Sorry for the brevity of this piece. On 03/04/04, I submitted this as a Letter to the Editor for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, and as such, had to keep it around 350 words.

Lancaster is still ran by the Church. In this time of supposed enlightenment, we hear time and time again about those individuals who are shut out from various activates just because their beliefs don’t mesh well with one of the leading churches in town. Take me, for example. I’m in and out of town, because I am a student at an out-of-state University, and I wanted to help some of the local bands by getting them a show for one of the days I am back in town. The Lancaster music scene has few concerts, and bands really jump at the opportunity to play anywhere and anytime, and since a great deal of them are under 21, their opportunities to play are limited.

I called an individual who in change of booking out certain Lancaster-owned properties for public events. Supposedly open to all, I received a shock when I was told that that kind of music isn’t what they like at that venue, since there are all these churches and businesses around it. Going on further, I believe that there was even an implication in this reason that if the bands I was going to book were a more “likeable” style of music, we may have gotten the venue for the day. I understand that there could be foreseeable problems with noise complaints, but a bunch of kids in an open-air venue with sub-par instruments and amplification just simply cannot make as much noise as say, a choir from our friends, the local churches of Lancaster.

When individuals get into power that have a strong religious connection, I don’t really have a problem with it. It is just when they tie together the State and their religion that I honestly believe that individuals have crossed the line. Venues that are designated as “open” should simply be open for all individuals, regardless of the religious or societal image that that group might hold. By not allowing an open and free exchange of ideas or a larger range of motion, Lancaster is giving a bold message to its bright, innovative youth: We have no use for you unless you conform exactly to the line we tow.