Davenport Iowa Renames Good Friday to "Spring Holiday"
By: Les Carpenter III
Rational Nation USA
Those who know me know that I am not a religious man and choose to find my spirituality in my own unique and individual way.
It is also fairly well know that I am a believer in the Jeffersonian tradition of separation of church and state. I, like Jefferson simply believe that the church has no good purpose being involved in the affairs of the state.
Churches are established to provide moral guidance and fellowship with like minded individuals.All religious sects profess deeply held values that are faith based and bind church members to their chosen faith and denomination.
While an individual does not need to be religious, or even believe in a higher authority to be ethical and a good person, society in general has found comfort and guidance in religious beliefs and traditions since mankind became social beings. In so long as all religious sects respect the right of others to worship as they chose all is well.
That aside... America has since it's earliest beginnings been a Christian nation and celebrated Christian holidays for as long as we have been a nation. The celebration of these holidays have done no harm to individuals, nor to the society in which their live.
These simple facts are why I was dumbfounded to read the article from ABC News reporting that the Davenport Iowa Civil Rights Commission recommended that Good Friday be renamed to "Spring Holiday." I was even more dumbfounded that City Administrator Craig Malin acted on the recommendation and sent a memo to municipal employees that Good Friday would officially be known as "Spring Holiday."
The city council was unaware of the changes Malin made and stated he had done so unilaterally. Aside from blindsiding the city council Malkin manged to upset the townsfolk in Davenport and create a bit of a stir.
The Civil Rights Commission stated it had recommended the name change because Davenport is a diverse city and the change would be more reflective of the concept of separation of church and state.
Tim Hart, commission chairman had this to say in defense of the recommendation... "We merely made a recommendation that the name be changed to something other than Good Friday. Our Constitution calls for the separation of church and state." (actually this is a mis representation of a proper reading of Article 1 of The Bill of Rights) "Davenport touts itself as a diverse city and given all the different types of religious and ethnic backgrounds we represent, we suggested the change."
The recommendation by the council, as well as the unilateral decision by the City Administrator were both ill advised and driven by politically motivated thinking and political correctness. The city of Davenport will be celebrating Good Friday this year and likely for many years to come.
Christianity and the celebration of Good Friday does no harm to anyone. To change the name of a 2000 year old tradition is an affront to Christians through out the United States and thinking individuals. And these words from a non religious person.
Read the full text of the article here.
Via: Memeorandum
But official government recogintion of a particular religion's holidays does constitute a form of establishment of religion since it gives that religion a form of symbolic recognition which is denied to other religions. Thus it is arguably unconstitutional. If so, it does not matter whether it does harm or not.
ReplyDeleteAmerica has since it's earliest beginnings been a Christian nation
Actually it hasn't, except in the sense that a statistical majority of its population were Christians of one kind or another (something which likely will cease to be true within decades, given the rise in numbers of atheists and agnostics and the immigration from non-Christian countries like China and India). The US has never had an official religion and its Constitution prohibits establishment of one religion over others, even if there have been deviations from the Constitution in practice.
Jesus, whether you believe in Him or not, is responsible for many holidays we all enjoy. I have no problem giving Him kudos. I for one am grateful for the days off and if you don't want to honor Him, what He stood for, or anything else, at least be thankful you got the day(s) off work or school.
ReplyDeleteinfidel - Technically the American natives (American Indians) were the the earliest beginnings.
ReplyDeletePrecisely why I have no problem with their beliefs and the "Great White Buffalo." Nor do I have a problem with the Jewish faith, nor do I have a problem with Baha'i, nor Buddhism, nor Zoroaster, nor Islam (if it is practiced peaceably), nor any other religion.
My problem would be the same as Jefferson's was. However I suggest you read the constitution and study the words. They mean what they say, which is nor exactly your interpretation of them.
Truth - I assume after reading my post your comments are not directed at me.
ReplyDeleteWhile not being a religious individual I respect the rights of the millions who are. My position at this point in time is... to crib the Beatles "Let It Be."
Asinine. Plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteWish I could be more eloquent and insightful, but alas, words fail me on this one.
A child can point to a train and shout "Choo Choo!" but it's still a train...
ReplyDeleteInfidel's argument is incredibly weak for such a smart blogger. If the government required everyone to sign a pledge card declaring themselves Christian in order to take the day off he would have a point.
RN USA: I am a Jesus-loving Christian, and I agree with every word you wrote.
A look back at history shows that when religion gets in bed with government, religion loses.
The founders were indeed religious (mostly Christian) and that drove their morality, but they explicitly chose to not enshrine this in our constitution, and that is to their great credit.
Don't believe in God? OK. Our rights are founded in Natural Law. Damn, those men were brilliant!