Letter to the editor from Laura Minor:
Every once in a while there is a week that makes you think about things that you take for granted differently. This past week was one of those.
I love living in Bristol. I have been in Bristol for 23 years. My child grew up here and my husband is a city councilman here. I have been involved in many community projects and have many friends. I feel supported and loved in this city.
Except occasionally there are weeks like this that frighten me.
I’m Jewish. I’m not Christian like more than 97% of my neighbors are (as Mr. Huckabee so nicely pointed out at last week’s city council meeting). I’m Jewish. I worship the God of the Jewish Torah. I celebrate Chanukah with friends and family. I celebrate holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot which many of my Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Baha’i and Hindu Bristol friends and neighbors don’t celebrate themselves but sometimes celebrate with me.
I am happy to celebrate with all my friends of different faiths and creeds as they worship the religion that they subscribe to. I attend ceremonies at many houses of worship. I believe that the more we know each other and our traditions and religions, the better we will all get along.
I was trying to do just that when I spoke to Rev. Barker at the reception after the City Council inauguration last week. Rev. Barker’s letter to the editor on Tuesday did not mention me by name, but I am coming forward to try again to clarify the message which he misheard.
After a beautiful invocation by Father Georgia and a lovely inauguration ceremony, Rev. Parker gave a wonderful benediction. I was so pleased and felt that we were all of one mind and spirit until his last few words.
I know that he is a Christian minister and this is a deep part of who he is just as I am a Jew and it defines the way I live and speak. His last few words were “in the name of Jesus Christ”. If he were in a church or at a non-governmental function, I would not have any problem with this closing. However, in a public facility where we have all come together to showcase the best of Bristol, by choosing those words, rather than “in God’s name” or “in the Lord’s name” or “in the spirit of togetherness”, he took my religion off of that stage. I couldn’t say “Amen” to a prayer that I very much wanted to say “Amen” to.
I shared this sentiment with Rev. Barker, quietly during the reception. I complimented him on his benediction. I informed him that my husband and I were Jewish and that I was sure that he didn’t mean to do it, but he had cut us out of the prayer. I suggested alternate endings. I thanked him again sincerely as we parted.
I did not try to take the prayer out of the event. I didn’t try to deny him his beliefs nor did I imply that being a Christian was wrong. I believe fervently in his right to believe as he does. I just wish that he believed that I have that right as well and that my religion and others deserve respect in that kind of venue.
On Friday of last week, I saw one of the finest pieces of high school theater that I’ve ever seen in this city. I attended “The Diary of Anne Frank” at Bristol Central High School. Unfortunately, less than a quarter of the auditorium was filled. By the time the Nazis marched down the aisle in the final scene to take Anne and her family to the concentration camp, I was sobbing. I couldn’t stand for the immediate standing ovation that the actors deserved.
I know that this is America and not Nazi Germany. However, in the last few years as I have experienced more and more anger from some Christians who believe that this is a Christian country and that I don’t have the right to have a separation of “church” and state even during a government function in a public school. I now sadly fear for one of our greatest American rights, the freedom of religion.
For those of you who are Christians, please think about how you would feel if our elected officials started wishing you well only on Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu holidays or only had non-Christian prayers said as benedictions or invocations. After a while you’d wonder what happened to your religion. That’s how many of us in minority religions feel.
Reverend Barker quoted from the Mayflower Compact, which he said was written in “this land”. Actually it was written in a English colony. I would like to quote from a document that was written in this land, the United States of America, a country where many come, fleeing from persecution as my ancestors did, and become part of this great, delicious stew which is big enough for all of us and richer because of what we bring to it.
In 1790, George Washington wrote the following,“The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for giving to Mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens.” He wrote this in a letter to the Newport, Rhode Island Jewish congregation.
I am a good citizen. I vote. I try to be a good Jew. I sincerely thank Mayor Art Ward for speaking out against the anti-Semitic remarks made in the Council Chambers last week. I would like to thank the clergy who have organized the interfaith Thanksgiving service this week in Bristol. I would like to thank all of you who have spoken to Craig and me this week about anti-Semitism. Now I ask the rest of you to take one more step: acknowledge the diversity in Bristol and honor it by recognizing it. This doesn't diminish Christianity. It enhances humanity.
