Where were you?
By Ashley Walker (Contact)
Originally published 01:11 p.m., November 15, 2007
Updated 01:12 p.m., November 15, 2007
After months and months of emotional banter around town, between posts on the Internet and within the columns of these very pages, the Emporia school board decision came last night on whether to change the name of the Seasonal Celebration back to its original name, the Christmas Program.
Five to 2. Petition denied.
It was certainly a disappointment. I expected more wisdom from our school leaders last night.
But what was just as disappointing was the very poor showing on behalf of all those Emporians out there who so passionately believe in what they say they want the “Christmas” Program to stand for.
Seated in the back two rows of the meeting room at Mary Herbert Learning Center were only a handful of people in attendance to put the last bit of pressure on the board.
It wasn’t enough.
I believe the board made a mistake. Do the research. Ask an attorney. There’s no legal reason not to call the program what it is, a “Christmas” program. And letting it continue to be a Seasonal Celebration only reflects a mediocre, cheap view of the holiday.
But unless Emporia is willing to back up its words with some decisive action, that’s how it will stay.
Editorials, blogs and idle chit-chat aren’t enough.
It’s up to you.
To add your Comments on this topic, go to http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/open/News/16/
Comments
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Posted by mythoughts (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this event exclusively a celebration of the Birth of Christ? Does it not routinely include Jewish music or Kwanzaa themes? Why then would it be called the "Christmas Program"? How mundane: the car, the cat, the Christmas program. And wouldn't a Baptist be offended by praises to a "saint", Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus), such practice being long derided as Catholic idolatry? Christians do not rule the world. People of other faiths deserve to celebrate their winter festivals, too, especially at a school-sanctioned (tax payer supported) public-wide, all-inclusive community-building event like the Seasonal Celebration. Open your mind. PLEASE!
Posted by proverbs18_21 (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo, Ashley! I was part of that handful and you are right - it was a poor showing. I know without a doubt that if every person who feels strongly about this issue would put that support where it counts, there would be a "Christmas Program".
And come election time, I know which members of the Board will and will not receive my support should they choose to run again.
Thank you to the Board President, Grant Riles and Michael Crouch for being bold enough to vote the way the majority of Emporians wanted them to.
Perhaps it might serve the other Board members well to remember that it was the majority that "voted" them into their positions - and it's THAT majority they were elected to represent - not themselves.
Posted by proverbs18_21 (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mythoughts...Ever hear of the federal holiday called "Christmas"? Is it such a far-fetched idea that the program might bear the name of the holiday we celebrate - federally and religiously??????
Posted by shoehorn (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To Ashley, You are right. There should have been more support in the room. I am sorry I wasn't there, please forgive me? shoehorn
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley,
Thank you for voicing your opinion. It's a breath of fresh air.
Posted by tmac (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations, Ms Walker. Welcome to the world of politicians. Tell the masses what they want to hear and ignore The Supreme Court, The Law and The Constitution.
Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on November 15, 2007 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tmac - you are quoting The Supreme Court, The Law and The Constitution, but can you give me hard specific facts/cases/something where it is stated that a school district cannot have a "Christmas Program"? On a different thread I posted specific cases, etc. to support my opinion, so can you do the same?
Posted by jigsawgirl22 (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should a program that celebrates several different holidays be called the Christmas program? Honestly, not everyone is this town is Christian. I know this may come as a shock to your pretty little head.
Posted by minorityinemporia (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we have many more important things to worry about !! Please give more energy to more preesing things going on , here in emporia !
Posted by hogan77 (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend. Living over 3 hours away, and having a job, plus a family to tend to, made it very difficult to get in the car and come over. That is why I am grateful there was at least one other person there, to express the feelings that he had... they were the same as my own. Thanks again Reverend Morris. And thanks to the small handful of people who had the opportunity to attend.
Posted by rbmorgan (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I respect Ashley's right to freely believe whatever she'd like to believe, the bottom line is that no one has the right to use state supported venues to promote a particular religious belief. Christians seem to forget that religous freedoms requires that the state and religion be separate, or else we run the risk of becoming a country like Iran or Saudi Arabia where you could be put to death for believing something other than what the state believes you should. I think the school board got it right and deserves a thank you for standing up for what is right instead of bowing to the obvious pressure from the majority. It is this very intolerance for differences in beliefs that has fueled human-to-human cruelity throughout the ages. I congratulate the board for doing the right, howbeit, unpopular thing!!!!!!
Posted by webmaster (web master) on November 16, 2007 at 9:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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