WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.720
<v Speaker 1>We are rounding up the week with a step in

2
00:00:02.759 --> 00:00:08.039
<v Speaker 1>the right direction. In British Columbia. Kara has the story Kara.

3
00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.839
<v Speaker 2>Well and positive news for humanists in Canada. All city

4
00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:15.359
<v Speaker 2>council meetings in British Columbia will now be prayer free,

5
00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.160
<v Speaker 2>nine years after a Supreme Court ruling found that the

6
00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:21.280
<v Speaker 2>practice violated civil rights. This is because after the British

7
00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:25.399
<v Speaker 2>Columbia Humanist Association found that twenty three municipalities in the

8
00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:29.039
<v Speaker 2>province were still opening city council meetings with prayers always

9
00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:32.520
<v Speaker 2>Christian despite the ruling, they mounted efforts to end the practice.

10
00:00:32.679 --> 00:00:36.079
<v Speaker 2>Their tactics included publishing a report noting which provinces were

11
00:00:36.119 --> 00:00:39.920
<v Speaker 2>still offering prayers, sending letters urging leaders to follow the law,

12
00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:43.439
<v Speaker 2>following up with additional letters until receiving a response, and

13
00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:46.119
<v Speaker 2>in a few passes, threatening to sew if the provinces

14
00:00:46.119 --> 00:00:49.240
<v Speaker 2>did not commit to ending the practice. As of this year,

15
00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:52.159
<v Speaker 2>all of the remaining provinces have agreed that prayers will

16
00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:55.719
<v Speaker 2>no longer be included in meetings or inauguration ceremonies. The

17
00:00:55.799 --> 00:00:59.039
<v Speaker 2>decision is a welcome win for activists and all people

18
00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:01.960
<v Speaker 2>who believe their local leaders have an obligation to follow

19
00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:05.000
<v Speaker 2>the law. The story is from The Friendly Atheist by

20
00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:07.519
<v Speaker 2>him At Matta, published July fifth, twenty twenty four.

21
00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.879
<v Speaker 1>Thank you, Kiera. You know, the first person that I

22
00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:16.519
<v Speaker 1>want to give their reaction to reading new story is Tale,

23
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.560
<v Speaker 1>because I have a feeling that I know what you're

24
00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:21.480
<v Speaker 1>going to say, So won't you lay out lay it

25
00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:24.959
<v Speaker 1>on as Tale? What was your reaction with first rectory? Oh?

26
00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:27.959
<v Speaker 3>I was. I was extremely happy about this, and yeah,

27
00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.760
<v Speaker 3>finally good things are happening despite all the bad and

28
00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:35.959
<v Speaker 3>awful stuff going around. Finally some good news. And yeah,

29
00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:40.120
<v Speaker 3>we were just talking about the Satanic Temple and how

30
00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:45.280
<v Speaker 3>they do their trolling in order to fight this religious privilege.

31
00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:47.959
<v Speaker 3>I'm very happy to see that that's not the only

32
00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:51.359
<v Speaker 3>way how people can do stuff. That there are secular

33
00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:54.480
<v Speaker 3>ways in which people can be constant and keep going

34
00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:57.359
<v Speaker 3>and going and complaining and complaining until that until they

35
00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.599
<v Speaker 3>achieved this goal. And it's amazing. I mean, it's it's

36
00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:03.680
<v Speaker 3>it's awesome. I very believed that they finally were able

37
00:02:03.719 --> 00:02:07.400
<v Speaker 3>to do that. I was going to mention again, you know,

38
00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:10.280
<v Speaker 3>the disruptive Satanic prayer at the beginning of a council

39
00:02:10.360 --> 00:02:13.240
<v Speaker 3>bad no it's not necessarily. I think it's great to

40
00:02:13.400 --> 00:02:15.919
<v Speaker 3>know that finally we have at least one place where

41
00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.599
<v Speaker 3>they are not going to be always listening to Christian

42
00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:21.120
<v Speaker 3>prayers just because they think that's the only religion that

43
00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:22.960
<v Speaker 3>matters and all of that. And you don't have to

44
00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:25.400
<v Speaker 3>replace it with a more religion, a Satanism. No, you

45
00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:28.360
<v Speaker 3>finally have the secular way where there is no prayer

46
00:02:28.439 --> 00:02:31.360
<v Speaker 3>and that's it. That's it. So I'm extremely happy about this.

