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Post by Jesse Morrell on Nov 29, 2006 18:22:30 GMT -5
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Post by mahatma on Nov 29, 2006 18:26:45 GMT -5
That was a remarkably cogent and reasonable column. Of course I dsagree with the author as to the usefulness of disagreeing with you, at least in a "quiet" setting such as the boards here. I imagine that in the loud, crowded forum of a college quad, debate is pretty much pointless.
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Post by tbxi on Nov 29, 2006 18:31:02 GMT -5
While it is true that Jesse and Jed Smock are not going to back down from their position, I get the idea that the writer of this column (and a great many others) feel like it's a virtue to not stick to what they believe, whatever it is. The writer seems to think it is a bad thing to actually hold on to a belief. I have always found this annoying, even back before I was converted - sometimes it is as if believing nothing is good, and once you step out and stake your claims you're "close-minded". Would they be so critical in the same way of an outgoing and well convinced non-theist for the same reason?
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Post by Jesse Morrell on Nov 29, 2006 18:34:05 GMT -5
I was on this campus a few weeks ago, but I know Jed hasn't been there in about a year. He must have made quite an impact last year since the campus hasn't forgotten him. THE MAIN POINTAt least once a semester, our campus is graced with representatives from Campus Ministries U.S.A. and Open Air Outreach, and each time a crowd gathers around them making a huge, embarrassing fuss. Campus Ministries is led by George Edward Smock and Open Air Outreach is helmed by Jesse Morrell. Smock and Morrell’s followers travel to college campuses across the U.S. preaching hard-line, evangelical Christianity to students whom they apparently see as not-quite-hopeless sinners. Every time they visit Texas State, a crowd gathers to gawk and argue with them. One of the catches that comes with freedom of speech is it applies to everyone. Even if you don’t agree with what a person has to say, even if what they say is downright offensive, no one can tell that person not to say it — unless you’re with the FCC. Gathering around Smock and his followers and making a scene only legitimizes their crusade. On any major city street, these people would be ignored. At Texas State students crowd around and try to argue with them. Sometimes the arguments are coherent discourses rooted in religious texts. Sometimes they consist of, “I love getting drunk!” None of them accomplishes anything. If you are interested in what the folks from Campus Ministries U.S.A. have to say, then stop and listen politely. If you don’t care what they have to say, there is no reason to stand around drawing attention to them. People who claim to oppose Smock’s followers only increase their publicity by helping them create a scene. Certainly The University Star encourages open and public debate, but anyone who has spent more than five minutes watching these people preach knows there is no hope of changing their minds. Trying to argue with them is pointless. Screaming at them, jostling them and stealing their signs is not only pointless, it’s disrespectful. If we are going to accept free speech, and we probably should because it’s in the Constitution, then we need to let these people have their 15 minutes and not create a stink. It may seem unfair that The Star is counseling you to ignore people you disagree with. Most of the complaints we hear about Campus Ministries are claims that its members are intolerant of others. That may be, but the response from open-minded citizens should not be to harass them. An open-minded person, when confronted with orators like Smock and Morrel, stops, listens and, if he or she doesn’t like what is being said, walks away. Some people might try to debate and state their views, but as we’ve said before, with these people that would be pointless. If Texas State students don’t want people from Campus Ministries coming back to Texas State, and — judging by what the crowd that gathered the last time one of them came to campus had to say — most students don’t, then the way to realize that goal is to ignore them. Demagogues can’t exist without the masses.
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Post by mahatma on Nov 29, 2006 18:39:45 GMT -5
Tbxi,
I get what you are saying, and I agree that not being able to stick to your beliefs is not great virtue. Reading the article I got more the feeling that he was saying "hey, you aren't going to change their minds arguing, so it's not like you are accomplishing anything by yelling at them." But you could be right about what he meant.
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