"Christian" Skating Time

[Paul Finkelman]

Isn't there a difference between holding an "ethnic theme" -- food, 
music, etc.at the ball park  -- and having an event that implies people 
of only one religion are welcome?  Hard to imagine what the food and 
music would be of a Christian Theme night at the ball park or the 
skating rink?  It doesn't take much of an imagination to understand that 
the ball park "theme" is about celebrating and ethnic culture, and the 
"Christian skate" is about creating a climate of exclusivity based on 
belief.  I doubt anyone at Comisky Park was asked about their "Polish 
beliefs" or anyone tried to convert them to "become Polish." 

Paul Finkelman

Steve Sanders wrote:

> Had the NY Human Rights Division been in charge in Chicago during the 
> 1970s, would it have meant that Bill Veeck's Comiskey Park (see 
> http://whitesoxinteractive.com/History&Glory/FalstaffHarry.htm) 
> couldn't have hosted "Polish Night," "Italian Night," etc., for fear 
> that persons of other national origins would have felt that their 
> attendance was denied or discouraged?
>
> Steve Sanders
> 7th Circuit US Court of Appeals
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-- 
Paul Finkelman
Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law
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Paul Finkelman
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