What is so important about a name? A name can stir up an array of emotions as witnessed by world events when people pray or kill in the name of various gods. Parents attempt to select meaningful names for offspring or pets. Even boats, trucks, and hunting shacks are named with affection.
“Cook County Community Center” was clearly an inclusive name. There was debate over size, cost, and location of this building-to-be, but the name included us all. It was obviously our public property. Then came the intrusion of “Young Men’s Christian Association.” The result is a sense of exclusion of those not associated. The public loses.
The Young Men’s Christian Association should “share the good news of Jesus Christ” with their own dime, buy or rent their own building. Instead we are supposed to feel privileged to bear the name “YMCA” without payment for use of our public space nor will the YMCA bear financial losses incurred. There is an underlying insensitivity in this religiously biased arrangement. After all, I don’t think a Buddhist, Mormon or Islamic Community Center would have been considered no matter what reputation or services provided.
There may be yet another name change in the works as the YMCA declares “naming rights” if a big donation is received. Would this donation be directed towards our public debt for the building or its expenses? Or will the big donation be a hand off to the Duluth YMCA? There is something slippery here.
A community center attached to our high school may benefit both, but there are issues when a religious organization is in charge. Some metro public schools have eliminated physical education to save money and then allowed religious organizations to provide sports programs which include prayers and proselytizing. The Buddhist, Jewish and atheist kids I know must either submit in order to play with their classmates and neighborhood friends or be isolated to remain true to their chosen spirituality. Don’t let this happen in Grand Marais. Keep church and state separate to protect religious freedom. When the public loses, we all lose .
G
eri Jensen
Grand Marais
Leave a Reply