May we all be blessed in this season and give thanks for and treasure the freedoms that we have as Americans.
Sincerely,
Laura S. Minor
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
51 comments:
What?What?What? She makes no sense! She is making it more about herself then anything else..And yes this country is based on Christian beliefs! All the forefathers were Christian! Every single one of them! Go look it up! In god we trust! Because they were Christian! Minors = Weirdo’s!
I think that we as a community need to be offended at what went on at last months city council meeting. I am glad that Mayor Ward took control of things before someone decked Huckaby. With regard to Laura's comments why would you write a letter and add to the controversy instead of letting it just die out. You stated that you spoke with the minister afterward one on one and expressed your concerns. Seems to me that you had a valid issue to be addressed and handled it appropriately but to now bring it out again serves onloy your personal agenda. I do not think that the minister was going out of his way to offend you and your husband. I do think it was an honest oversight on his part, stop making something out of nothing.
Maybe they belong to the ACLU too?
I thought we were supposed to be inclusive of all people, and tolerant of their beliefs. If so, the only proper thing to say would be: "in the name of whatever higher power you believe in, if any"
Get gripe Laura...this is more about you then us. You are way over the top here and your attention to your own insecurity has made it worse...go deal with it in YOUR own way..not publiclly.
Wow, I really do feel sorry for Mrs. Minor. If something this inconsequential can throw her into such a tizzy, I can't imagine what she'd do if she had an actual crisis on her hands. The Jewish faith wasn't the only one that wasn't recognized at the inauguration. There was no mention of Buddah, Goddess, Allah, Jehovah, etc, etc. No one else seems to have gotten their panties in a twist over it. There are just too many things that are truly frightening in the real world.
Get therapy now Laura! You're a whiney liberal pain in the neck.
So she's trying to make the reverend forsake his own faith for the sake of political correctness? Go to hell!
After reading a slew of comments on this piece -- and killing the most off-the-wall -- I have to say that some of you could use a good history lesson, along with a strong dose of tolerance.
What history? Just because an ordained minister praises Christ you compare him to the Nazis? My opinion is that not only can you NOT make a good analysis between history and this story, but you are nuts!
Laura,
I can appreciate that you were disappointed that the closing of the benediction was not a bit more ecumenical, however you did state the following:
You realize the minister did not do this to single any one religion out. It was an honest mistake.
You spoke with him privately following the ceremony and he acknowledged your point and disappointment.
So why would you then choose to publicly criticize this minister, a man that has done countless wonderful things for this community? For a mistake that was obviously unintentional? This "event" does not even come close to creating a "frightening week".
Why didn't you write a letter to the editor that would bring to light the hatred that Mr. Huckabee brought to the City Council meeting? That would have been worth writing about. You could have written a lesson in ignorance, tollerance and a the importance of a succcessfully diverse community with no room for people that preach hatred.
Rev Barker made a mistake. You addressed it privately where there was no need for humiliation. Then you decided that this Reverend needed to be "publicly outted" for his mistake.
You owe him a public apology without excuses.
I couldn’t say “Amen” to a prayer that I very much wanted to say “Amen” to.
The Hebrew definition of the word, "Amen," is "so be it." It is derived from the word aman which means "to build up or support; to foster." It also has a similar Greek definition, "so be it" or "firm." Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary says:
"A solemn word by which a person confirms a statement, an oath, or a covenant (Num. 5:22; Neh. 5:13). It is also used in worship to affirm an address, psalm, or prayer.
In Isaiah 65:16 the Lord is called "the God of truth"; the original Hebrew means, "the God of Amen." This is Isaiah’s way of saying that the Lord is the One who remains eternally true, the One who can always be relied on. In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ is given the same title; "the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness" (Rev. 3:14). He, too, is eternally true and reliable.
Laura, you could have privately closed the prayer with something you were more personally comfortable with and then said AMEN to that. If the rest of the prayer was acceptable to you then nothing should have held you back from closing it with your own personal belief of what was good for you and Craig.
You stepped over the line with this public criticism of Reverend Barkers admitted mistake.
Minor whines it only makes sense his wife would.
I agree with the 12:35 post entirely. In another document that was written in the United States, we read in part that
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;"
I left that last part in for Steve.