47
00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:38.000
<v Speaker 1>No prayer, no thoughts, full stop, awesome, awesome. And what

48
00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.840
<v Speaker 1>about you, Aaron sitting over there, kind of biased over there,

49
00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:44.439
<v Speaker 1>you have an opinion on your biases.

50
00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:46.159
<v Speaker 4>Biases I'm allful about.

51
00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:47.639
<v Speaker 3>I'm full about a human being, I am.

52
00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:51.159
<v Speaker 4>I am chock full of bias. It's awful, it's awful.

53
00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:57.000
<v Speaker 4>This is a very hardening story that things can change

54
00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:01.159
<v Speaker 4>and things can get better for everyone. This doesn't just

55
00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:05.319
<v Speaker 4>help humanists or atheists. This helps everyone. It helps everyone

56
00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:08.120
<v Speaker 4>be on an equal footing. It gives nobody, you know,

57
00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:11.000
<v Speaker 4>a special place when your religion gets to get up

58
00:03:11.240 --> 00:03:13.800
<v Speaker 4>in meetings and say a prayer before everybody else. It

59
00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:16.960
<v Speaker 4>kind of implicitly tells that religion's followers that they're more

60
00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.960
<v Speaker 4>important than everybody else, and then when you stop doing it,

61
00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:22.120
<v Speaker 4>it can kind of it can be adjustment for those

62
00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:24.400
<v Speaker 4>people to realize, oh, you know, my religion isn't the

63
00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:26.639
<v Speaker 4>most important. There are other religions that I have to

64
00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:29.039
<v Speaker 4>kind of think about and take into account, and there

65
00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:32.680
<v Speaker 4>are other perspectives in the world. So I think this

66
00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:35.400
<v Speaker 4>is a great, great thing, and it reminded me of

67
00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:37.479
<v Speaker 4>the I don't know if this used to be the

68
00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.879
<v Speaker 4>model of the United States e purbus unum, you know,

69
00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:43.680
<v Speaker 4>out of many one that's I think that is the

70
00:03:43.719 --> 00:03:46.639
<v Speaker 4>point of government is to bring everybody from different backgrounds

71
00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:50.800
<v Speaker 4>together and solve problems and make everybody's lives better and

72
00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.599
<v Speaker 4>improve things. And I'm just really proud of these people

73
00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.560
<v Speaker 4>for doing the work necessary to make their province better

74
00:03:57.599 --> 00:03:58.400
<v Speaker 4>for everybody.

75
00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:02.120
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I definitely agree with that. You know, I know

76
00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:06.680
<v Speaker 1>that we have talked about at nau's different municipalities in

77
00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:10.000
<v Speaker 1>the United States specifically, and also even a federal level,

78
00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:15.639
<v Speaker 1>where prayer mostly from Christians Askara meant earlier, is pretty

79
00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:19.759
<v Speaker 1>much standard practice before you start your thing. I mean,

80
00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.600
<v Speaker 1>we still even have a national prayer break in a

81
00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:28.000
<v Speaker 1>country where we're supposed to be secular, and as much

82
00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:31.199
<v Speaker 1>as we have all talked about and also our other

83
00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.600
<v Speaker 1>fellow nonprofit hopes in the past talked about like how

84
00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:39.279
<v Speaker 1>that should not be a it still happened. And in actuality,

85
00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:42.240
<v Speaker 1>when you look at the story, the Canadian Supreme Court

86
00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:46.560
<v Speaker 1>ruled in twenty fifteen that opening city council meetings with

87
00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:49.639
<v Speaker 1>prayer violates citizen rights. I mean, like, so this is

88
00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.839
<v Speaker 1>like almost ten years ago when the ruler came out.

89
00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.199
<v Speaker 1>So but Kara, since you introduced the story, I want

90
00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:59.920
<v Speaker 1>to ask you, why do you think it took nearly

91
00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:04.920
<v Speaker 1>a decade for some municipalities in British Columbia to comply

92
00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:07.279
<v Speaker 1>with the Canadian Supreme Court ruling?

