[CSPS] FW: Christian Community

[Larry Oliver]

I got a similar response to my letter.  I revised the letter (which required 
diluting it a bit) and resubmitted it.  Larry


>From: "Mike Alvard" <alvard at tamu.edu>
>To: <csps at PHILEBUS.TAMU.EDU>
>Subject: [CSPS] FW: Christian Community
>Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:01:15 -0500
>
>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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>
>
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