[CSPS] The Letter

[Rebecca Hankins]

Everyone:

I think it's very important to acknowledge these other faiths by name. 
This Council obviously doesn't know what defines a religion and needs
things spelled out to them.  I would also add that we have a sizeable
Buddhist population here, faculty, students and staff.

Rebecca

>>> Paul Parrish <p-parrish at tamu.edu> 10/16 4:38 PM >>>
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.
>
>
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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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