[Vision2020] Otter Plans Closed-Door Oath Taking

[Sue Hovey]

Or maybe he decided to be a catalyst for some folks who must have entirely 
too much free time.  His decision has absolutely no impact on my already low 
opinion of him.

Sue Hovey


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chasuk" <chasuk at gmail.com>
To: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
Cc: <Vision2020 at moscow.com>; "Ralph Nielsen" <nielsen at uidaho.edu>; "Donovan 
Arnold" <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Otter Plans Closed-Door Oath Taking


> On 12/26/06, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>> What is it about his inauguration that Governor-elect Otter doe not want
>> publicly known?
>
> That question strikes me as unintentionally humorous. I distrust the
> government in many circumstances, but all of my distrust is pragmatic,
> based on the performance (or non-performance) of governors, mayors,
> congresspersons, councilors, etc., at a functional level.  However,
> ritual is, or should be, of zero actual importance.
>
> Maybe Otter has an intensely personal relationship with God, and he
> feels that turning his inauguration into a public spectacle would
> cheapen it?
>
> Maybe Otter objects to taking oaths at all, and he is trying to avoid
> the fundamentalist zoo that would result from his choosing to affirm
> instead of to swear?
>
> Maybe Otter admires greatly the few presidents who have opted for
> private ceremonies, and he is striving to emulate them?
>
> Maybe Otter dislikes the media, and this exclusion is a message to them?
>
> Maybe Otter feels strongly that he should swear in on a stack of holy
> books, comprised of the Qurʾan, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the
> Urantia Book, but he seeks to avoid the tempest this would cause?
>
> Maybe Otter is an atheist, an agnostic, a Deist, or a secular
> humanist, and he is uncomfortable swearing in on any scripture at all,
> but he seeks to avoid the tempest this would cause?
>
> Maybe Otter would like to spend more time actually doing the job that
> he will be paid to do, and feels that all politicians should do
> likewise -- that substance is more important that form, in other words
> -- and this is his example to his peers?
>
> Maybe he is shy?  Maybe he doesn't like the look of his face, or the
> sound of his own voice, on film?
>
> Maybe he has a Jehovah's Witness grandfather who has pleaded with him
> not to take oaths?
>
> I can think of many reasons that don't have any sinister implications
> at all, as demonstrated above.
>
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