[Vision2020] Christ Church...

[Don Kaag]

Visionaries:

Is anyone else getting tired of the constant sniping at Christ Church 
and Logos that occurs on this site?

Is there nothing else in Moscow and environs that attracts people's 
attention, or that is worthy of discussion? Let's talk about the 
aquifer some more, or the paucity of decent restaurants.

We live, ostensibly, in a free republic, with separation of church and 
state.  No one, so far as I know, is holding a gun to anyone's head and 
forcing them to attend Christ Church or to send their kids to Logos.  
So what's the problem?  Why can't the "progressive" people in this 
community who talk loudly and constantly about freedom of speech, and 
equal treatment for ethnic and gender minorities,  and whine about how 
George W. Bush "stole" the presidency, allow the members of Christ 
Church the same freedoms they trumpet so loudly for their various 
groups and causes?  Oh, I know---the Christ Church folks are just not 
"like us"!

I have lost count of the conversations with "progressive" friends, and 
overheard comments in the Moscow High School faculty lounge and other 
venues that dealt with "them" (i.e., Doug Wilson and his 
congregation...) trying to "take over" Moscow.

I have been told by friends that I should not patronize Bucers (and now 
the new bakery on Friendship Square), because the people who own and 
run it are members of Christ Church.  What has that got to do with the 
quality of their coffee or their cinnamon rolls?  I like Bucers, 
although I would be happy to have an alternative place which puts 
smokers off in a room by themselves, plays soft classical music, has  
intellectually-challenging books to read, and serves reasonably good 
wine by the glass.  Someone else open another place like Bucers, and I 
will spend time there, too.  The Corner Club or the Slurp 'n Burp just 
won't cut it---I dislike second-hand smoke and I loathe country and 
western music.

If I bothered to take the time to do a religious background check on 
every establishment I do business with in Moscow, I wouldn't have the 
time to do anything else.  Perhaps it would save time if the City 
Council required any business owned and operated by a Christ Church 
congregant to paint a large cross on their window, or maybe they could 
be forced to wear a little cloth cross sewn prominently to their 
clothing?  Then we would all know which establishments were run by 
"Untermenchen" in our town, and could avoid giving them our business.

  Rumors abound.  "They" are soliciting other conservative Christians to 
move here and join their congregation, in an attempt to take over the 
political process.  "They" are trying to destroy the public school 
system.  "They", now that New Saint Andrews College has taken over the 
old GTE building, will take over Friendship Square.

Hey, reality check... "They" is us.  People who live and work and 
worship in this community are members of this community.  Christ Church 
members live here.  They pay taxes.  If they want to be involved in the 
political process, or encourage their friends to move here, because it 
is a nice to live and raise a family, more power to them.  And if they 
organize, work hard, and are willing to donate time to community 
affairs, and they out-organize the local "progressives" (who are 
already a political minority in this most Republican of states...) and 
have themselves elected to local and state office, that's the way the 
political process works.

If you don't like it, you are certainly welcome to work harder, or open 
your own school, or get more "progressive" friends to move here, or run 
for political office.  Until then, find a new obsession, and stop 
complaining!

Regards,

Don Kaag