Amazon

I work for a major US financial exchange.

I just received a memo today about the exchange's plans for Sept. 11th.

The memo begins by informing us that President Bush has dubbed 9/11 "Patriot Day". I heaved an audible sigh of relief that the memo didn't call it "Prayer and Remembrance Day", which is what I would have expected GWB to officially name it.

Then there were the details of the festivities.
Not only will there be moments of silence during the minutes that each plane hit (to which I do not necessarily object), but there will be a guest professional vocalist who will sing for us.

Will this vocalist sing our beloved national anthem, as would be appropriate for a day called "Patriot Day"?

NO!
You guessed it - he'll be singing "Gawd Bless America".

I would very much like to register an official objection with the exchange's President and CEO. Would I be out of line?

Wyz_sub10

In principle, I would say "yes" - speak up, stand your ground, do the right thing, yada yada yada.

However, you need to look out for yourself too. Will doing so cause more trouble than it's worth? You could complain to the CEO, but then you'd not only be a dirty atheist and obvious anti-American (are they still called Commie Pinko Bastards these days?), but you wouldn't be a "team player" and part of the corporate family, to boot.

I agree with your sentiment and I would think it courageous of you to bring attention to it. But in the end, you have to go back to work on Monday and such a protest might not easily be forgotten.

crazyfingers

Yes. I would object. I did object when my company was drafting a letter to clients after 9/11 that said that we all (as in all of us employees, including me) "hope and pray..." The letter was changed and the word pray was depeted.

I don't know your situation but if I was in that situation I would object to the person who is in charge of making the decision. In my case that was the owner of the company.

joedad

You want to hear something crazy?

I noticed the other day that the small crucifix in our kitchen that used to hang just above the door was gone. All that remained was a painted tack in the wall.

So I asked my wife what we should put there. She said that it needed to be something "universal and all encompassing." I suggested a copy of the Bill of Rights. To my absolute and utter (and concealed) astonishment she said, "That would be the same as' God Bless America,'" and so she rejected my idea. What an insight I got that day!

Your question is a tough call because some people are going to take serious offense at your protest, and do so out of simple ignorance, imho.

Maybe you should just bear it, while singing instead along with Woody Guthrie, "This land is my land, this land is your land..."

joe

Alonzo Fyfe

Since you do not work for the government, I believe that you would find better responses to your question under SECULAR LIFESTYLES AND SUPPORT.

So, I am moving this post over there.

[ September 06, 2002: Message edited by: Alonzo Fyfe ]</p>