Perhaps today, Easter Sunday, is a good time to address the church/state separation issue, which came up in a news item on my home page, Huffington Post.
A woman in New Jersey sent in her application for a "vanity" license plate for her automobile -- you know, the kind where you get to choose some name or word that supports a cause -- like "protect wildlife" or "Georgia Tech." But these usually have some limits vaguely stated as "not being offensive."
This NJ woman wanted this to be her license number: "8THEIST." Her request was denied on the grounds that it "may carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency." So she sent in another application request that her license number be: "BAPTIST." It was accepted without comment.
Further, when Associated Press called the Motor Vehicle Commission offices to ask for comment, the call was answered by a recording that stated the offices were closed "for Good Friday."
Need I say more?
Ralph
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Let me clarify that I did not mean this post to be anti-Easter but rather against the ruling majority's assumption that we are all part of one religious tradition, Christianity.
ReplyDeleteFor those who share these majority views, they often simply do not realize what this means to someone else. It's like a fish not knowing it is immersed in water and that, although its own life depends on it, other creatures might drown in it.
I grew up immersed in it myself, but I have not believed or observed the traditions for many decades now. However, I do think that Easter also has other non-sectarian, symbolic meanings: It's rebirth, the power of love, the importance of having some things worth dying for, the depth of feeling for others that you would sacrifice for their betterment.