Does Mrs. Minor propose that we limit the good Reverend from exercising his religion? Does she suggest that we censor his message when he is in a public forum?
Our country was founded on a rich history of Judeo-Christian beliefs. I'm quite certian that if Craig had invited his rabbi he would have been included in the ceremony as well. I'm also quite certian that Mrs. Minor's copy of the Torah contains the same admonitions against sodomy and immorality as all the other copies that are out there. Perhaps she should review it before she officiates at her next "civil union" ceremony.
I wish they both would Gay Avek.
I wish the guys wife said something like this before the election.
MERRY CHRIST-MAS LAURA!!!
Let's remember the separation of church and state and leave the preachers -- of all stripes -- out of the next governmental event. It's not necessary. Anyone who wants to pray can do so in their own mind or heart.
Laura Minor has a right to her own thoughts and feelings. She has a right to share them. You have a right to read them or not. (Did you get that, posters? You don't have to read them if it's so upsetting to you.) Leave her alone.
Laura Minor has donated a lot of time, energy and energy to helping people in this town. She's a good woman and doesn't deserve the abuse you are piling on. Lay off.
I hope Mrs. Minor can take some comfort in the fact that the written posts so clearly show that her critics are a bunch of uneducated (Bristol educated) local yokels who don't have command of the English language, probably thanks to their parents and the fine schooling they got in Bristol! They're probably the first to scream about the influx of hardworking, non-native English speakers in the community, too, come to think of it...
Laura's big mistake was caring enough to try to educate you losers.
No, Laura's biggest mistake was making a mountain out of a mole hill and publicly criticizing someone that didn't deserve it.
If she's going to write public letters she has to accept that she will get public opinion and criticism back.
To posters 12:38 and 12:44
AMEN AMEN AMEN
Now it becomes ever more clear as to why Bristol is in such a mess . Thanks laura for such insight into your mental state .
Thanks, Laura, for sharing your thoughts.
It is important that one be able to state their thoughts and impressions .
I'm sure that you posted your comments knowing full well that you were exposing yourself to further hate...some folks never fail to exceed expectations.
I recognize that you publicly responded only AFTER the member of the clergy spoke publicly.
Let's all try to follow the example of Mayor Ward stating that intolerance and hateful comments will not be tolerated.
And if you disagree, sign your name to your comments.
Patti Ewen
It's a bleeding heart liberal love fest!
To the first poster: Many of the founding fathers, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, to name just some of the more well known ones, were at best deists. They believed in God, or a god, but not in the Christian God more of us think of.
Can I guess you forward the in God we Trust email to all your friends?
Laura Minor has a right to her own thoughts and feelings. She has a right to share them, So how about Rev. Parker? He doesn’t have a right to write his own
benediction? He has to be censor when he is in a governmental function?
I didn’t spent 20 years in the airforce, 2 gulf wars to defend only half Americans,
Laura has the rignt to be offended, but the Rev also has the right to his own believe. It’s minor incidents like this that cause this great country to “ban”
Merry Christmas, Christmas trees , now we have to have “happy holidays” and Holiday trees, everyone should have the right to their believe and not get offended so easy. Look at congress, when they open their session they have a prayer and it includes, “in god we trust”, you don’t see me writing to have that ban, cause technically that would offend me since I am a atheist
Laura,
We can all agree that Huckaby was out of line and that Mayor Ward did a great job of handling him.
As for the rest of your letter, you live in Bristol. It does not have a big Jewish population. So when you make statements like -- “I’m Jewish. I worship the God of the Jewish Torah” or “I was trying to do just that (teach the Reverend why you were offended) when I spoke to Rev. Barker at the reception after the City Council inauguration last week”.-- what do you expect?
Most people don’t even know what the Torah is (i.e., the first five books of the bible or the five books of Moses or what many refer to as the Old Testament) or that the God “Jews” believe in is in essence the same idea of a God that Christians believe in. The major difference is that Christians believe that Christ is the Messiah (son of God) and Jews do not. Judaism and Christianity are founded on the same beliefs like the “Ten Commandments”. Jews view the bible as only the Old Testament and Christians view the bible as the Old and New Testaments. The religions are more alike then they are apart which is why many refer to the idea of Judeo Christian beliefs.
