Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Is there a context clause?

Before President Obama's speech last week, his staff requested Georgetown University to cover Jesus' name (the christogram IHS) & the cross because "it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context."

What does "out of context" mean? Perhaps they meant to say "out of church"...??

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

5 comments:

Moonshadow said...

Came here from Elena's blog ...

What does "out of context" mean? Perhaps they meant to say "out of church"...??

The hall Obama spoke in (Gaston Hall) isn't a church, despite the ornamentation. And despite its resemblance to a typical mega-church, etc.

Sue Bee said...

That's my point...Does the Obama administration mean to say religious symbols are "out of context" outside of church?

Last time I checked, Georgetown was a Roman Catholic university. At least nominally.

Moonshadow said...

Oh, I see your point.

But then, you can tell from the image that the symbols would be right above Obama's head and, since Gaston Hall isn't a church, seeing those symbols on camera might give the impression that he's perhaps speaking from a pulpit when he isn't ... when, in fact, he cannot.

Sue Bee said...

He could have moved his podium.

Laura Bush gave a speach from that very same spot, didn't cover the pediment - in the pictures from her speach it is barely noticable in the background.

No, he is not speaking from a pulpit, but he is speaking at a Christian institution, and Christian institutions display Christian symbols.

Sue Bee said...

Oops. Speech. S-p-e-e-c-h. Speech.