Bloomington, Indiana’s mayor, John Hamilton, announced that two paid holidays for city workers were going to be renamed in an effort to recognize multiculturalism. Columbus Day will now be referred to as “Fall Holiday” and Good Friday will now be called “Spring Holiday.”
“We are terrifically proud of our diverse workforce at the city,” he wrote, according to local news source, the Herald-Times. “That diversity makes us stronger and more representative of the public we proudly serve. These updated names for two days of well-merited time off is another way we can demonstrate our commitment to inclusivity.”
One could see not acknowledging Columbus, as some historians are questioning Columbus’ motives, actions, and attitudes toward the indigenous peoples of what would become America. Although this is not an attitude that is held by this newspaper, one can at least see the roots of Mayor Hamilton’s argument.
However, in his abolishment of the term “Good Friday,” Hamilton has crossed a line and, in his attempt to recognize the faiths and cultures of other people, he has snubbed Christian people in particular and all people of faith in general.
Mayor Hamilton stated: “As a mayor we are in charge of government. We do not set religious policies, we are not supposed to be part of religion and we are just trying to make sure that our government is open to all people and inclusive.”
Apparently, the government of Bloomington is open and inclusive to all peoples except those who recognize the Lord Jesus as savior and redeemer and who commemorate his passion and death in the course of the Paschal Triduum.
We are not saying that all should recognize Good Friday as a Holy Day of their faith. We are saying that it is tremendously insensitive to call such a solemn holy day for the Christian people by the trite term “Spring Holiday.” If any religious days are to be recognized, they should be called by their proper title, in manner that we do here in New York City.
The Lord Jesus did not become incarnate to offer us a “Spring Holiday,” but instead salvation and forgiveness of our sins. May we never lose sight of the danger of the banalization of our faith.