I am sorry you were offended and did not like Reverend Barker’s choice of words but he was doing what a Christian Minister does. You did not have to make your point in public and in the manner in which you did. It just adds more controversy to an already sensitive issue.
We all need to practice more tolerance of each other.
Frightening? What's frightening is a lynch mob of Muslims calling for the execution of a British schoolteacher in Sudan for naming a Teddy Bear after the Muslim prophet Muhammed. Time for a reality check, let's get some perspective here.
If hearing a Christian minister invoke the name of Jesus Christ in a public inaugural benediction FRIGHTENS you, then there is something seriously wrong with you. If the Minors as Jews invited a Rabbi to the inauguration to give a blessing that included positive religious content, I seriously doubt anyone there would object or be offended--that is the kind of people 99% of us are in this community, not the scary Christian regime of intolerance suggested by Laura Minor's letter.
To the poster that said the founding fathers were Deism. All the founding fathers were members of traditional Christian denominations. All their speeches were of Desim or had a Desim influnce. Remember this country is based on Chrisitian belifs. Most founding fathers were either Presbyterian or Episcopalians.
I've never posted on this site before and I'm surprised at how few people use their names. I want to thank those who understand the issue that I was speaking about. For those of you who disagree with me, that is your right.
I want to make it clear that this letter was in RESPONSE to the Reverend's letter in the Bristol Press and I wrote it over a week ago. The Press delayed in printing my response which means that this may seem like it's out of the blue but I was just trying to set the record straight since he didn't seem to understand what I was trying to say.
I am not asking people to remove prayer from the ceremonies, I'm just trying to encourage the leaders of prayers to be respectful. If Mayor Ward had asked a Wiccan or a Muslim or a Hindu or a Sikh or a rabbi to give the benediction, would it be okay if each prayed using the name of their holy leader or God?
I believe in a God who is loving, compassionate and who wants us to love one another. I believe that this is in the Christian Bible as well as in many books of faith.
May those of you who celebrate Christmas have a merry one and for those of you celebrating other holidays at this time of year, may they be wonderful.
She is a whiner like her husband.
If this is in response to Rev. Barker's letter, then I would like to see that letter too. I wasn't aware that he had published a letter. Laura's letter didn't indicate that it was a RESPONSE to something else.
Both sides please?
Laura you speak of toleration yet you show none. This is more about you over reacting then anything. You come off as a drama queen. A frighting week? -- Come on!
You speak above or down to everyone as if your opinion really matters.
You insult the Reverand and then wonder why you got the reaction you did. You then try to say that he misunderstood you because he did not see the light after you spoke to him. Who do you think you are?
The Jewish/Christian way of handling this situation would have been to give the Reverand the benefit of the doubt.
Try practicing what you breach.
Let it go already!
Laura Minor said: "If Mayor Ward had asked a Wiccan or a Muslim or a Hindu or a Sikh or a rabbi to give the benediction, would it be okay if each prayed using the name of their holy leader or God?"
The answer is, Yes, it would be Ok.
What is the problem? You don't like Jesus Christ? What do you expect out of a "Christian" minister. A lot of religions were left out but you cannot expect them all to be acknowledged. Like previous posters, your making a mountain out of a mole hill. Leave it alone. He was speaking for the majority. You should have stood up then and defended your religion, if you felt it needed it. Bill Reeves former and forever Bristol rsident
It's Christmas Season people, could we PLEASE give all this a REST?BTW,Merry Christmas to one and all!
I don't have a copy of Rev. Barker's letter. If anyone does, I'll gladly post it.
Here's the Nov. 13 letter from Rev. Barker:
Letter to the Editor,
I would like to begin with congratulations to Art Ward on his recent election to the office of Mayor of the city of Bristol along with a thank you for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the inauguration ceremony.
That aside, I would like to address another growing issue that affects our entire nation and which became evident, is also an issue in the city of Bristol.
I was asked to offer the benediction at the inauguration and being a Christian it was understood that I would do so as a Christian. I closed my prayer with the following; “Respecting persons of all faiths, I humbly submit this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen” and although no disrespect to those who hold other views was intended, it never fails, one was offended. After the ceremony at the reception I was approached by a person who said to me, “I was with in your prayer right up to the time you said, “in the name of Jesus” and by saying that you stopped me from saying amen.” I do apologize for any offense but I do not apologize for using the name of Jesus.
