmail.com
Sat Oct 15 10:05:33 CDT 2005
Hugh and Krista,
Below is the text of a letter I sent to the Eagle. It might give you some
ideas or phrases for the full page letter we are planning. Also, I am sure
that FSCIC (Faculty and Staff Committed to an Inclusive Campus) would
support the petition if asked. I've already given a heads-up to Harry
Berger, who chairs the steering committee. Larry
According to a report in the October 14 issue of the Battalion newspaper,
Mayor Ron Silva, in explaining why members of the Texas A&M Pagan Student
Association will not be allowed to lead the invocation at a City Council
meeting, declared that College Station is a "Christian community." That
surprising pronouncement has hurt and alienated many non-Christian members
of our community, and it has also offended many Christian citizens who
believe in separation of church and state. After reading the Battalion
article, a non-Christian newcomer to Texas A&M said the following in a
message to me: "First, I am shocked to hear that the City Council
unanimously sees the need to start their sessions with a prayer. Second,
that someone in a powerful position such as a
mayor is being so discriminatory in calling College Station a 'Christian
community' and further fostering a climate of ...intolerance. You would
think that the mayor would be someone who would welcome all of the residents
regardless of their religious or other backgrounds. I am so disappointed and
angry to hear what the mayor has said."
I know that the Mayor and Council members do not intend to foster
intolerance, but their actions are nonetheless creating that impression. If
Council members want to seek "divine guidance" before doing the city's
business, they should pray privately before the meetings, or open meetings
with a silent prayer. The new formal invocations will not necessarily
result in wise decisions by the Council, but they are certainly creating
unnecessary discord and division in our community.
>From: "Hugh" <hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz>
>Reply-To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz
>To: <william.wurtz at tamu.edu>, <kristamay at earthlink.net>,
><csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU>
>Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
>Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 09:43:02 -0500
>
>Dear Friends,
>
>First off, thank you all for this level of enthusiasm. What a wonderful
>elixir for the what's-the-use burnout that one sometimes feels as a
>progressive in this community.
>
>Thanks to Krista, Kate and Larry for offering to do the writing. We are
>without a doubt in good hands.
>
>I will write an email soliciting donations as soon as I get the go ahead
>from the Brazos Progressives Steering Committee to use their post office
>box. Many will want to wait to donate until they have read what will be
>said, but we need to start the push ASAP. When this email goes out please
>forward to any applicable email lists that I do not include.
>
>I was too late in trying to contact the Eagle on Friday afternoon. Would
>someone have time to make that contact on Monday? We need to know rates,
>recommendations on layout, and what they want from us in terms of level of
>finished product. Please let me know if you can do this.
>
>We are seeking the endorsement of Brazos Progressives, CSPS, ACLU, The UU
>Church and Friends Church. Are there other organizational endorsements
>that
>we should seek? - Hugh
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Larry Oliver [mailto:larryo49 at hotmail.com]
> > Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 6:19 PM
> > To: kappelt at tca.net; hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz
> > Cc: william.wurtz at tamu.edu; kristamay at earthlink.net;
> > csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU; harris-m-berger at tamu.edu
> > Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hugh,
> >
> > Seems like you've been elected. I'll be happy to assist
> > writing the draft
> > if you want, and raising funds. ( I sent a letter to the Eagle this
> > afternoon)
> >
> > Larry
> >
> > P.S. We need to get some sane people on the Council next election
> >
> >
> > >From: Kathi Appelt <kappelt at tca.net>
> > >To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz
> > >CC: william.wurtz at tamu.edu, "'Krista May'"
> > <kristamay at earthlink.net>,
> > > csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > >Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > >Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 16:03:51 -0500
> > >
> > >Hugh is one of the best writers I know. I vote for him.
> > And I'll be
> > >glad to pitch in on the cost.
> > >Kathi Appelt
> > >
> > >On Oct 14, 2005, at 3:48 PM, Hugh wrote:
> > >
> > > > Great! We will come back and ask for funds later if necessary.
> > > >
> > > > Bud, can we get the ACLU chapter on board with this?
> > Katie, how about
> > > > you
> > > > UUs? Anyone from Friends?
> > > >
> > > > If we are going to do an ad, is it going to be in the
> > form of an open
> > > > letter
> > > > to the city council? If so, who would like to work on
> > writing it? We
> > > > should
> > > > have a few.
> > > >
> > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > >> From: Krista May [mailto:kristamay at earthlink.net]
> > > >> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 3:37 PM
> > > >> To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz; 'Larry Oliver';
> > > >> csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > > >> Cc: william.wurtz at tamu.edu
> > > >> Subject: RE: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Steering can act quickly...the wheels are already in motion!
> > > >> I'm hoping to hear from everyone and have a decision by
> > > >> Monday. If we don't commit any BP funds to this up front and
> > > >> go with donations, it will be easier to act quickly because
> > > >> everyone on Steering won't have to weigh in with a vote on
> > > >> funds. So...helping to get the word out about contributions
> > > >> and using our PO box for donations is actually less
> > > >> complicated than an allocation of funds (and likely to happen
> > > >> more quickly).
