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Email a FriendPosted by Maddy on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 2:13 PM (EDT):
Seems a bit tacky to me
Christ & The Census
Says You: Harmless or Inappropriate?
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 1:00 PM
Well, here’s one way to keep Christ in Christmas, I guess.
The Washington Post reports this morning on a campaign to promote cooperation with the census among Hispanics in our nation.
A poster being placed in churches with heavy Hispanic populations shows an outline of the Holy Family on its way to Bethlehem.
“‘This is how Jesus was born,’ the poster says. ‘Joseph and Mary participated in the census.’ In smaller letters to the side, it adds, ‘Don’t be afraid.’”
Arturo Vargas, executive director of the group that create the poster, says they’re
being well received by the congregations that we’re working with, and they’re reminding people of the Gospel story of how Jesus was born.
Several pastors complain, however, that the poster is disrespectful to Jesus and misuses religion.
What say you?
Comments
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Posted by Anne in NYC on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 2:27 PM (EDT):
Well…it’s true, and it’s hard to say that the truth is harmful. And it is our civic duty to participate in the census. In fact, cooperating with the census is almost as important as voting, and both fall under the Christian virtue of patriotism, which is a sub-category of charity. Though I find the poster itself a little tacky, I can’t argue with the message.
Posted by Loretta S. on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 3:50 PM (EDT):
I live in Southern NM, a heavily Hispanic part of the country. And the lack of participation in the census SIGNIFICANTLY hurts the population in terms of available resources for all sorts of things from funds for streets to schools to elder care programs. Being Christians, advancing social justice is part of our mandate in the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. As such, there is so much distance/distrust between Latino culture versus mainstream/Anglo culture. I think this is a valid attempt to bridge that divide and in doing so help bring benefits to where they are needed. If this message resonates with the Latino culture and helps people trust the system, then I’m for it.
Posted by Shelly @ Sound Mind and Spirit on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 4:18 PM (EDT):
A few things to note about the poster. First, it’s not HOW Jesus was born, but why he was born in Bethlehem and in a stable. Second, I’m not sure what people have to be afraid of in filling out the 2010 Census. The law requires that you must answer only the first question: How many people reside in this household. Legally, you DO NOT have to answer questions 2-10. An accurate count of the number of people that is vital for establishing representation in our legislative districts can be obtained from the first question only.
There is no long form anymore. Instead the government has created a new “American Community Survey” with lengthy invasive questions that include your income, how much gasoline and electricity you use, how many cars you own, etc. This ACS will be sent to every household periodically over the next ten years and is not mandatory.
Posted by Christina on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 9:18 PM (EDT):
I am so glad to hear this! I didn’t know that all those questions were not mandatory. Last time I had to fill out a census form that was six pages. Someone else told me that her household’s was 38 pages! I was jealous of a friend who said that hers was only two pages.
The only thing that bothers me about this is that in every other case, the move is AWAY from religion. Clearly, they are only using a religious connection to get a job done. If religion serves the government’s purpose, they’ll use it. If not, it’s disposable. That’s the message that is being sent here.
Posted by Maureen on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 4:46 PM (EDT):
For me it’s just another sign of how little reverence there is for the sacred in our society. Nativities are unwelcome for they might offend non-Christians but using an image of such a sacred event is just fine if it serves a desired secular goal. An accurate count on the census is an important goal but I’m sick of icons of my faith being hijacked by those who usually mock it.
Posted by Loretta S. on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 5:50 PM (EDT):
I think we need to be clear that it is not the government using this image - it is a private group - of elected officials. But it is not the Government of the United States per se. Private groups may indeed use religious images if they choose to. Fear is not always a rational thing. Many in Latino culture just don’t trust Anglo culture. If one of us went to Juarez, Mexico or Sao Paulo, might we be frightened by a different culture? Most of the Latinos in my part of the country are not illegal because there are no jobs to be had here. Many have been here for multiple generations but have never been fully integrated into the power holding society (which is usually white.) I don’t think Christ’s preference for the poor is debatable. It’s pretty clear that it existed. In many places, the Latino population is the poor. If this helps those that are poor, I don’t see it as disrespectful. Even poor people must be seen - the census is a way of “seeing” them.
Posted by Marie on Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009 8:34 PM (EDT):
I think this is a great attempt for the government to understand the Hispanic population and communicate more effectively. Since spending is often allocated based on the census, it is important to address the Hispanic population rather than ignore them (which would obviously be easier and cheaper!)
I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, as a genealogist, I’m very pro-census. It’s a huge source of information, not so much for the government as for historians and descendants. I’m disappointed that the short form with its few questions mean that my great-grandkids won’t know as much about me as I do about my great-grandparents. And so I’m in favor of programs to encourage people to participate - and not just for the “right” reason, of ensuring accurate districting, representation, resources, etc.
I do think the poster is a little . . . manipulative? though. I don’t like co-opting religious imagery for secular purposes, especially when the use of religious imagery for religious purposes is increasingly difficult to justify in the public arena.
This is way late and I don’t think anyone will read this now, but I just got my Census and looked up the information, and from what I can find, we must answer all 10 questions including our names ect. or we can face a fine. Also, if we receive the lengthier form, we have to answer all of that as well. At least that’s my understanding from what I read from the Census website and other places online.
Although the website states that the Census Bureau cannot share any of the information with anyone else, including other federal agencies. Whether that is enforceable or not is another question altogether.
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