Tonight's ECSB FULL Comments, Satanic Temple Invocation

VIDEO HERE:  http://youtu.be/bfNcpInSthk

Tonight, SB member Bergosh brought a Jewish rabbi - 'for diversity'.  Here were my comments afterward, in the public forum.  I had to skip some, so the context was lacking.  I don't believe in Satan.  Neither does the Satanic Temple.

When I got to the prayer, some in the audience said the Lord's Prayer aloud.  Never mind that Jesus told them not to make a show of prayer in public.  Jeff Bergosh left the room.  Bill Slayton stayed, but turned away.

When leaving the meeting, I spoke with rabbi.  He was not offended.  He didn't know about the controversy, though I asked Jeff Bergosh to ask him to call me so I could fill him in.  He said he would not take part in invocations in the future if other minority religions aren't offered the same opportunity.  Good for him.  Religious minorities know what it's like to be excluded.  

COMMENTS:

According to Wikipedia, Tokenism is the policy and practice of making a perfunctory gesture towards the inclusion of members of minority groups. It is the effort of including a token intended to create the appearance of social inclusiveness and diversity and so deflect accusations of social discrimination.

I’m ashamed today. I’m ashamed that the District 1 SB member chose to include a ‘token’ Jew – mind you, a religion sharing his God and holy book - instead of truly welcoming religious diversity. I have great respect for Judaism but I cannot understand why a rabbi would take part “for diversity”, as the SB member told me.  Meantime, ALL board members continue to refuse requests from pagans, humanists and atheists who have been waiting for 6 months or more. After years of ONLY Christian prayers and excluding others, you can understand why this effort seems disingenuous.

By now you know, your continuing (unwritten) policy of refusing invocations from non-Biblical religions is illegal – especially in a school context. It’s not only contrary the Supreme Court against ruling in Galloway – which says that you must include ANY person wanting to offer a blessing. That case doesn’t even apply here. The four courts that have taken up the SB prayer issue ALL say you should not be leading prayers AT ALL. I am ashamed that this body flouts the law and continues starting its meetings by asking people to pray against their conscience. That is not the job of ANY government body. But you do it anyway.

Before I get to today’s alternate invocation, I’d like to renew my request to offer a prayer of the Pagan variety. I’ve not yet been answered, but AT LEAST could this board spell out it’s policy? Give me ANY valid legal reason why my religion gets no official audience here, but others do. You’ve had 6 months to mull this over and there is still NO WRITTEN POLICY of any kind. Don’t you employ an attorney? Why can’t she answer?

FDR said “there is nothing to fear but fear itself”. I’ve been repeatedly accused of offering a ‘satanic’ invocation. I have not. But, I’ve learned even that is nothing to fear. The Satanic Temple does not believe their namesake is real. He is merely a symbol for those embracing curiosity, science and reason. I think this invocation – which the temple itself authored – will make that clear. And maybe you won’t fear religious minorities as much. If I am wrong, may God come down and punch me in the chest. Please pray with me:

“HAIL SATAN! Let us stand now, unbowed and unfettered by arcane doctrines born of fearful minds in darkened times. Let us embrace the Luciferian impulse to eat of the Tree of Knowledge and dissipate our blissful and comforting delusions of old. Let us demand that individuals be judged for their concrete actions, not their fealty to arbitrary social norms and illusory categorizations. Let us reason our solutions with agnosticism in all things, holding fast only to that which is demonstrably true. Let us stand firm against any and all arbitrary authority that threatens the personal sovereignty of One or All. That which will not bend must break, and that which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared its demise. It is Done. Hail Satan.”