| Bad Timing
Monday was the one day of the year proclaimed as National Coming Out Day. However, it also happened to be the day the Baptist Student Ministry chose to invite Randy Thomas, co-founder of Living Hope Ministries, to speak at the organization's weekly meeting. Living Hope is the Texas contact organization for Exodus International, a group whose mission is to "free" from the homosexual lifestyle vulnerable gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals who are struggling with their sexuality. Toney Upton, director of BSM, said he scheduled Johnson's appearance long before he realized the significance of Oct. 11. Although Upton said he knew National Coming Out Day was in the general proximity of the day Johnson was scheduled to speak, the presentation was not intended to coincide with the national day of observance. Perhaps it's just bad timing, but the BSM is funded by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which is funded by the Southern Baptist Convention. It wasn't long ago that the SBC was in the national spotlight for publishing a prayer guide instructing its members on how to pray for the conversion of Jews during their High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We do not condemn BSM's decision to bring Johnson to campus. In fact, as strong advocates of the First Amendment, we applaud the provision of a forum for differing views. What is abhorrent, however, is the consistent bad timing and lack of tact on the part of Southern Baptists. The sooner they discard their arrogant views, the sooner we will all be free to learn in an environment open to divergent beliefs and opinions.
Adventurous Columbus no hero Monday was the observation of Columbus Day, a day commemorating the "discovery" of the Americas. Only two people are considered worthy of having an American national holiday bearing their names, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Christopher Columbus. One was a champion of human rights, the other was a murderer and a thief. One was a soldier for the liberation of people of all races, the other was the founder of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Columbus is commonly perceived as a hero. On the contrary, Columbus would today be jailed for his actions. As the common child's rhyme says, "In fourteen-hundred-ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue/ In fourteen-hundred-ninety-three, Columbus stole all he could see." Columbus was a thief. In order to repay his debt to the Spanish monarchy, he stole gold, land and even people from the island that he had "discovered." Upon his return to Spain, Columbus paraded through the streets of Seville with hundreds of Taino Indians (who are now thought to be extinct) that he had attempted to bring back and sell into slavery. Unfortunately for Columbus, many of the 1,200 Taino died during the long trip home and were thrown overboard into the Atlantic Ocean. I bet your elementary school history teacher didn't teach you that side of the story. Your teacher may have told you that Columbus was a visionary who proved to the world the Earth was round. By the time of Columbus, not only did people know the world was round, but Islamic mathematicians had already calculated the circumference of the Earth. Columbus was no visionary; this idea is a result of a myth perpetuated in the 19th Century in order to glorify Columbus' achievements. Contrary to what your elementary school teacher may have told you, Columbus was no hero. Yet, to this day we honor his name with a national holiday. When we celebrate Columbus Day we are celebrating a genocide comparable to the Nazi holocaust. When we celebrate Columbus Day we are celebrating the enslavement of an entire race of people, the spread of disease, the thievery of land and wealth and the senseless slaughter of the indigenous people of the Americas. The Vietnam War was seen by many as a modern form of imperialism. Although many people believe that imperialism is a thing of the past, American imperialism is still alive and well. For decades the United States, much like the Spanish monarchy in the time of Columbus, has sent its monetary and military support to nations that have used it to exploit and oppress other peoples. For example, for the last 30 years the United States has supported Indonesia in its attempt to quell uprisings in East Timor. This type of foreign policy is a testimony to the fact that the imperialism of Columbus is not yet dead, and we should revise our history books so that we do not make the same mistakes again.
