In the not-so-distant past of America, using the Bible was not cause for alarm. But in our recently-reconfigured country, proceed with caution when the Bible is quoted.
The case of college student Myaa Little is a perfect example.
In June, she was a participant in the University of Houston Student Government Association meeting. Mya was seeking a position as a associate justice on the SGA Supreme Court.
In the course of her endeavor, she gave the speech. However, it seems that she was unable to complete the position the moment she started.
The school newspaper The Daily Cougar reports Mya started with a verse of The Holy Bible.
Following her recitation, she explained to the audience:
“I read that scripture months ago, and it really inspired me. It made me realize that the world, to me—and in my eyes—is made out of love.”
They were not similarly inspired.
Though Little did go on to say that her love was not conditional on the basis of religion, race or political creed, the religious tone of her introductory speech seemed to strike a chord of doubt in some of the assembled SGA members.
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Sen. Marie McGrew sought to address these concerns during the questioning phase. Stressing the crucial nature of bias as it applies to the Supreme Court, McGrew asked Little how she intended to account for, and contend with, her own latent biases.
Mya responded with a bizarre theory that people can be civilly discordant, and it does not cause harm:
“’Bias’ has a very negative connotation. I have an opinion. So long as respect is being exchanged between one another, I don’t feel like opinions need to be labeled as biases.”
The group was however irritated by the decision to reverse Roe in v. Wade. According to their interpretation, they believed that the extremist religious U.S. Supreme Court had created chaos with their blurring of state and church.
Several senators immediately objected to what they saw as Little’s potential for bias, both in her religious conviction as well as her perceived failure to account for her own latent bias. Senate Speaker Aryana Azizi highlighted the heightened concern around religious influence in government in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Aryana spoke about tone-deafness
“I personally think it’s a little bit tone deaf, given the current political climate. I don’t think now is the time to be preaching about religion, given the clear lack of separation of church and state in our federal government.”
The scenario is consistent with the recent decades of the media's framing. America is comprised of two divided camps, conservative issues can be considered “controversial” whereas left-wing issues aren't. There is a good chance that a lot of people of people in the SGA believe that all “normal” people were wrecked by Roe's repeal.
In terms of law, naturally the decision of the high court had a legal not ecclesiastical basis. The privacy protections are not specifically granted in the constitution.Neither is the separation of state and church.
Whatever, Mya and her traditional values were snubbed.
It's a pity that the SGA crew didn't get an intersectional shot:
“[L]ittle ultimately failed to receive the necessary two-thirds of the vote required to be appointed to the SGA Supreme Court. This came as a disappointment to several SGA members, as Little would have been the first Black woman to serve as an SGA Supreme Court justice.”
Maybe they're waiting for the Ketanji Brown Jackson type justice.
It's likely that she'll appear sooner or later.