93
00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:10.240
<v Speaker 2>You know, I think it gets back to something Aaron

94
00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:14.120
<v Speaker 2>mentioned earlier, which is that if people think that their

95
00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:17.399
<v Speaker 2>religion is the most important one, and it's the only

96
00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:20.879
<v Speaker 2>one that they ever see represented anywhere, and it's the

97
00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:24.120
<v Speaker 2>only thing that they've ever experienced, and it just seems

98
00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:26.800
<v Speaker 2>natural and normal for it to be taking place everywhere,

99
00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:29.480
<v Speaker 2>I think it's in some cases hard for people to

100
00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:33.959
<v Speaker 2>understand why it would be inappropriate in some places, and

101
00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:37.120
<v Speaker 2>so to some extent, I think it could be a

102
00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:42.199
<v Speaker 2>case of people just actually not considering how detrimental and

103
00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.759
<v Speaker 2>harmful the practice was. But at the same time, I

104
00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:48.279
<v Speaker 2>think that these are people who were aware of the law,

105
00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:52.759
<v Speaker 2>especially after they received letters from the Humanist Association reminding

106
00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.480
<v Speaker 2>them that they were doing something that was in violation

107
00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:57.199
<v Speaker 2>of the law. So I don't want to give people

108
00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:00.800
<v Speaker 2>a complete pass on it, because I think the second

109
00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:04.319
<v Speaker 2>piece of this was not just having to realize that, Okay,

110
00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:07.399
<v Speaker 2>you're not the only believer in the room, you're not

111
00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:10.319
<v Speaker 2>the only person whose opinion and background and experience matters,

112
00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.639
<v Speaker 2>but secondly that people notice what you're doing and you're

113
00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.480
<v Speaker 2>going to be held accountable. You can't just keep doing

114
00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:20.439
<v Speaker 2>this and railroad over other people thinking that well, you know,

115
00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:23.279
<v Speaker 2>yes they made that law, but you know, nobody else

116
00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.680
<v Speaker 2>actually believes that other stuff. We're the majority here in

117
00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:28.639
<v Speaker 2>our community. This is our faith, so it's okay here,

118
00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:30.519
<v Speaker 2>Well no it isn't. You're in violation of the law,

119
00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:33.360
<v Speaker 2>and there are people that are noticing and that we'll

120
00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.560
<v Speaker 2>call you on it. And I think that was a

121
00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.319
<v Speaker 2>huge piece here that they needed to be called out.

122
00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:40.759
<v Speaker 2>And we saw in the article that as soon as

123
00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:44.439
<v Speaker 2>they started getting these letters, most of the municipalities that

124
00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:47.079
<v Speaker 2>were still doing the practice backed off. There were some

125
00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:49.519
<v Speaker 2>that ignored the letters until they got a follow up,

126
00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:52.120
<v Speaker 2>and there were some that came back with these kind

127
00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:57.000
<v Speaker 2>of wishy washy things like, well, we're not saying we'll

128
00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:00.240
<v Speaker 2>keep doing it, but we're not saying we won't, or

129
00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:04.120
<v Speaker 2>we're just doing it at some ceremonies and not all

130
00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:08.199
<v Speaker 2>the meetings. But then the few holdouts after that, after

131
00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:10.360
<v Speaker 2>they got the letter saying Okay, well, since you are

132
00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.199
<v Speaker 2>violating the law, we're going to sue if you don't stop,

133
00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:15.839
<v Speaker 2>all of a sudden, then they stopped. And so I

134
00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:19.279
<v Speaker 2>think it's important to recognize that just having the law

135
00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:22.399
<v Speaker 2>isn't enough. People have to be held to account. And

136
00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.439
<v Speaker 2>that's exactly what happened in this case, and it was

137
00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:28.319
<v Speaker 2>very effective, and I find that very heartening personally.