As a Christian which is “a follower of Christ” it is my obligation and my privilege to follow and live as He has taught, (John 14: 13-14, And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.) Jesus teaches us, His followers, that all we do and ask is to be done in His name and if I neglect this simple teaching for the sake of those who oppose Jesus, then how can I call myself a true follower.
A true humble follower of Christ does not say the name of Jesus in order to create controversy or offense, but out of Love for Him and those whom He died for, (Romans 3:23-24 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.)
There is a growing resistance towards God and Christ in America and I would hope that Christian and non-Christian alike would stop and think of one simple social truth, that as an American, Christians have as much right to hold to our beliefs, both privately and publicly, as do those who believe differently. I find it sad that people who oppose Christ would turn to the Government to override the Church and stop any public speech including the name of God or His Son Christ, which according to the separation of Church and State, they cannot. We also must remember that one of the first official documents written in this land “The Mayflower Compact” makes this claim;
"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid …
I again pray for Art Ward who accepted the call to lead this City as I pray for God’s Grace to rest upon him and all leaders of our City, our State and our Country. And meaning no offense and in respect of those who hold to different beliefs I, as a follower of Christ, submit this prayer in His name.
Rev. Roger Barker
To Rev. Barker: Amen.
I see that the Reverend did not feel it was necessary to publicly single out anyone by name.
Laura, maybe if you hadn't written such a ridiculous, bizarre letter thus humiliating yourself, you wouldn't be worrying about people not posting their names.
I closed my prayer with the following; “Respecting persons of all faiths, I humbly submit this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen”
Laura, he respected persons of all faiths.
You over reacted....again.
Thank You Steven ..... The blog has enlightened so many .
Thank You Laura .... Your post " A frightening week " has provided valuable insight into local , national , and world-wide controversy . Thanks to you , I now have an insiders view into the mind of Osama Bin Laden . He also can NOT tolerate non-believers .
I am Jewish - and am comfortable enough in my faith not to be offended when the faith of my presence is not recognized at certain functions. It does not define who I am as a complete human being. I appreciate and respect other faiths and if a prayer is said that does not include words that cover all religions, I will still say AMEN because there is never a prayer that ELIMINATES any group of people or religion.
I am Jewish - and am comfortable enough in my faith not to be offended when the faith of my presence is not recognized at certain functions. It does not define who I am as a complete human being. I appreciate and respect other faiths and if a prayer is said that does not include words that cover all religions, I will still say AMEN because there is never a prayer that ELIMINATES any group of people or religion. December 3, 2007 2:21 PM
AMEN TO THAT! I've been struggling with the right words to say to this letter from Laura, and I no longer have to. This person said it all for me. Laura, Rev. Barker's prayer didn't eliminate you or anyone else. You chose to eliminate yourself from the prayer.
never signed up just left a post
Freedom of speach goes both ways and that includes Laura Minors. Nothing says you have to agree with her ! It looks like the same practitioners on hear don't have the courage to post in the name of freedom of speach because they hide behind a party who doesn't always agree with them either.
And trust me a lot of us know who and what you are ! Sore losers and hate mongers.
Re: 6:56 comment
Is it possible you happen to be a product of the local school system ??
There are enough errors in you grammer to qualify you as a proof-reader for the Bristol Press . :-)
So the essence of these postings critical of Laura boil down to: "This is Bristol! What do you expect?" That sets the bar pretty low, doesn't it? Makes me real proud to live here.
And to the guy who called for a "reality check" or something like that, try this one: How would the audience at Bristol Eastern have reacted if a Muslim cleric had delivered that benediction, and then closed with the words "In the name of Allah the compassionate and his Servant Mohammad peace be unto him." They would have lynched the man.
.... a Muslim cleric had delivered that benediction, and then closed with the words "In the name of Allah the compassionate and his Servant Mohammad peace be unto him." They would have lynched the man.
December 4, 2007 7:52 PM ......
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Somehow , I can't help but believe you would be able to turn to Laura for the rope ...
Bottom line. Toleration goes both ways. Laura showed poor judgement in how she handled this. It was more about her then anything else. She had a point but went way beyond what she needed to do and came off as a drama queen.
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