FYI, in the next week or so I’ll be moving our little adventure in local politics to http://whatsrequiredky.com, largely out of an interest in owning my own domain before too many people get directed to this one.
Not that there aren’t a ton of you reading this. There are. But I have big plans.
Also, in lieu of an essay tonight (I’m bushed), I’ll offer some commentary on the tyranny of the majority with respect to religion in these United States; in the wake of a decision on the University of the Cumberlands that I applaud, I think it’s important to realize that while religion is an important part of our heritage and character–especially among the passionate citizens of the Commonwealth– there is yet a long way to go in living up to the separation of church and state promised so frequently in our legal canon.
From Matthew Yglesias (on Harvard and Islamic Gym Hours):
Harvard, like all American institutions of higher education of which I’m aware, shuts down and creates a holiday in late December that just so happens to coincide with an important familial and religious observance for Christians whereas no such allowance is made for Passover visits. Christianism? Worse, it happens in public high schools and elementary schools all across the country, the very same country in which no mail can be delivered on Sunday! Meanwhile, when I was a student at Harvard there was a ban on having anything on fire in a dorm room and also a movement to create an exemption so that Jewish students could light Hanukkah candles. I don’t recall whether or not the exemption was granted, but if it was that certainly wouldn’t constitute the dawning of a new era of Jewish theocratic rule at the university. I know for a fact that they allow students to reschedule exams for religious reasons, like a Jewish or Muslim obligation to avoid taking an exam on a Saturday (no exams are scheduled on Sundays).
Now, I won’t get into the casino gaming bill, because I believe that bill would be failing religion or no (pass a version without KEEP support? Really?), but does anybody really believe half of the counties in this state would be “dry” without the influence of religion? Do we really believe we would have the homophobia issues that exist here without the power of the Southern Baptist Convention?
