Irreligious Bigotry

It is possible to be agnostic, to be an atheist and still have consideration for other peoples' beliefs rather than belittle them and insist that they be kept hidden from the soft sensibilities of those who do not believe in the existence of a Supreme Being.  And it is absurd for any Canadian to insist that Canada must not be considered a "Christian country".  In point of fact, this is precisely how Canada should be viewed, irrespective of the number of its population who worship other religions, or none at all.

Such an overwhelming proportion of the country does count as its religious heritage a belief in Christianity that to think of Canada as other than Christian is absurd.  And there really is no disconnect between assessing Canada as a Christian-based country and celebrating it as a secular, multicultural country.  This Canada with its original heritage in religion and its current multiplicity of ethnicities and religions is what it is.

That a routine prayer by a city councillor at a City of Saskatoon volunteer appreciation dinner has insulted and outraged one of the volunteers present at the event speaks more to his sense of entitlement and sense of grievance both of which combined mark him as a bigot himself, is more than evident.  Ashu Solo, who was among those being feted for volunteer work, has not distinguished himself in a very positive manner.

His membership on the city's cultural diversity and race relations committee appears, under the circumstances, to represent a misunderstanding of what constitutes the values behind that committee; those of equality and acceptance.  In view of the fact that Christian belief remains the mainstay of a majority of Canadians and Canada's social priorities owe much to Judeo-Christian values, it does not seem out of place that a blessing be made before a meal.

Mr. Solo is infuriated that the blessing came complete with naming Jesus, and ending with 'Amen'.  His intolerant and judgemental attitude ill behooves someone who claims to represent cultural diversity and race relations.  If by doing so represents to him, the full and complete dismissal of traditions revolving around a Christian culture that has been the backbone of this society, he is, quite simply wrong.

"It made me feel like a second-class citizen.  It makes you feel excluded.  It's ironic that I've now become a victim of religious bigotry and discrimination at this banquet that was supposed to be an appreciation banquet for the service of volunteers like me", he fumed.  Mr. Solo quite obviously is oblivious to the needs of others in this regard; a simple offering of thanks referencing a pillar of the prevailing majority religion need not have the effect of 'excluding' and insulting the sensibilities of others.

Unless those others prefer to feel themselves discriminated against based on their own amply displayed prejudices.  Mr. Solo insists that municipal officials must not use their offices to "perform religious bigotry, as this is", or "to impose their own religious beliefs on others".  Which simply emphasizes his own insecurities and resentment against others.

For his part, the offending civic official, Councillor Randy Donauer, likely doesn't know what hit him.  Saskatoon's mayor to whom Mr. Solo wrote a lengthy email of complaint, appears nonplussed.  Mayor Don Atchison distributed the email to his council.  "I've never given it any thought at all", he admitted, expressing regret at Mr. Solo's feelings of exclusion.

The mayor thought that in future such dinners might feature prayers from various religions on a rotating basis.  Conceivably there could be a dinner with no prayer at all, in respect of atheists.  Mr. Solo, however, the expert in race relations and cultural diversity disagreed, insisting it not to be feasible since there are 'thousands of religions'.

Without an apology from the mayor and a promise that the City of Saskatoon will no longer permit prayers at any of its events, he will proceed with a human rights complaint.  His intention will be to name the City of Saskatoon, Mayor Atchison and Councillor Donauer. 

So much for good intentions and honouring the selfless work of municipal volunteers.