alarming new law?

[Jean Dudley]

On Dec 16, 2007, at Sun, Dec 16,  5:40 AM, Richard Dougherty wrote:

> Well, maybe you will; see below.  Congress does this sort of thing  
> regularly.  (Haven't seen one for atheists yet, but I can't keep up.)
>
> Marty: Do you think the "whereas" you cited that was left out was  
> omitted because it was too over the top, or because the wording of  
> it might actually divide Christians?  (I'm thinking of the specific  
> reference to the Bible especially.)
>
> Richard J. Dougherty
>
> Resolution on Buddhism (Vietnam):
> http://usinfo.state.gov/dhr/Archive/2003/Dec/01-499319.html

Which urges VIETNAM to allow freedom for Buddhists.  It doesn't list  
the prevalence of Buddhism in the USA.  In fact, it doesn't mention  
Buddhism in the USA at all.  It's a smackdown on Vietnam, and not an  
honoring of a particular religious group in America.
>
>
> Resolution on Judaism:
> http://www.350th.org/commission/Jewish%20350th%20Res%20passes% 
> 20Joint%2011-24.pdf

This one is better;  However, it "honors and recognizes the  350th  
anniversary of the American Jewish Community" and doesn't "honor"  
Judaism in America.  Oddly, no mention of the particular beliefs of  
Judaism are enumerated, as they were regarding Christianity and  
Christmas.
>
>
> Resolution on Islam:
> http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile- 
> english&x=20071003165444mlenuhret0.9762384&m=October
> On Ramadan:
> http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14293

One and the same, actually;  I can't find a resolution on Islam.  Of  
all three, this one is the closest to the current Christmas  
resolution;  However, it makes little mention of the (non) prominence  
of Islam in America, no boastful numbers of how many there are on our  
shores.  In fact, it leaves out the fact that Islam is one of the  
world's fastest growing religious bodies.  Further, it doesn't  
mention specific religious beliefs to the degree that the Christian/ 
Christmas resolution does.  Finally, it was not passed  
"unanimously".  42 representatives couldn't even stand up honestly  
and say "no".  They voted "present".  42, compared to 9 who stood  
against the Christian/Christmas resolution.

I remain unconvinced, Mr. Dougherty.  None of the resolutions you  
cited are analogous to the recent HR resolution.  They strike me as  
gracious acknowledgments of other peoples and religions, or a  
condemnation of religious persecution in the case of the first one.   
Once Islam overtakes Christianity as the dominant religion in the US,  
and they pass a resolution regarding Christmas, THEN we will see  
equality.

FYI:  I am writing under an assumed name on this list for many  
reasons.  I am using my grandmother's name, who was a registered  
Republican.  It was her grace and dignity that inspired me, and she  
used to say that it's rude to wear a mink coat to volunteer at the  
soup kitchen.  It strikes me hubris pure and simple that a legal body  
comprised mostly of self-identified Christians pass a resolution to  
honor their own holiday.   If that's "PC", then I am proud to be PC.   
My grandmother would call it being polite.

Jean
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