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gilanaWhile I have not heard anything back from the mayor of Somerville or the newspapers about the letters I wrote (see here for those of you who are behind), I did get a fabulous letter back from Denise Provost, the president of the board of aldermen.
January 9, 2004
Dear Ms. Rosenthol:
Thank you for contributing your time, talent, and effort to Monday night's inauguration ceremony. I always enjoy performances of the Somerville Community Chorus, and was delighted that your group sang on that occasion. You are correct that I did not plan the evening's entertainment; that prerogative belongs entirely to the Mayor, and I was not consulted in any way.
Although I am myself a Christian, the overtly Christian character of Somerville inaugurals has long troubled me, since the days that I was in the audience, to my present capacity. I believe that the separation of church and state is essential to the fostering of a democratic public life, and to the civic health of this nation. I can assure you that if I am ever in a position to plan, or even to influence the planning of an inaugural ceremony, I will endeavor to keep religion out of the proceedings to the extent culturally possible.
By this last qualification, I refer to the fact that the Pledge of Allegiance, that staple of civic life, refers to us as a nation "under God." As you are doubtless aware, many of our standard patriotic songs, from "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to "God Bless America," are theistic in content, the former song frankly Christian if all its lyrics are sung. As a religious person, you may find non-denominational references to God tolerable, but people who abjure religious belief in their personal lives have raised to me their objection to any theistic references in government proceedings.
I would encourage you to communicate your feelings about the inaugural to our new Mayor, that he may have his staff consider this viewpoint when planning other public ceremonies. For my part, I would be grateful if you would be so kind as to suggest to me titles of songs that you consider appropriate for occasions such as the inaugural. Do you ever consider prayers or blessings appropriate in the public realm, or should these observances be omitted altogether?
You needn't answer immediately, and e.mail is fine for that purpose. My address is [deleted for privacy]. Thanks so much for writing to me about this issue.
Sincerely yours,
Denise Provost
I need to write back, but I'm trying to think of some non-Christian patriotic songs. Any suggestions?
January 9, 2004
Dear Ms. Rosenthol:
Thank you for contributing your time, talent, and effort to Monday night's inauguration ceremony. I always enjoy performances of the Somerville Community Chorus, and was delighted that your group sang on that occasion. You are correct that I did not plan the evening's entertainment; that prerogative belongs entirely to the Mayor, and I was not consulted in any way.
Although I am myself a Christian, the overtly Christian character of Somerville inaugurals has long troubled me, since the days that I was in the audience, to my present capacity. I believe that the separation of church and state is essential to the fostering of a democratic public life, and to the civic health of this nation. I can assure you that if I am ever in a position to plan, or even to influence the planning of an inaugural ceremony, I will endeavor to keep religion out of the proceedings to the extent culturally possible.
By this last qualification, I refer to the fact that the Pledge of Allegiance, that staple of civic life, refers to us as a nation "under God." As you are doubtless aware, many of our standard patriotic songs, from "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" to "God Bless America," are theistic in content, the former song frankly Christian if all its lyrics are sung. As a religious person, you may find non-denominational references to God tolerable, but people who abjure religious belief in their personal lives have raised to me their objection to any theistic references in government proceedings.
I would encourage you to communicate your feelings about the inaugural to our new Mayor, that he may have his staff consider this viewpoint when planning other public ceremonies. For my part, I would be grateful if you would be so kind as to suggest to me titles of songs that you consider appropriate for occasions such as the inaugural. Do you ever consider prayers or blessings appropriate in the public realm, or should these observances be omitted altogether?
You needn't answer immediately, and e.mail is fine for that purpose. My address is [deleted for privacy]. Thanks so much for writing to me about this issue.
Sincerely yours,
Denise Provost
I need to write back, but I'm trying to think of some non-Christian patriotic songs. Any suggestions?
