Posted on 12/08/2003 2:27:22 PM PST by Rush Reagan
Joshua Claybourn comments on his blog and on HR regarding the controversy over a Christmas tree that has been removed from the IU Law School at IUPUI. Professor Florence Roisman complained that the tree, even undecorated, was "a symbol of Christianity on government property".
Channel 6 in Indianapolis has a story here, the Indianapolis Star report is here, and the Indiana Daily Student reports on the matter here. The IDS has a great parody in its' December 8 staff editorial.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Christmas trees are secular symbols. This makes sense. Christmas itself has become a secular holiday. While the birth of Christ is still prominent, the holiday is also associated with family get-togethers and gift exchanges. One need not be a Christian to celebrate Christmas.
But political correctness reigns at IUPUI. Because some people might be offended, the tree has to go. This is just plain silly. Exactly whose rights are being infringed by a Christmas tree on the IUPUI campus? Sure, some people might feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel "excluded". Well, perhaps it's time to grow up. The Christmas celebration is everywhere you look in America.
What is disappointing about this is that the complaint that led to the tree's removal was filed not by a student, but by a professor. While college students should be mature enough to deal with something they don't like rather than demand it be censored, professors really should know better. Professor Roisman could learn from Daniel Birenbaum, a freshman at IU-Bloomington who told the IDS: "I don't just accept (Christmas), I can appreciate it. Being an observant Jew, I can certainly understand people celebrating their faith." Even better was the following quote by David Fuchs, who told the IDS those who celebrate Christmas shouldn't feel as if they need to express remorse to non-Christian students. "I always find it ridiculous the way people try to apologize for their own personal beliefs. (Christmas) really doesn't bother me."
If you'd like to tell the professor how YOU feel contact her at Florence Wagman Roisman Michael D. McCormick Professor of Law
Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis Lawrence W. Inlow Hall, Room 303 530 W. New York Street Indianapolis, IN 46202-3225
Phone: (317) 274-4479 Fax: (317) 278-3326 E-Mail ID: froisman Send to: @iupui.edu
then again...
It's also a NATIONAL holiday. These people really piss me off.
I'm offended by the University's actions! Does that mean I have a right to demand that they rectify it by catering to my sensitivities?
Oh...that's right...I'm a conservative, so my sensitivities don't count. : (
Then the University or whoever paid to have it put up should send this overpaid, oversensitive, over-PC professor a bill and make her pay for the removal. If Florence Roisman doesn't like it...fine. But make her pay to have it removed. Period. Watch how fast she shuts her pie-hole.
'cool'........'Just say...."No".....
Everybody can start their own denomination of "Secular-Religion-Church".
That would be 'very interesting' now wouldn't it?
:-)
a....new 'secular-religion-that-has-as-one-of-it's-idols,...a christmas tree...'idol-a-tree'.
:-)
If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
Yeah, my favorite part of the Gospels was the miracle of the loaves, fishes, and Christmas Trees. Though with twelve Apostles and only eight tiny reindeer, making carpool arrangements after the party was a real pain.
Is this another example of America's "Judeo/Christian ethic"?
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