> > > >>
> > > >> Krista
> > > >>
> > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > >> From: Hugh <hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz>
> > > >> Sent: Oct 14, 2005 3:30 PM
> > > >> To: 'Krista May' <kristamay at earthlink.net>, 'Larry Oliver'
> > > >> <larryo49 at hotmail.com>, csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > > >> Cc: william.wurtz at tamu.edu
> > > >> Subject: RE: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>
> > > >> The ad, at that time, was a little over $1,200.00. I think
> > > >> that we should
> > > >> be able to raise this money from contributions and not tap
> > > >> into organization
> > > >> money, though it is good to have backup if necessary. What
> > > >> we would want
> > > >> from BP would mainly be endorsement and the post office
> > box to collect
> > > >> contributions. Krista, is this something that the steering
> > > >> committee can do
> > > >> via email so that we can react quickly?
> > > >>
> > > >>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>> From: Krista May [mailto:kristamay at earthlink.net]
> > > >>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 3:23 PM
> > > >>> To: Larry Oliver; hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz;
> > > >> csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > > >>> Cc: william.wurtz at tamu.edu; kristamay at earthlink.net
> > > >>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> This sounds like something the Brazos Progressives as an
> > > >>> organization might (likely) be interested in supporting (as
> > > >>> an individual, I am certainly supportive of this). I'd need
> > > >>> to talk to the Steering Committee first, though, before we
> > > >>> committ to adding our name to a petition or letter. I'd need
> > > >>> to put it to Steering for a vote on how much money the
> > > >>> organization might also be able to give to this effort if we
> > > >>> go with an ad. We can, of course, also ask our membership to
> > > >>> contribute money ear-marked for the ad...I feel like some
> > > >>> members would also contribute.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Hugh, do you know how much an ad would cost? Let me know the
> > > >>> details. In the meantime, I will run this by the Steering
> > > >>> Committee to see what they say.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> I'll be in touch...
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Krista
> > > >>>
> > > >>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>> From: Larry Oliver <larryo49 at hotmail.com>
> > > >>> Sent: Oct 14, 2005 3:10 PM
> > > >>> To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz, csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > > >>> Cc: william.wurtz at tamu.edu, kristamay at earthlink.net
> > > >>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>
> > > >>> let's do it.
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>> From: "Hugh" <hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz>
> > > >>>> Reply-To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz
> > > >>>> To: <csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU>
> > > >>>> CC: "Bud Wurtz (E-mail)" <william.wurtz at tamu.edu>,
> > > >>> "Krista May
> > > >>>> (E-mail)" <kristamay at earthlink.net>
> > > >>>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 15:06:23 -0500
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Before the war started, we were able to raise enough money
> > > >>> for a full-page
> > > >>>> ad in the Eagle with a letter to Bush and the signatures of
> > > >>> many of us. We
> > > >>>> have a much broader coalition at this time and I would guess
> > > >>> that something
> > > >>>> of this magnitude could easily be done. It would be nice if
> > > >>> we could get
> > > >>>> Brazos Progressives, CSPS, ACLU, UU and other progressive
> > > >>> churches and any
> > > >>>> other interested groups involved.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>>> From: csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>> [mailto:csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu]On Behalf Of
> > Larry Oliver
> > > >>>>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 1:33 PM
> > > >>>>> To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz; csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > > >>>>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Any sentiments for circulating a petition or protest letter
> > > >>>>> among those of
> > > >>>>> us who aren't aware that we have been citizens of a
> > > >>>>> "Christian" city? Or
> > > >>>>> turning out in force at the next CS Council meeting?
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Larry
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>> From: "Hugh" <hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz>
> > > >>>>>> Reply-To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz
> > > >>>>>> To: <csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU>
> > > >>>>>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>>>> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:36:27 -0500
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> http://www.theeagle.com/stories/100905/local_20051009003.php
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>>>>> From: feagin at tamu.edu [mailto:feagin at tamu.edu]
> > > >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 11:31 AM
> > > >>>>>>> To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz; 'Mike Alvard';
> > > >>> 'Larry Oliver';
> > > >>>>>>> csps at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> Do we know for sure exactly what the mayor said? I hate to
> > > >>>>>>> rely just on the
> > > >>>>>>> Battalion:) JF
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
> > > >>>>>>> From: "Hugh" <hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz>
> > > >>>>>>> To: "'Mike Alvard'" <alvard at tamu.edu>; "'Larry Oliver'"
> > > >>>>>>> <larryo49 at hotmail.com>; <csps at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu>
> > > >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 10:29 AM
> > > >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> The mayor was also quoted as saying something to
> > > >> the effect
> > > >>>>>>> that Wiccas
> > > >>>>>>>> are
> > > >>>>>>>> not a real religion. I have spoken to Bud Wurtz, the
> > > >>>>>>> president of our
> > > >>>>>>>> local
> > > >>>>>>>> ACLU chapter, and they are looking into legal action.
