Celebrating Ethnic Traditions
“If I understand you correctly, Senator Leveson, you oppose such funding because it wouldn't be fair to other people, such as Irish citizens who want Celtic traditions promoted, or African-American citizens who want African traditions promoted, or Arab citizens who want Arabic traditions promoted. Is that correct?”
Leveson responded, “Yes, basically, but it’s not a question of ‘promoting’ one tradition over another. It’s about ‘endorsing’ a tradition. I don’t want the government to appear to be endorsing Native American traditions.”
“Because,” Dalroy resumed, “it would endorse Native American traditions over other traditions, correct?”
“Correct, sir.”
“Your point is well taken, sir, to an extent. I propose that we direct the BSB [the Bureau of Scenery and Beauty] to choose pictures that celebrate the dozens of ethnic traditions in our country, including the Native American traditions, in a manner that is more or less equitably proportioned among our country’s demographics.”
A Question of Fairness
“And how would I be counted in those demographics?” asked Leveson. “My mother was one-half German, one-fourth Irish and one-fourth Scottish. My father was one-half French and one-half Jewish. Needless to say, there are many others like me in this melting pot.”
“We would have to let the BSB implement the plan and make some judgment calls. We can’t micro-manage the project.”
“The BSB will find, Mr. Dalroy, that many people, myself included, don’t have any traditions, except American traditions.”
“So you would propose that only American traditions be depicted on these murals?”
“No. That wouldn’t be fair to citizens who dislike American traditions. I’m proposing that the murals depict no traditions. Let them show mountains, flowers, a picture of the Empire State Building, whatever. But they shouldn’t endorse traditions. There are many people in our country who don’t believe in any traditions and find it offensive when government endorses them.”
“Would you similarly expunge any endorsement of tradition from any other governmental funding? Would you, for instance, make sure the Bureau of Arts doesn't fund traditional folk music groups?”
“Quite possibly, but that’s not the issue before us now,” said Leveson.
“What about public universities with Native American or African-American or Celtic studies?”
“These are hypotheticals you’re throwing at me, Mr. Dalroy. I would need to look at the specifics of any such bills. But the bottom line is: the government should never endorse tradition, and should steer clear of any spending that appears to endorse tradition.”
“In other words, you want the government to discriminate against people who have traditions.”
No Such Thing as Neutral
“No, Mr. Dalroy,” Leveson said, getting a little angry. “I never said that. I don’t want the government to take a stance on tradition either way. It’s not a question of siding with tradition or ‘no tradition.’ The government should be neutral.”
“But by expelling tradition from all areas of public life, you’re taking the side of those who dislike tradition.”
“Those are your words, Mr. Dalroy, not mine.”
“Do you deny that the upshot of your ‘neutral government’ stance means that the ‘no tradition’ people get their way in the public sphere? In other words, the neutral government stance results in a public sphere with no tradition in it, doesn’t it?”
“I never said that.”
“But that’s the result, no?”
Leveson paused a moment, then turned to the Majority Leader and said, “Mr. Dalroy's words today no doubt curry favor with the dogmatic traditionalists in his constituency, but he simply doesn't understand the need for the government to stay neutral in the face of tradition. I would further point out that his five minutes are over and that someone else should be allowed to speak.”
Eric Scheske is editor of Gilbert! The Magazine of G.K. Chesterton. You can email him at bsbs@voyager.net.