HOW anyone can be offended by a holiday simply named "Good Friday" is beyond me. Let’s call it
‘Not Bad Friday’Sure it comes three days before Easter and is significant to Christians. That doesn't mean anyone taking the day off has to think about anything other than having a barbeque and swigging beer.
But state Sen. Rosalyn Baker wants to change the name "Good Friday" to "Aloha Day."
This is the kind of thing that drives me nuts. Here we are facing the worst economic mess in state history and a state senator wants to fiddle with the name of a holiday. It happens every legislative session. We have a crime problem, so let's talk about naming an official state fish. Why can't these guys keep their eyes on the ball?
The "Good Friday" bill submitted by Baker is typical. First of all, a federal appeals court already has said having a holiday named "Good Friday" doesn't violate the U.S. Constitution.
But let's just say, for the sake of argument, it does. Let's say that giving workers the day off three days before Easter means the government is establishing a particular religion. Does it change anything if you simply change the name to "Aloha Day?" How about "Pretty Good Friday?" How about "Great Friday?"
The point is that it is still a day off. Some people will use it to contemplate the crucifixion of Jesus. Others will use it to sacrifice boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the altar of Kingsford.
Ms. Baker, the First Amendment to the Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of a religion." That's it. Giving people a day off called "Good Friday"
isn't establishing a religion, any more than giving people Saturday and Sunday off is.
Then again, maybe Baker will make Saturday and Sunday her next targets. After all, Sunday is a biblical "day of rest." Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath. We wouldn't have weekends if the government some time long ago didn't acknowledge the religious basis for taking Saturday and Sunday off. Actually, the First Amendment probably would have forced the government to let people have the day off since it also says Congress can't prohibit the free exercise of religion. Sunday has been a "day of rest" going all the way back to when that first non-government private contractor -- what's his name? Oh yeah, God -- made the world. I mean, if you believe in that kind of weird stuff.
Maybe we should change the name "Sunday" to "Let's All Hang Out Together Day." Or "Plain Ol' Day Off Day." Anything so that the country's handful of "separationists" won't be offended knowing Sunday has -- oooohhhhh -- RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE to some people.
On the mainland, the separationists saw the future of the country in peril because a judge had the audacity to post the Ten Commandments on his courtroom wall. They sued. A higher court threw out the case, essentially saying, "Stop bothering us with this nonsense."
Of course, the case never would have been filed if the judge had simply changed the name of the commandments to the "Ten Completely Non-binding, Theology-free, Gender-neutral Suggestions for Sustaining Human Life in an Earth-like Ecosystem." (Suggestion No. 1: Hey, it's just a recommendation, but maybe killing each other isn't a such good idea.)
Ms. Baker, there's a big difference between government establishing a religion and recognition of a day that has religious and cultural historical significance to the country. With all due respect, maybe you could worry about that AFTER you've figured out how to keep the state from going bankrupt.