(NAME-MCE) U.S. & Christian Privilege

Wed Apr 15 09:02:25 CDT 2009

Hello NAME:

 From where I sit, I see Warren's email as bringing awareness to a  
larger pattern, rather than a particular problem.  Thus, in the  
strictest sense, I do not think (and certainly don't want to speak for  
Warren) that there is a single solution.

Instead, it's about asking ourselves to what extent do we as a nation/ 
culture/etc. want to commit to a separation of religion and state.  We  
have XXX options:

1.  A total separation would mean that events like the White House  
Easter Egg roll would be considered anathema to American sensibility;  
i.e., it (and all public governmental expressions like it) should  
cease immediately.

OR

2.  If we are okay with a slight co-mingling of religion and state,  
then it must be done equitably.  There are other religious holidays  
that are not currently celebrated on the White House lawn that could/ 
should be.

Warren's email points this out.  We need to engage in further  
discourse about which option we want, total separation or total equity.

And now to Bill's question... what should we (is there a 'we?') do?   
The first item that comes to mind is that NAME could issue a press  
release drawing attention and awareness of this issue.  Is this  
something that we have come to consensus at NAME?  Could we put forth  
a statement (perhaps using language Warren has already provided) that  
would further public awareness of this multicultural issue?  It could  
certainly put NAME back in the press...

Regards,

Mark Brimhall-Vargas
Assistant Director
Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
1130 Shriver Laboratory, East Wing
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
301.405.2840 ph
301.314.9992 fx
brimhall at umd.edu

--------------------------------

Before you speak, ask yourself: "Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it  
true?  Does it improve on the silence?"

---Sri Sathya Sai Baba

On Apr 14, 2009, at 7:11 AM, Bill Howe wrote:

>
>
> Warren:
>
> What is your "solution" to this "problem"?
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: name-mce-bounces at nameorg.org [mailto:name-mce-bounces at nameorg.org 
> ] On
> Behalf Of Blumenfeld, Warren [C I]
> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 12:28 PM
> To: Blumenfeld, Warren [C I]; name-mce at nameorg.org
> Subject: (NAME-MCE) U.S. & Christian Privilege
>
>
>
> U.S. & Christian Privilege
>
> by Warren J. Blumenfeld
>
>
>
> As spring peers forth from the soil and tree limbs, the annual  
> Easter egg
> roll, sponsored by the President of the United States and the First  
> Lady,
> thrills elementary and pre-school age children each year, a  
> tradition dating
> back to 1879. Introduced by a beautiful rendition by Fergie of the  
> Star
> Spangled Banner, this year, Barack and Michelle Obama invited 35,000
> children representing 42 states. Also, in school classrooms  
> throughout the
> country, students and their teachers dip hardboiled eggs into brightly
> colored dyes, and display Easter eggs of pink, yellow, blue, green,  
> red, and
> lavender. An excitement wafts through the classroom as students  
> imagine
> sharing their treasures with parents or caregivers, as teachers  
> reward the
> good work of their charges with delicious gleaming chocolate bunnies.
>
>
>
> Many people (most likely the majority) consider these events, played  
> out in
> Washington, DC and in some schools in the United States, as normal,
> appropriate, and joyous seasonal activities. Upon critical reflection,
> however, others experience them as some of the many examples of
> institutional (governmental and educational) (re)enforcements of  
> dominant
> Christian standards and what is referred to as "Christian  
> privilege," though
> presented in presumably secularized forms. They represent some of  
> the ways
> in which the dominant group (in this instance, Christians)  
> reiterates its
> values and practices while marginalizing and subordinating those who  
> do not
> adhere to Christian faith traditions. I ask then, is this country  
> one that
> truly separates religion from government? If not, how do we make it  
> so?
>
>
>
> Warren J. Blumenfeld is co-editor of Investigating Christian  
> Privilege and
> Religious Oppression in the United States, 2009, Sense Publishers
>
>
>
> Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld
> Department of Curriculum & Instruction
> Iowa State University
> Ames, IA 50011-3192
> Office Phone: (515) 294-5931
> Office Fax:     (515) 294-6206
> Home Phone: (515) 232-8230
> _______________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
> This is a mailing of the National Association for Multicultural  
> Education -
> (NAME) Listserv list - www.nameorg.org. The materials included  
> reflect diverse perspectives of NAME Listserv participants and do  
> not necessarily reflect a position of the National Association for  
> Multicultural Education. If you would like to subscribe (or  
> unsubscribe)to this listserv go to http://mail.nameorg.org/mailman/listinfo/name-mce_nameorg.org 
> . You can read all past postings in the archives at http://mail.nameorg.org/pipermail/name-mce_nameorg.org/
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