138
00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:31.160
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I feel it heartening too. It kind of reminds

139
00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.040
<v Speaker 1>me and I want to give a shout out to

140
00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:36.920
<v Speaker 1>one of our other ACA hosts, The Cross Examined, who

141
00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:42.399
<v Speaker 1>has his own podcasts well where he talks about different

142
00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:45.480
<v Speaker 1>cases and the law and how it even you know,

143
00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:49.759
<v Speaker 1>and how those things actually happen and show up in

144
00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:53.519
<v Speaker 1>politics today and how it affects us, especially those who

145
00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:57.560
<v Speaker 1>are trying to push like secular value. And he recently

146
00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:01.160
<v Speaker 1>actually had a lawyer on from the Freedom from Religion

147
00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:05.839
<v Speaker 1>Foundation where they talked about the case specifically in Louisiana

148
00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.959
<v Speaker 1>and how normally what they do is that they'll send

149
00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:14.759
<v Speaker 1>a letter, as you mentioned, Kara, saying that, hey, what

150
00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:18.000
<v Speaker 1>you're doing is kind of against the law. You should

151
00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:18.839
<v Speaker 1>kind of stop.

152
00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:24.399
<v Speaker 5>Okay, thanks, have a nice day.

153
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.879
<v Speaker 1>And you know, the lawyer actually mentioned that a lot

154
00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:32.440
<v Speaker 1>of times, sending a letter pointing out the error of

155
00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:39.639
<v Speaker 1>that particular area, organization, municipality, local government, whatever, actually works

156
00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:44.559
<v Speaker 1>because a lawyer is saying to you using lovely legal language,

157
00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:47.080
<v Speaker 1>and of course I'm not one, but I can imagine

158
00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:51.080
<v Speaker 1>what it looks like that what you're doing is wrong,

159
00:08:51.559 --> 00:08:54.360
<v Speaker 1>it's against the law, and you need to stop. And

160
00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:57.080
<v Speaker 1>if you keep doing it, then you're going to face

161
00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:01.720
<v Speaker 1>repercussion like a lawsuit. And that does work. And in

162
00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:05.360
<v Speaker 1>this particular case, that's exactly what the BC humans ended

163
00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:08.360
<v Speaker 1>up doing, writing a letter to these municipalities who are

164
00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:14.120
<v Speaker 1>still practicing the whole prayer uh before a city council

165
00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:18.440
<v Speaker 1>meeting and then saying like, hey, you need to stop

166
00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:21.320
<v Speaker 1>because the Supreme Court said back in twenty fifteen that

167
00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:26.440
<v Speaker 1>you're not right. So you are actually inviting further repercussion

168
00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:29.039
<v Speaker 1>if you keep engaging in this practice. But you know,

169
00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:32.559
<v Speaker 1>one of the things that could be a case is

170
00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:38.159
<v Speaker 1>some of the issues that some British Columbian humanists are

171
00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:43.480
<v Speaker 1>still actually they're still actually getting like some you know

172
00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:48.440
<v Speaker 1>issues because not everyone is following what the letter said, right,

173
00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.919
<v Speaker 1>We're still having some issues where some of the municipalities

174
00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.879
<v Speaker 1>are saying, well, we don't always do it, and we

175
00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.240
<v Speaker 1>do it selectively and maybe one day, you know, we'll stop,

176
00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.720
<v Speaker 1>but you know, we'll think about it and we'll get

177
00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:01.559
<v Speaker 1>back to you, right. But you know, I think that

178
00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.639
<v Speaker 1>one of the things that this article is like really

179
00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:07.840
<v Speaker 1>points out is that it's very important for organizations who

180
00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:11.960
<v Speaker 1>actually care about this to engage in activism and really

181
00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.440
<v Speaker 1>put forward the effort in order to make sure that

182
00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:17.600
<v Speaker 1>these things are not because it should never be the

183
00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:21.000
<v Speaker 1>key where you are dealing with a city council meeting

184
00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.600
<v Speaker 1>that has to do with the business of the people

185
00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.799
<v Speaker 1>and you're putting specific religious edicts front of it before

186
00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:30.799
<v Speaker 1>you do the business of the people, especially when the

187
00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:34.759
<v Speaker 1>people that you represent are not all Christians? No, And

188
00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.080
<v Speaker 1>speaking of religious diversity, and I'm coming to you because

189
00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.039
<v Speaker 1>like one of the things that the article mentions is

190
00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:48.039
<v Speaker 1>that Vancouver included representatives from various religious backgrounds and it's

191
00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:52.120
<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty two inaugural event. And in your opinion, why

192
00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:57.440
<v Speaker 1>is it important for municipal municipal ceremonies rather to reflect

193
00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:01.919
<v Speaker 1>religious diversity, especially in multi cultural side.

