Alan Shilepski writes: "I disagree with people who would zone out entire groups from participation in public life. I believe that if we are going to tax at the rates we do, and hand out grants as generously as we do, then a diversity of groups should have access to the largese, including some groups that may have beliefs or do some things that you or I might disagree with. (And no belief gets it 100% "right" anyway.)
We have and enforce rules about what the money can be spent on, so it isn't being used to buy hymnals, etc." My understanding is that the assertion Eva and others have been making is that Urban Ventures broke the equivalent of the "don't buy hymnals with public dollars" rule. A few points: I think Alan misunderstands the opposition to publicly supported religion. As an atheist, I think I'm in a pretty good place to answer his comments. I have no problem with people believing what they will, and using their beliefs to lead them towards good actions, even good actions within the public sphere. Some of my favorite people are religious people. However, the use of any public money for the expression of a particular religious belief (which is necessarily zero-sum: "believe this, rather than believing that!") is simply unacceptable. I would have as much problem with a group using public dollars to advocate atheism. There is a misconception that being religion-neutral is the same as being anti-religious. It is not. Robin Garwood Seward P.S. (I think I may get less-than-specific, here, so... David, stop reading!) I would vehemently disagree with *all* of Alan's comments about "deep ecology." First, the characterization of animal-rights activists as acting from some sort of cultish religious belief (PETA stands for people for the *ethical* treatment of animals. Ethics and religion are separate creatures). We come in all flavors. Second, with his assertion that we hate human beings. My love of human beings (including myself and my own body) is what led me to become first a vegetarian, then a vegan. The consumption of meat and dairy is killing us and the environment on which we depend. Human beings happen to be my favorite animals! The fact that I don't end my empathy at the species line does not diminish that fact. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
