Issue date: 3/16/07 Section: Pro Con

Media Credit: Julian Lim

Should Las Positas College pay to build a place people can pray in.
I find it interesting that this topic has reached such a peak of controversy.
It'll be quite obvious to those used to argumentation to see the biggest problem with this idea. The problem--for those of you still wondering---is the seperation of church and state idea. That one notion has taken us far enough to argue taking "one nation under God." out of our pledge of allegience.
To those individuals who would like to argue in such a manner, I have the following insight to offer found at Avari.org and it's a quotation from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, which goes a little something like this, "it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye".
We must stop basing tradition as our mediator. We need to start looking at the world around us with our own eyes and our own sentiments---not through the eyes of those before us. We stick so closely to ideas and notions brought to us like little toddlers and their blankets. Not knowing why the blanket will keep them safe, but still feeling secure in its presence. We do not know why we feel a sense of duty when upholding the methodology of a time come before us, but we do.
So think, we have a community college with a seemingly diverse student body and the faculty is getting progressively more diverse as well. There is an opportunity which has presented itself---which is all the construction going on on campus. There is now a will and a way. What we need is the drive to follow though.
By building, a place where people can go to worship, regardless of religion, we further make it "OK" for people to be themselves whilst among others that are completely opposite or of a different opinon. And ultimately, isn't that one of the goals of any good college?
I pray the search for it is best stated by Antoine de Saint-Exupery as found on Avari.org. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential
is invisible to the eye."

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