194
00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:07.519
<v Speaker 4>Well, I guess it probably depends on how those religions

195
00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:10.000
<v Speaker 4>are being represented in the ceremony. If they're there just

196
00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:13.600
<v Speaker 4>to represent, you know, groups of the of the citizenry

197
00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:17.360
<v Speaker 4>and to represent and so people have representation, I think

198
00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:19.039
<v Speaker 4>that's fine. I think it would get a little bit

199
00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:23.000
<v Speaker 4>greyer if they're being asked to give prayers or do

200
00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:25.080
<v Speaker 4>other kind of religious things. But if they're just there

201
00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:28.320
<v Speaker 4>to represent the diversity of cultures, I think that's great.

202
00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:32.440
<v Speaker 4>And then the more diverse, the better, you know. I'm

203
00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:35.000
<v Speaker 4>not sure what the threshold of percentage population needs to

204
00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:37.879
<v Speaker 4>be religion to show them reflected up on the stage.

205
00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:41.799
<v Speaker 4>I think if you wanted to do a perfectly representative thing,

206
00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.480
<v Speaker 4>you probably maybe don't include. I think I think it

207
00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.600
<v Speaker 4>can be a tricky issue. I'm not sure I've given

208
00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:49.840
<v Speaker 4>it that much that much thought, and I have I

209
00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.279
<v Speaker 4>would probably err on the side of saying, let's maybe

210
00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:55.919
<v Speaker 4>just not include religion in anything that has to do

211
00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.960
<v Speaker 4>with our government just because who gets included? Why do

212
00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:01.720
<v Speaker 4>they get included? Is there a threshold for percentage of

213
00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:03.799
<v Speaker 4>people that have to be a member that religion to

214
00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:07.320
<v Speaker 4>get included. Do the Satanists get included even though there's

215
00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:09.320
<v Speaker 4>not very many of them? Do you get to put

216
00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.440
<v Speaker 4>in a petition for your group to be included? What's

217
00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:13.399
<v Speaker 4>the I mean, what's the point?

218
00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:13.639
<v Speaker 5>Why?

219
00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:16.759
<v Speaker 4>Why? Why are we having them up there? Is it

220
00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:19.840
<v Speaker 4>a day of celebration for religions? Then okay, maybe, but

221
00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:21.960
<v Speaker 4>probably on the side of let's just let's just keep

222
00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.600
<v Speaker 4>it secular. I think that's the most equal thing, the

223
00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.600
<v Speaker 4>equal way, and to do it.

224
00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:28.840
<v Speaker 1>Just to keep it secular. Well, let me let me

225
00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.440
<v Speaker 1>ask thee the other two represented on the panel, like

226
00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:33.639
<v Speaker 1>Tail and Care. I'm going to come to you first,

227
00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.440
<v Speaker 1>Tale and then Care based on what Aaron just said

228
00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.840
<v Speaker 1>about like when I'm bringing up like the representation and

229
00:12:40.919 --> 00:12:45.720
<v Speaker 1>also includes for the purpose of white diversity and culture

230
00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:50.120
<v Speaker 1>to possibly represent more religions on the state. Is that

231
00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:53.799
<v Speaker 1>something that you think should happen, No, why or why not?

232
00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.279
<v Speaker 1>Tale and then care well. I enjoyed when we're hour

233
00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.320
<v Speaker 1>in the secular I.

234
00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:01.519
<v Speaker 6>Think, I mean, I do agree that people need their

235
00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:05.000
<v Speaker 6>right to follow whatever belief they want to as long

236
00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:08.960
<v Speaker 6>as they don't hurt themselves. Which it's debatable, but I

237
00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:12.240
<v Speaker 6>have said several times if there was a government tried

238
00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:16.759
<v Speaker 6>to forbid people from having their own beliefs and religions,

239
00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:19.519
<v Speaker 6>due to my activism, I would have the obligation to

240
00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:23.559
<v Speaker 6>be there fighting against this government because people need the

241
00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:26.960
<v Speaker 6>freedom to follow whatever they want, and if we want

242
00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.759
<v Speaker 6>to help them, we have to give them the tools

243
00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.720
<v Speaker 6>that they require in order to have a secular way

244
00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:35.200
<v Speaker 6>of thinking, to realize what things are harmful, what things

