San Antonio City Council
12 September 2018
Nick Lee (294 Words) 

Nick Lee, San Antonio City Council Meeting

September 12, 2018

  This morning, I do not ask you to bow your heads in prayer. Rather, I draw your attention to the citizens who are gathered here today to do business with the city. They come from all parts of the city, and from different economic circumstances and from ethnic backgrounds. Yet, they all hope to receive from you an equitable hearing of their concerns.

  And beyond this room, I ask you to remember all one-and-a-half million people whom you are collectively pledged to serve. Bear in mind the diversity of cultures, economic interests and religious backgrounds which are represented in this community. In terms of religion, this includes not only the many varieties of Christians, but also Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, atheists, freethinkers, and others. At this point, I draw your attention to some religious leaders who are gathered behind me here in support of this secular invocation.

  Every citizen of San Antonio looks to each of you to apply wisdom, integrity, and rational thinking to the affairs of the city, and to treat all fairly and without favor. As a secular humanist, I believe that we have the power within ourselves to solve life’s problems and challenges through logic, reason, compassion, and compromise. As our elected representatives, we hope your decisions today will be based on the common good, with an eye to their impact on all citizens and on future generations.

  On behalf of the many thousands of atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and secular humanists who live and work in this community and contribute to its prosperity, I thank you for this opportunity to present what I believe to be the first secular invocation in the 300-year history of the city of San Antonio. I hope it will not be the last.

 Thank you.

 Word Count: 294