Today's Topics:
Substitute Order No. 4
Etymology tells us what we already know
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Date: Sat, 2 Dec 89 02:06:17 EST
From: Alan@Reagan.AI.MIT.EDU
Subject: Substitute Order No. 4
Message-ID: <675232.891202.ALAN@AI.AI.MIT.EDU>
The following letter appeared in the Nov. 30 issue of the Cambridge
Chronicle under the headline: "City order permits displays on Common":
Now that the Christmas decorations have been put up in Harvard Square,
the creche on the Common will probably follow. But according to a
compromise order passed by the Cambridge City Council, there could be --
if anyone were disposed to erect them -- two or three creches, and a
menorah, or even a statue of the Buddha or Thomas Paine (who certainly
had strong beliefs) or a painting of the Hindu Goddess Kali.
The little known order -- Substitute Order No. 4, passed on Dec. 15,
1986, by a vote of 5 to 4 -- orders "that a portion of the Cambridge
Common be permanently allocated as a public forum for displays relating
to the beliefs and traditions of any person or organization, including
religious observance of any kind which shall include Christmas displays."
Amazed at an order so extremely broad, I inquired of Councilor David
Sullivan, who introduced it, whether there was no control of any kind on
what could be displayed. He replied that "It seems to me that this is
the essence of a public forum; requiring permission or regulation would
be at least inappropriate and probably unconstitutional."
Obviously this order has not yet been tested. The possibilities are
great.
Robert Gorham Davis
1600 Mass. Ave.
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Date: Sat, 2 Dec 89 19:29:23 EST
From: Michael Travers <mt@media-lab.media.mit.edu>
Message-Id: <8912030029.AA17629@media-lab>
Subject: Etymology tells us what we already know
