Pointless carping

[charlottezweb]

I know that it's just me around here, but it it unreasonable for me to be irritated when we're forced to sing "God Bless America" at our state college Veterans Day celebration? Okay, well, unreasonable or not, I still think that the national anthem or "My country 'tis of thee" would've been better choices.

Comments

[velochicdunord.livejournal.com]

Why? Asked the non-American.

[charlottezweb.livejournal.com]

Because a state college is supposed to stick with the "separation of church and state." The two other songs aren't so blatantly religious. It's Veteran's Day so "My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride. From every mountainside, let freedom ring" seems relevant.

[prairierabbit.livejournal.com]

Ya think? *grin* The National Anthem would probably get my vote, although it's been sadly devalued by performances at sporting events. WHY do people think the National Anthem is appropriate for sporting events? That has always baffled me.

[lorres.livejournal.com]

The key word being *state* college.

I'd say carp as long and loudly as you can without endangering your job. Unless people really start speaking up about the separation of church and state there won't BE any more separation.

I had to back out of organizing a Halloween celebration this year for the first time at our state university. The Assistant Director didn't know Halloween is a religious holiday. She had no idea I'd refuse to do it, but I realized it was the first time I'd actually been asked to be part of one of those absent-brain Christian things.

I've always shaken my head in wonder but not said anything when staff members put up Christian holiday decorations all over the place and expect the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and others to attend Christmas parties and like it.

My experience with the Halloween party is that now I'm considered to be a little bit of a spoil sport. I'm glad. It's a sport I'm glad to spoil.

Hey, I could rant about this for hours. But I have to go take a break.

[dr-brat.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. I don't consider Halloween a Christian holiday at all. Unlike All Saints' Day, which is celebrated all over Europe, Halloween is a specifically Irish/English thing with decidedly pagan roots. But maybe that's just my perception.

[kmd.livejournal.com]

Halloween isn't a Christian thing. It's a pagan thing. Popes of the past tried to Christianize Halloween by moving All Saints Day to November 1, but I'd say they were laughably unsuccessful.

Still, it's a religious thing about the spirit world and all, so I guess if separation of church and state means to you no religious observances at a state college, then it makes sense not to have Halloween there.

[lorres.livejournal.com]

The subtle difference being one between the state institution creating/sponsoring the religious event, performance, etc. and as you say: "no religious observances".

I'm not into denying people the right to religious observances. I'm definitely not into state institutions creating them.

In my mind, however, the safe bet is to let people have their religious ceremonies, observances and whatnot wherever they want, except in state institutions, facilities, etc. Since they have the whole rest of the world in which to do these things, do we really need to quibble about whether or not they can be done in a state run/state owned facility?

I have a perfectly wonderful time observing all the spiritual practice I wish without having to do anything noticable in a state run facility. Why can't religious people? Are they so incapable of having a relgious life elsewhere?

[hkbear.livejournal.com]

It's not unreasonable, but you do live in the second hole of the Bible Belt.

[kmd.livejournal.com]

Well, but "My Country Tis of Thee" is a religious song, too. Written by a clergyperson, while he was at seminary. The first stanza doesn't get to the God stuff yet, but it's there.

I suppose my dream that we will be led to sing "This Land Is Your Land" at veteran's day stuff is kinda wacky, huh?

[prairierabbit.livejournal.com]

Since Veteran's Day started as a celebration of the end of a war, perhaps "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" With guitars?