> > > >>>>>>> Though with our
> > > >>>>>>>> courts the way they are, it seems unwise to challenge
> > > >>>>>>> anything. The way
> > > >>>>>>>> to
> > > >>>>>>>> beat this is by playing their game. We need to make sure
> > > >>>>>>> that we provide
> > > >>>>>>>> diversity - Pagans, Buddhists, Animists,
> > > >> Atheists. I would
> > > >>>>>>> love to see
> > > >>>>>>>> them
> > > >>>>>>>> try to impose some sort of Christian affirmative
> > > >>> action plan.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> The usually meek mayor is actually the one person
> > > >> who stood
> > > >>>>>>> up to this
> > > >>>>>>>> effort when it was voted on. Sadly, Suzan Lancaster, who
> > > >>>>>>> has been the
> > > >>>>>>>> progressive hero of this depressing council, is the
> > > >>>>>>> initiator of this
> > > >>>>>>>> effort. I encourage everyone to write a letter to your
> > > >>>>>>> council people
> > > >>>>>>>> (even
> > > >>>>>>>> if they are not your council people) who are:
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> Mayor Ron Silvia - rsilvia at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>> Place 1 Ben White - bwhite at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>> Place 2 - John Happ - jhapp at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>> Place 3 - Ron Gay - rgay at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>> Place 4 - Suzan Lancaster - slancaster at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>> Place 5 - Chris Scotti - cscotti at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>> Place 6 - Nancy Berry - nberry at cstx.gov
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> Additionally, I would encourage you to copy Robert Borden
> > > >>>>>>> of the Eagle -
> > > >>>>>>>> rborden at theeagle.com.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> As you write, keep in mind that the District Attorney is
> > > >>>>>>> investigating
> > > >>>>>>>> this
> > > >>>>>>>> City Council for violations of open meetings regulations,
> > > >>>>>>> so the prospect
> > > >>>>>>>> of
> > > >>>>>>>> legal action will resonate well with them. We don't have
> > > >>>>>>> to tolerate
> > > >>>>>>>> this. - Hugh
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>>>>>>> From: csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>>> [mailto:csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu]On Behalf
> > > >>> Of Mike Alvard
> > > >>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 9:20 AM
> > > >>>>>>>>> To: 'Larry Oliver'; csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU
> > > >>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> This seems to be a move to demote non-Christians to
> > > >>>>> second class
> > > >>>>>>>>> citizenship. How can I feel I will be treated
> > > >> fairly by a
> > > >>>>>>>>> city government
> > > >>>>>>>>> that believes, apparently, that I am hell-bound.
> > > >>> I have come
> > > >>>>>>>>> to terms with
> > > >>>>>>>>> my neighbors' believing that I am to suffer eternal
> > > >>>>>>>>> damnation, but my city
> > > >>>>>>>>> council and mayor? How can I trust the courts
> > > >> to treat me
> > > >>>>>>>>> fairly? What do
> > > >>>>>>>>> they expect me to tell my children when they ask
> > > >>> about living
> > > >>>>>>>>> in a Christian
> > > >>>>>>>>> town...?
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> I called Silva, but had to rant into his answering
> > > >>> machine...
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> Michael Alvard, Ph.D.
> > > >>>>>>>>> Associate Professor of Anthropology
> > > >>>>>>>>> Department of Anthropology
> > > >>>>>>>>> 4352 TAMU
> > > >>>>>>>>> Texas A&M University
> > > >>>>>>>>> College Station, Texas 77843-4352
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >> web:http://anthropology.tamu.edu/faculty/alvard/profile.htm
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> e-mail: Alvard at tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>>> Office: (979) 862-3492
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message
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> > > >> addressed
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> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>>>>>>> From: csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>>> [mailto:csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu]
> > > >>>>>>>>> On Behalf Of Larry Oliver
> > > >>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 8:47 AM
> > > >>>>>>>>> To: csps at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>>> Subject: [CSPS] Mayor Silva's comments
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> CSPS,
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> Re our City Council's decision to open its meetings
> > > >>>>> with a prayer
> > > >>>>>>>>> (supposedly non-sectarian):
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> I was astounded to read in today's Battalion
> > > >> that our mayor
> > > >>>>>>>>> has stated (if
> > > >>>>>>>>> quoted accurately) that College Station is a "Christian
> > > >>>>>>>>> community." and he
> > > >>>>>>>>> is not backing away from that declaration. He has invited
> > > >>>>>>>>> community members
> > > >>>>>>>>> to contact him to voice their opinions. I think we all
> > > >>>>>>>>> should do exactly
> > > >>>>>>>>> that. His personal phone number is 690-6519.
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> Larry
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>>>>>>>> CSPS mailing list
> > > >>>>>>>>> CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>>> http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>>>>>>>> CSPS mailing list
> > > >>>>>>>>> CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>>> http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>>>>>>> CSPS mailing list
> > > >>>>>>>> CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>>>> http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>>>>> CSPS mailing list
> > > >>>>>> CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>>> http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>>>> CSPS mailing list
> > > >>>>> CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > >>>>> http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > > >>>> CSPS mailing list
> > > >>>> CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > >>>> http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > CSPS mailing list
> > > > CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > > > http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> > > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >CSPS mailing list
> > >CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> > >http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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