[CSPS] The Letter

[Larry Oliver]

I like Paul's suggestion


>From: Paul Parrish <p-parrish at tamu.edu>
>To: hugh at stearnsconstruction.biz, <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] The Letter
>Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 16:38:48 -0500
>
>I realize the listing at the end of paragraph one is intended to be
>representative but it makes me a little uncomfortable
>nonetheless.  Perhaps combine Baptist and Catholic as "Christian,"
>add "Hindu" and a final phrase such as "among many beliefs."
>
>Paul
>
>At 03:17 PM 10/16/2005, Hugh wrote:
> >Again, thanks to Krista May, Kate Kelly and Larry Oliver for their quick
> >work and creativity in coming up with this letter for the ad.  It was
> >nourished in some good discussion and hopefully it will meet group 
>approval.
> >__________
> >
> >In September, the College Station City Council decided to return to the
> >practice of opening each Council session with a prayer. We respectfully
> >request the College Station City Council to immediately reverse this 
>action
> >in recognition of the uniquely American principle that separates church 
>and
> >state in an effort to unite us in our common goal of liberty to believe 
>as
> >we wish.  We encourage the council to support the power of this principle
> >that allows us to live as good neighbors - Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, 
>Jew,
> >Atheist and Pagan.
> >
> >One of the most important tasks of the City Council is to work together 
>to
> >make our community a place that welcomes everyone, regardless of 
>religious
> >affiliation. It is not appropriate for a mayor to determine which 
>religious
> >beliefs will be sanctioned, and which will not. While the Mayor and 
>Council
> >members did not likely intend to foster intolerance, their actions are
> >nonetheless creating that impression. 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.
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >CSPS mailing list
> >CSPS at csps.tamu.edu
> >http://philebus.tamu.edu/mailman/listinfo/csps
>
>Paul A. Parrish
>Regents Professor and Head
>Department of English
>Texas A&M University
>College Station, TX 77843-4227
>(979) 845-3890
>(979) 862-2292 FAX
>p-parrish at tamu.edu
>http://www-english.tamu.edu/pers/fac/parrish/
>
>
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