245
00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:39.000
<v Speaker 6>are untrue. But I do think that having a secular

246
00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.759
<v Speaker 6>government and a secular way of living, and to having

247
00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:46.320
<v Speaker 6>every person they leaving their own little babble of religion

248
00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:50.000
<v Speaker 6>of whatever they want. It's not that the best solution,

249
00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.919
<v Speaker 6>but it's the wonder we could try to achieve, and

250
00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:55.919
<v Speaker 6>that we could be the best one according to the

251
00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:59.320
<v Speaker 6>type of society that we live in. So in that sense,

252
00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:03.240
<v Speaker 6>I agree with our just keep religion for yourself There

253
00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:05.399
<v Speaker 6>is a phrase that I really like a guy said

254
00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:08.480
<v Speaker 6>once and I have quoted him there. At times, having

255
00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:11.480
<v Speaker 6>your own religion is like having a penis. It's okay

256
00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.919
<v Speaker 6>having one. It's okay to be.

257
00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:15.440
<v Speaker 3>Proud of it. I am very proud of mine. Just

258
00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:17.480
<v Speaker 3>don't show it to people on the street, and don't

259
00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.159
<v Speaker 3>put it down the children's throats, and that's it. Just

260
00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:22.480
<v Speaker 3>give it to yourself and be proud of it if

261
00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.600
<v Speaker 3>you want to. And that's it. We should treat religion

262
00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:25.080
<v Speaker 3>like a dick.

263
00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.159
<v Speaker 1>You heard it here first, people, Tail is proud of

264
00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:34.919
<v Speaker 1>his penis. Karen, I'm a secular sexuality.

265
00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:39.519
<v Speaker 5>Karen, what say you do you agree? How do you

266
00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:42.720
<v Speaker 5>segue from that? I have no idea, boy, I'm gonna try.

267
00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:44.759
<v Speaker 5>How do you agree with Aaron?

268
00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:47.480
<v Speaker 1>Should we just, like, you know, just keep these instead

269
00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:51.799
<v Speaker 1>of if we're thinking about diversity and equity and inclusion,

270
00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.519
<v Speaker 1>which in according to right Wings, that's a bad term,

271
00:14:55.639 --> 00:15:00.919
<v Speaker 1>a bad word up there with woke. Is it okay

272
00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:04.639
<v Speaker 1>to have representation when it comes to, you know, religious

273
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.840
<v Speaker 1>ideas on the stage when we come to these particular areas,

274
00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.279
<v Speaker 1>or should we just keep a second?

275
00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:12.519
<v Speaker 2>Well, you know, I think when it comes to something

276
00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:16.879
<v Speaker 2>that is being promoted by or run by a government entity.

277
00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:20.919
<v Speaker 2>I think the best way to promote inclusion and diversity

278
00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.279
<v Speaker 2>is to not comment on the matter, because that's what

279
00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:28.080
<v Speaker 2>leaves space for individual people and groups to show up

280
00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.600
<v Speaker 2>and feel that they are able to and allowed to

281
00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:33.320
<v Speaker 2>show up and be the way they are without risking

282
00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:37.240
<v Speaker 2>running a foul of you know, the current administration or

283
00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.080
<v Speaker 2>the powers that be. I think that as soon as

284
00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:44.879
<v Speaker 2>you start instituting a practice that represents one or two,

285
00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.759
<v Speaker 2>or three, or even five or ten different belief systems,

286
00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:50.759
<v Speaker 2>you're always going to be leaving some out, and you're

287
00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:53.360
<v Speaker 2>going to be leaving out the atheists or the non

288
00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:58.799
<v Speaker 2>believers just simply by default, and you can't include everyone.

289
00:15:59.080 --> 00:16:02.759
<v Speaker 2>I do think that in general, being inclusive and diverse is,

290
00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:06.679
<v Speaker 2>of course the right thing to do in all cases.

291
00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.320
<v Speaker 2>But the way to be inclusive and diverse with beliefs

292
00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.399
<v Speaker 2>is to not privilege one or more of them over

293
00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:17.600
<v Speaker 2>the rest of them by instituting them as an official practice.

