Pluralism and Multiculturalism

In April of 2000, I received a letter from a family member which contained the text of a prayer which had allegedly been given at the opening session of the Kansas state senate some time before. The content of that prayer disturbed me as did the notion that something as sacred as prayer could be reduced to something as banal as a political statement. Therefore, I felt I should write a response, which I did. You can read it below.

My remarks:

While I disagree with many if not most of the sentiments expressed in this prayer, I feel strongly enough about a couple of them that I wish to respond:

"We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
"We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism."

For my work, I have had the opportunity to visit Saudi Arabia on a couple of different occasions. As much as I had previously read about that country, nothing quite prepared me for the overwhelming oppression that is present in every facet of public life in the name of one sect of Islam, the Wahabis who, for political reasons, enjoy the support of Saudi royalty.

Pluralism and multi-culturalism are not tolerated there. Consequently, Christians and other non-Muslims are forbidden to meet together in a religious capacity and are routinely cited or even struck with a baton for not conforming to certain Islamic proscriptions like proper dress, staying off the street during prayer time, eating in public during the daytime in the month of fasting, etc, etc. Women are not even allowed to be out in public unless in the company of their husband, their father, or a brother. Recently, a British couple was expelled from the country for kissing in an automobile. Non-Muslim citizens of other countries who come to Saudi Arabia to work routinely have their passports held by their employers while in the country and are often treated on par with the slaves who were still legal in that country as recently as the 1950s.

This repression affects those who practice other forms of Islam, too, and may explain why Usama Bin Laden, a native of the "Magic Kingdom" as US diplomats often call it, rails so vehemently against the US presence in that country which he views as contributing to the propping up that regime. (In all fairness, however, I should note here that Bin Laden's own twisted vision of an Islamic society is probably much worse if his influence on the now defunct Taliban regime is any indication *added by the author in Aug 2002*).

What does this have to do with us? I have noticed a growing trend among religious groups in this country toward what I perceive to be intolerance of others. In light of what I know about life in Saudi Arabia and other "theocracies", this makes me nervous. Often, the things we rail against are worthy of our disdain. Irresponsible attitudes about sex, drugs, school, work, and many other things take a heavy toll on our families and on society as a whole. But these things are very separate from pluralism and multi-culturalism. And to dismiss these important concepts so glibly is simply un-American. These are two of the most important tenets on which this country is based and have always made it a haven for people seeking refuge from the religious and political repression of other countries who don't share our views on personal liberty and religious freedom.

Despite the bad that we routinely inflict on the world through some of our misguided and sometimes downright ignorant national policies, I would argue that our influence on the rest of the world has, in many ways, been very beneficial due to these two important American ideals. Because of them, Europe is much freer today than it was in previous centuries. And I believe our influence has extended as far as Japan and other countries, as well.

Of course, an abundance of personal freedom leads to many undesireable things. The American practice of slash-and-burn development or, as I like to call it, "strip-malling" is one bad consequence of it. Unsafe schools and inner cities are another. And, yes, the overabundance of broken families in these times is certainly a serious problem. These are things we definitely need to work on. Still, I think we can all agree that the alternative -- severe limits on personal freedom -- is no better and is, in many cases, much worse.

I remember once reading how a Hindu man came to Ghandi to ask his advice about a problem he was having. He had killed a Muslim man in war and was wondering what to do with this man's little boy who now had no father. Ghandi advised the man to raise the little boy as a Muslim, which he then did. When we look around this country and observe Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, Native Americans, and others practicing their religions openly, we should be proud that we live in a society that celebrates their right to openly follow their personal religious inclinations and to raise their children in the way they have been taught is the correct one or, as I prefer to see it, one of many viable ones. Pluralism and multiculturalism are celebrated American values. They are, above all else, what has made this country great. E Pluribus Unum über alles!

Dave, April 11th, 2000

Text of Prayer:

> > "Heavenly Father, we come before you today to
> > ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction
> > and guidance.
> >
> > "We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call
> > evil good' but that is exactly what we have
> > done.
> >
> > "We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and
> > reversed our values. We confess that.
> >
> > "We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your
> > Word and called it Pluralism.
> >
> > "We have worshipped other gods and called it
> > multiculturalism.
> >
> > "We have endorsed perversion and called it
> > alternative lifestyle.
> >
> > "We have exploited the poor and called it the
> > lottery.
> >
> > "We have rewarded laziness and called it
> > welfare.
> >
> > "We have killed our unborn and called it
> > choice.
> >
> > "We have shot abortionists and called it
> > justifiable.
> >
> > "We have neglected to discipline our children
> > and called it building self-esteem
> >
> > "We have abused power and called it politics.
> >
> > "We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and
> > called it ambition.
> >
> > "We have polluted the air with profanity and
> > pornography and called it freedom of
> > expression.
> >
> > "We have ridiculed the time-honored values of
> > our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
> >
> > "Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today;
> > cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
> >
> > "Guide and bless these men and women who have
> > been sent to direct us to the center of Your
> > will, to openly ask it in the name of Your Son,
> > the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen"