[CSPS] Prayer in City Council

[Mahajan, Arvind]

Hugh,

I have been reading the emails generated by our Mayor's provocative
comment in the Battalion. This dialogue has resulted in a very
thoughtful text for the Eagle advertisement circulated by you. I have a
couple of questions. 

1. Will the ad be endorsed by organizations or individuals? I was of the
impression from the earlier emails that it was organizational (e.g., BP,
CSPS, ACLU, FSCIC, etc.) endorsement but the instructions below suggest
individual endorsements. A group called the Friends of India Network
(comprised of most TAMU faculty members and other College Station
professionals of South Asian origin) strongly supports the ad and is
pleased to be a signatory. Since your email will go to its FINet list,
and I plan sending it to a few other groups as well, I want to be clear
about what you seek.

2. Are any efforts afoot by those involved in the vigorous email
exchange to encourage the Battalion do a counter-point piece to the
Mayor's comment? 

3. Approximately when will the ad appear in the Eagle? Earlier seems
better before the outrage recedes. Since donations/collections may take
some time, is it desirable for a manageable group of people (including
me) to underwriting the ad and then be reimbursed when donations have
trickled in?

Thanks!

Arvind

Arvind Mahajan
Lamar Savings Professor of Finance
360P Wehner Building
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4218
Phone 979-845-4876
Fax     979-845-3884


>  -----Original Message-----
> From: 	csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu
> [mailto:csps-bounces at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu]  On Behalf Of Hugh
> Sent:	Monday, October 17, 2005 5:15 PM
> To:	Betterdays (E-mail); csps at PHILEBUS.tamu.edu; 'The Touchstone'
> Subject:	[CSPS] Prayer in City Council
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
> Are you frustrated and dismayed that the College Station City Council
> has taken it on itself to introduced religion into City Council
> meetings with a prayer? What ever happened to the separation of church
> and state? 
> 
> Well, let's do something about it.  Finally there is a progressive
> voice in our community and it is time to be heard.  We hope to place
> the following letter into a full-page ad with many signatures.
> 
> __________
> 
> 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 strong 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 people of all faith
> traditions and philosophies to live as good neighbors.
> 
> 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.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> We need you to make a donation -instructions to follow- and, if you
> are comfortable, allow us to include your signature in the ad.  
> 
> We hope to get at least 100 signatures, and to raise the $1,425.00
> needed for this projects, which will take broad based participation.
> We are looking for donations of between $10.00 and $100.00.   
> 
> Brazos Progressives has agreed to help facilitate this effort.  To
> donate you can:
> send check or money order donations made out to the 
> Brazos Progressives at:
> Brazos Progressives
> P.O. Box 10782
> College Station, TX 77842
> 
> On the check or money order, please write "for Council prayer ad" in 
> the memo line so that we know what it is for.
> 
> If you want to pay by PayPal, you need to submit an electronic
> donation form at: <http://www.brazosprogressives.org/donate.php>. On
> this form, you *must* write "donation to Council prayer ad" or
> something like this in the Comments box at the bottom of the form.
> Otherwise, we won't know what the money is to be used for!
> 
> We will not assume that just because you donated that you are giving
> permission to include your name. If you want your name included as a
> signature to the letter you must also email me stating that.  Also, if
> you cannot afford to make a donation you can still have your name
> included as a signature of the letter.  Just email me. 
> 
> Please pass this invitation along to those you think might be
> interested.
> 
> Thanks,
> Hugh 
> 
> 
> 
>  << File: ATT129097.txt >> 
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