Zachary Norris is a senior biology major from Long Beach, Calif. He can be reached at (pookyson@hotmail.com). Show of character needed Have you ever heard someone say that a person lacks character? Or that they seem to have an abundance of character? In that regard, I've often heard that character is how you behave when nobody is looking. Sadly though, sometimes a lack of character is displayed in front of many, and by many in a crowd. As Dallas Cowboys' All-pro receiver Michael Irvin lay on the turf Sunday in Philadelphia, with both his football career and his life in a state of uncertainty, we witnessed another stark reminder of how important it is to protect our attitude and to build our character. Irvin, an old nemesis of the Philadelphia fans, accidentally slammed his head into the Veterans Stadium turf, and much to my chagrin, Eagles fans cheered shamelessly as he lay motionless on the field. They also cheered as paramedics carted Irvin off on a stretcher. Say what you will about Irvin, whose not exactly a model of good character, but nobody deserves to be treated in that manner. Sports fans, as a whole, rarely understand this fact. I wish I could say this type of character lag only happens in Philadelphia, but I'd be lying. It just rarely happens in that magnitude or to that degree. On Saturday I attended TCU's football game against San Jose State. LaDainian Tomlinson's 300-yard rushing performance, and the Horned Frogs' 42-0 victory gave TCU fans plenty to cheer about. But something always leaves me distressed when we win the ball game: Someone always takes time to chastise the other team. In Saturday's case, the offenders turned out to be the brass section of the TCU band. The target: San Jose State tight end Sean Brewer. Brewer's fumble early in the second quarter ended a crucial Spartans drive, and the TCU offense capitalized moments later. Then, with TCU comfortably ahead in the fourth quarter, the TCU student trombone players crudely reminded Brewer of his error again and again. This should never have happened, and the student trombone section should never have been allowed to continue this verbal abuse. What's more, they, as adults, should have known better than to act in such a moronic fashion. There is one simple fact that we, as fans, should keep in mind. If our fans treat the opponent in this manner, then it's a good bet that our players have to endure the same tortures away from home. Imagine how Fresno State fans probably acted toward Tomlinson, Casey Printers and the rest of TCU's football team last week when they were the visitors in an overtime loss. What would TCU fans have done had they been there? I'm guessing, they'd have reacted with a fit of anger. But the simple fact that we weren't there to protect our team means Fresno State fans would have had free reign to treat our players however they wish. And Hawai'i fans will have the same opportunity. Do we want to be like that? I'm thinking maybe we should redefine character as "not taking advantage of others, even though we could," and then apply it to sporting events. The bottom line: Character means choosing not to disgrace others, even when we surely could. If these offenders realized the actions and behavior of a few affects society as a whole, they'd understand the weight their negative behaviors carry. And maybe they'd stop. Maybe they'd even realize how they look when they behave this way. Professional basketball player Charles Barkley used to say that he wasn't a role model. Karl Malone countered that everyone is a role model, it's just a matter of whether you choose to be a good role model or a bad one. After all, I never know who is watching me. And you never know who might be taking notes of your behavior.
Tim Skaggs is a senior speech communications major from Fort Worth. He can be reached at (Pahprboy@aol.com). Letters to the editor Lessons learned from death in drunken driving accident I would like all of you to really stop and think about a group of people or friends that mean a lot to you. A group that you're so close to that you're almost like family. You don't have to see them every day, but whenever you get the chance to you feel right at home, and you couldn't imagine even one of you (the group) not being there. That if even one of you were to leave, life just wouldn't be the same. I have a group like that. I graduated with them, and although we all go to different colleges in Texas, it seems as if most of us find one day of the weekend to hang out and be together. They're like family to me. But as of Sept. 30, our family will never be the same. I had to lay one of my close friends to rest. I had to say good-bye to a guy who only got to experience this gift called life for 18 years. For those of you who are 18, can you imagine it all ending today? For those of you who are older, look at all the things you would have missed. I watched guys who are like brothers to me cry, and I watched six of them carry the casket of their best friend to his grave. The face I saw at his viewing burnt an image in my mind (that) I can't escape, because it wasn't the face of my friend. I don't know who it was because it looked nothing like the face of the friend I knew. I'm writing this letter because when his mom spoke at the funeral, she broke my heart. She told us how much he loved us all but to learn from his lesson. My friend Billy is dead because he made the choice to get in a car drunk. For the sake of your friends and your family, never make the same choice he did and never let anyone around you make the same choice as well. Billy's mom told us that if just one of us learned this lesson, it would help her cope with the loss. You didn't know Billy, but I know you all have close friends and can relate, even though it's something you don't really want to think about. I wouldn't wish these past days on any of you. Hopefully by reading this, you won't ever have to know this experience. Stephanie Corso freshman business major
Argument against Ventura's stance on religion one-sided The article written by Stephen Suffron Oct. 5 was more of a testimonial than an opinion column. Suffron was addressing the statement that Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura made concerning religion and his belief that it was for weak-minded people. I do not agree with Ventura's statement by any means, but I do believe that he, like anyone else, is entitled to his own opinion. If Ventura thinks that religion is for weak-minded people, then political groups may also be considered for the weak-minded. A political organization is no different from a religious group. Both are groups that come together with others to celebrate the things they believe. Some may be outraged to think that a political organization is on the same level as Christianity, but Christians are only another group of people assembling together. And some may think that Christianity is much more sacred than any other organization, but everyone is not a Christian. The newspaper is not a place for testimonials. Ventura's statement was not one against Christianity, so there was no need to try and advertise how good Christianity is. Ventura's statement talked about religion in general, not in any way pointing a finger at Christianity. People shouldn't be appalled that someone else believes in an opinion that is in the minority. It does happen every once in awhile, and someone might even express an opinion that does not agree with your personal views. As a columnist, Suffron should be able to express his view and also acknowledge that there is another view. Everyone does not live in the TCU bubble that we live in. All Christianity, all the time, does not happen anywhere, so I hope Suffron does not find it offensive when he has to interview someone that does not believe in God or may not have the same morals as everyone else. The article addressed a good issue but failed to see - or even acknowledge - that there was more than one side of the issue. Lauren Morton freshman premajor |
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