294
00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:20.440
<v Speaker 2>And that's the most important thing when it comes to

295
00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:24.600
<v Speaker 2>this question, and that's the decision that the Canadian Supreme

296
00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:27.480
<v Speaker 2>Court came to, was that in order to remain neutral,

297
00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:31.559
<v Speaker 2>it had to mean not taking a position one way

298
00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:35.320
<v Speaker 2>or the other on any of the practices, and personally,

299
00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:38.000
<v Speaker 2>I think that is the best way to allow people

300
00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.600
<v Speaker 2>to decide for themselves what they're going to practice and

301
00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:42.639
<v Speaker 2>how they're going to show up in public life.

302
00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:45.879
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I agree with that. I think that there is

303
00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:50.639
<v Speaker 1>a fine line when we're talking about diversity, equity, inclusion,

304
00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:55.879
<v Speaker 1>and also being culturally competent when we're discussing representation when

305
00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:58.879
<v Speaker 1>it comes to religious practice. Now, we all know that

306
00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:05.160
<v Speaker 1>like religion and of itself, is a component of one's culture. However,

307
00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:10.960
<v Speaker 1>there is also that slippery slope that if we say that, Okay,

308
00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.880
<v Speaker 1>we're going to give room for this particular religion because

309
00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.160
<v Speaker 1>your culture is we want to represent your culture, right,

310
00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:19.039
<v Speaker 1>then we have to think about the other religion and

311
00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:21.559
<v Speaker 1>the other religion, the other religion and really religion, right,

312
00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.640
<v Speaker 1>and then the turtles all the way down. Even though

313
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.720
<v Speaker 1>I don't believe that's the same analogy, but I'm going

314
00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:29.359
<v Speaker 1>with it. So you know, it's up there with you know,

315
00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:34.559
<v Speaker 1>there's a teapot circle, NERD wrong show, I'm getting back. Regardless,

316
00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:40.039
<v Speaker 1>there is still a place where we can definitely talk

317
00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:44.960
<v Speaker 1>about being able to display and having people being proud

318
00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.000
<v Speaker 1>of their their cultures, even their belief systems, and how

319
00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:53.599
<v Speaker 1>it has shaped them as a community without necessarily being

320
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:59.599
<v Speaker 1>to the point where it's being interjected in government entities. Right. So,

321
00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:02.279
<v Speaker 1>for example, like I know that when I was in college,

322
00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:04.880
<v Speaker 1>they used to have like these inter faith coalitions, and

323
00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:08.599
<v Speaker 1>sometimes like interfaith coalitions that had representatives from many different

324
00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:13.400
<v Speaker 1>religions and people who happen to not be religious or irreligious.

325
00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:15.839
<v Speaker 1>We're able to come together and discuss, like you know,

326
00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:19.519
<v Speaker 1>different things that concern them about campus life and things

327
00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.759
<v Speaker 1>of that nature, and also being you know, tolerant of

328
00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:25.119
<v Speaker 1>others and even you know, to the point where they

329
00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:27.880
<v Speaker 1>want to give both people a seatd table. Now, if

330
00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.480
<v Speaker 1>that's the case, I'm all for it. But when it

331
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:35.599
<v Speaker 1>comes to actually saying that, okay, well, now that we

332
00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:39.400
<v Speaker 1>have to be conscious of people who happen to be

333
00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:43.119
<v Speaker 1>a practitioner of said religion, we're going to start inviting

334
00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:46.799
<v Speaker 1>an emon or a pastor or you know, like a

335
00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.640
<v Speaker 1>Buddhist priest or a Hindi priest or whatever to come

336
00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:54.039
<v Speaker 1>and do their invocation, which I know other municipalities tried

337
00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.640
<v Speaker 1>to do. But in actuality, if we just say we're

338
00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:59.559
<v Speaker 1>not doing none of that. We're just gonna be at

339
00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:02.519
<v Speaker 1>the business people. Okay, We're starting our meeting on seven

340
00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:06.400
<v Speaker 1>seventeen and nine thirty five pm Central Time. Hit the gable.

341
00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.319
<v Speaker 1>Let's get started right. And I think that would be

342
00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:13.680
<v Speaker 1>a better way to go than interjecting any person's faith

343
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.880
<v Speaker 1>or any person's religious beliefs or anything like that, especially

344
00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.319
<v Speaker 1>when it comes