[CSPS] FW: Christian Community

[Mike Alvard]

Here is Ray Wilkerson's (The Eagle's Executive Editor) response to my
letter... It seems he won't include a reference to the Battalion article
that includes the quote from Silvia about our "Christian community"...  He
also seems to question a basic premise of my letter - that the city
officials are limiting who can participate in prayer-time. I sure can't find
the part of the Oct 9 Eagle article where city leaders say that they won't
shut out any group....  

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 

 


-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Wilkerson [mailto:rwilkerson at theeagle.com] 
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 10:00 AM
To: alvard at tamu.edu
Subject: Re: Christian Community

If you wish submit for publication, edit your letter to a maximum of 300
words. And keep it fact-based. You can address what the Batt reported or
didn't report to the Battalion for letter purposes. For Eagle, we have
reported that while Silvia has said he doesn't consider Wicca a religion, he
and other city leaders have said they won't shut out any group.

Thanks,
Ray Wilkerson
The Eagle


> [Please acknowledge receipt- thanks]
> 
> Dear Editor, 
> 
> The College Station City Council recently restored pre-meeting prayer to
> their agenda.  And if that was not alienating enough for those of us who
feel
> religion and governance don‚t mix, they immediately justified our fears by
> stating they will only allow citizens who adhere to certain
council-approved
> ideologies to participate (Eagle, Oct 9).  All religions are allowed, they
> say? but the council gets to decide what is defined as a religion.  The
> actions of the Mayor and City Council could serve as an elementary school
> primer on why mixing religion and civics is a bad idea.  In addition to
> Wiccans and Pagans, I know that we have Hindu citizens here in town.  I‚m
> sure there are Buddhist, Sikhs, and Baha'i as well, not to mention
atheists.
> If the council insists on prayer time, excluding these and other
ideologies
> is patently unjust.
> 
> Mr. Ron Silva, College Station‚s Mayor, exposed the ugly underbelly of
what
> is happening in our town when he justified the actions of the Council by
> stating that College Station is a „Christian community‰ (Battalion Oct
14).
> Evoking some sort of providential Christian superiority based on history
to
> justify civic policy is unconscionable.  Mr. Silva might as well add that
> College Station is a Œwhite‚ community.  In a magnanimous moment,
Councilman
> Ben White was reported to say that he feels that the prayers should
include
> invocations from people of other „recognized religions‰ such as Muslims
and
> Jews.  Well, thank you, Ben!  How generous, and well? doggone Christian of
> you for allowing hell-bound Jews and Muslims to offer their prayers too.
> 
> Keeping superstitious beliefs out of civic affairs avoids the appearance,
if
> not the practice, of exclusion.  I have come to terms with the fact that
many
> of my neighbors believe I am condemned to ever-lasting hell for what I
> believe.  This is America, however, and they can believe as they choose.
I
> draw the line when my city government, which is ostensibly responsible to
all
> citizens regardless of religion, through their actions implies that I am a
> second-class citizen.  Christian community!?  Where do I fit in, Mr.
Silva? --
>  on the sidelines?  As an individual, Silva is free as any American to
hold
> these cruel views, but when he speaks as mayor, he speaks for the office.
> The Mayor‚s view evokes the justifiable fear in many citizens that a
policy
> of exclusion is being endorsed by our city officials.  How can I trust the
> municipal courts to treat my family and me fairly?  When I bid on a city
> contract why should I believe the Council‚s assurances that I will be
fairly
> considered in spite of the fact that I am not a Christian.  What does the
> Mayor expect me say when my children ask about living in a Christian town?
I
> no longer believe that the College Station City Council and Mayor Silva
can
> govern fairly. They have lost their legitimacy.
>   
> Michael Alvard
> 2707 Teakwood
> College Station, TX  77845
> 
> Home phone: 694 9695
> Office: 862 3492
> Email: Alvard at tamu.edu
> 


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