Bow to diversity leaves altar empty

Washington Times ^ | 1-29-07 | Natasha Altamirano

[JZelle]

WILLIAMSBURG -- The simple altar at the College of William & Mary's Wren Chapel befits the austerity of the Anglican tradition in which the school was founded. There are no ornate icons or stained-glass windows, just a few candles and an empty space where a brass cross once stood. To some, that empty space marks the triumph of diversity over exclusivity. To others, it represents unchecked political correctness at the expense of free expression.

[JZelle]

[dangus]

The article says the university president is setting up a committee with professors, student and alumni representatives. Well, we know how the professors will feel. And how much do you want to bet the student representatives will not be chosen from those groups which would use the altar, but rather the state-endorsed student groups like GLAAD, the black student union, MALDEF, PIRG, etc.

[A. Pole]

"the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness" (1Cor:1:18)

[dangus]

>> "With the cross in the chapel ... it was, 'Welcome to our school,' and once the cross was removed, it became, 'Welcome to my school,' " Hillel Director Geoffrey Brown said. <<

By this awkward wording, he meant, 'Welcome to our school (other people's)' as opposed to 'Welcome to my school (It's mine, and it's yours and it's his...')

But on some level, he must realize it sounds like, "This school is MINE, MINE, MINE! ALL MINE!"

He says Hillel will hold a seder there. Actually, that is quite odd, since seders are usually held in the home, not in sacred spaces like a synogogue. He is trying to imply that it's the first time they feel welcome there; really, they are holding it there simply to create a misimpression. REAL Jews will know this.

[ConservativeDude]

"the austerity of the Anglican tradition"

Either this author doesn't know anything about the Anglican tradition, or doesn't know what the word austerity means.

Most likely both.

[Blueflag]

I am an alumnus of William and Mary. I have written the College (and the Society of the Alumni, aka fund raising) and formally requested they do NOT contact me again until this PC silliness goes away. Not that other FReepers would know, but the prior college president, Dr. Sullivan was just as bad -- and he got he pee-pee whacked by FIRE for stupidly intervening, with written, unconstitutional policies to stop the Republican Student Org's bake sale.

For me, this action (removing the cross) is what broke this camel's back.

[Old Professer]

When you take the money, you've made the sale.

Colleges and universities were established to provide a continuum of traditional morals and mores; these things are priceless but people are whores.

[when the time is right]

This "professor" was a lawyer for the ACLU before invading academia.

Last summer he tried to force the city to allow students to vote in local elections because he felt that Williamsburg was too conservative and did not represent the student and professor's views.

Can you imagine the people who live and pay taxes in a town having the college students, who have no permanent interest in the future of the town, controlling where their tax money is spent?

[Leg Olam]

"Either this author doesn't know anything about the Anglican tradition, or doesn't know what the word austerity means."

As an Anglian I'm used to hearing this sort of bilge. We are humble, traditional and mostly conservative folk but austerity is not a tenet of the faith. The author must have us confused with the rug kissers of the Middle-east. Now thats 'austerity'.

[Herakles]

"To others, it represents unchecked political correctness at the expense of free expression."

It is obvious that these people have never been to Penn State, the home and sanctuary of political correctness!

[The Great RJ]

I'm sure that replacing the cross with a Muslim crescent would be hailed as diversity.

[Kenny Bunk]

Many Anglicans are indeed austere.

I know several who drink their whiskey without ice.

[CORedneck]

Back in Indianapolis at the Butler University Campus, there is one building called Robertson Hall. It is a Colonial looking church building with a steeple. I seen old pictures and there was a Cross on top of it but if you go there today, gone ! I wrote a letter concerning that to the previous president, Geoffrey Bannister. I never got a reply. I know the college was founded based on religious views originally. They are now pretty liberal with gay pride B.S.

A different University I went to in Indiana, founded on and to a certain extent controlled by Methodist's, they also a gay pride day as well condoned by the Administration. It is also a dry campus. When there was discussion on relaxing the alcohol rule, the administration said it went against religious teachings but yet, they are silent about gay pride.

[ConservativeDude]

For most journalists, Muslims and Christians with any tinge of orthodoxy are the same thing anyway....

[ConservativeDude]

austere means unadorned...whisky without ice....that's unadorned alright, and thus austere.

i stand corrected!

[yankeedame]

"the austerity of the Anglican tradition"

Either this author doesn't know anything about the Anglican tradition, or doesn't know what the word austerity means.

Most likely both

===============================

That struck me as well. As I recall, the Anglican Church is (or was?) a good deal like the RCC when it comes to (came to?) religious accoutrement.

[Leg Olam]

Ok, you got me there...I'm guilty of that too. Our congregation is small and well up in years except for me so when the priest goes through the Ten Commandments I'm the only one that has to ask God to help me keep his law in regards to adultry.

[mcshot]

Cheap stuff too? :-)

[Kiss Me Hardy]

The poster mistook the William of Orange variety of unadorned places of worship with the ornate churches favored by James I, which evoked the "idolatry" of the papists and prompted the Glorious Revolution.

Correct me if my memory of history is wrong.

[Leg Olam]

I think you are correct.