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Pastimes : THE SLIGHTLY MODERATED BOXING RING -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (7115)	4/5/2002 3:26:30 PM
From: Neocon	Respond to of 21057

All kinds of messages are broadcast in public, many of them contradictory or to be taken advisedly. It is hard to believe that an exposure to "Amazing Grace" will harm anyone, but there are parents who believe that "Huck Finn" will warp young minds, so what do I know?

To: Lane3 who wrote (7115)	4/5/2002 5:08:18 PM
From: J. C. Dithers	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 21057

Amazing Grace and the heritage of America (Catching up here on many posts!) It is interesting to me that you submit this hymn as an example of something that could be seen as a threat, as well as "unhealthy and dehumanizing", when given a public imprimatur. You go so far as to say that you would not want your kids exposed to it. This hymn, like many others, is a personal testament by one man as to how he found faith and redemption. The composer was a former slave trader and owner. Another very familiar hymn written in the same vein is "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," wherein in the composer expresses her personal vision ("Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord...") of soldiers marching under the banner of the Lord to fight against slavery. Yet another example would be "Onward Christian Soldiers." Such hymns have come to be a very familiar part of the American experience, often heard, and well known to just about everyone. For many over the years, they have served as an inspiration to persons who might be facing personal challenges or danger, or have comforted those who have suffered loss of a loved one. These hymns have been performed at times of troops going off to war, or at memorial services for fallen heroes, and no doubt were heard on number of occasions surrounding the WTC attack. Thus, directly or indirectly, they have been given a public imprimatur. Would it be your position that it has been a violation of the Constitution for these hymns to have been performed on any ceremonial occasion that bears a governmental imprimatur? Would you favor a ban on any religious hymns being performed by a military band composed of U.S. soldiers? Would you favor banning them from any funeral services performed on the public grounds of Arlington National Cemetery? Should they be prohibited during government-staged funeral services for a former President? Would you favor banning them from being performed during a town or city-sponsored parade, such as on Veteran's Day? If these type of hymns are offensive to non-believing citizens, how far would we have to go to redress the grievance? JC