October 16, 2007
Dialogue over monologue
Ah, yes, the soothing beauty of fall is upon us – after months of smoke-enriched heat—and to many a UM student this means relaxing outdoors and around the Oval in between classes and work. However, this much needed atmosphere of refreshment and breathing was interrupted on Wednesday to make way for the “hellfire and brimstone” message of a group of proselytizing Christian Fundamentalists, whose formal denominational affiliation could not be determined by this author despite repeated questioning.
“We’re with the Christians,” the gentleman filming the circus with a digital camera told me quite smugly. This seems to be the typical attitude of these individuals when confronted with legitimate, down-to-earth queries that don’t open the door for a lashing diatribe against the Luciferian lifestyle of logic-using, pot-smoking, freely-fornicating college students and the professors who poison their minds; but that is not what I’m here to talk about. If you’re truly interested in dissecting the mentality of these biblical literalists, the most helpful literature I can suggest, to wit, are the writings of Robert Anton Wilson and of the branded “Satanist black-magician,” Aleister Crowley. We move on.
Typically, these messengers of division arrive for one week per semester, preach the “Good Word,” and then ramble on. No biggie. However, Wednesday, as I listened to the closing remarks of one “preacher” – these individuals have little formal training – I learned that they plan to return to campus every Thursday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to remind us all of our sin. This is simply unacceptable; we already have school, work, politics and our social lives to focus on without being distracted by the – I’ll be honest – truly amusing, yet highly irksome, spectacle that unfolds when radical Fundamentalism shows its (insert adjective) face. It would be one thing if they actually took a creative approach to spreading their ideas, but – over and over (as Fundamentalism detests creativity) they yell and spit the same words with little variation, thematic or otherwise, as they have been for centuries.
I understand that they are well within the rights of this country and the University in doing such, but I also understand that we also have the right to congregate and overwhelm their hate-filled rhetoric in a peaceful and civilized manner. When we get upset and curse and scream we show them exactly what they want to see. That is why I ask any interested parties to meet on the grassy knoll in between the UC and the library where these assassins take aim on Thursdays to engage in an open dialogue to discuss politics, religion, etc. in hopes of drowning out their condemning monologues. Many say that without an audience they cannot continue, and urge people simply to not pay attention; but, judging by the crowds, the topic holds too much gravity to be ignored. Yet, the current situation achieves nothing but confusion, hatred or utilitarian indifference.
This is our campus, our grassy knoll, and I’ll be damned (no pun intended), if I’m going to sit back and passively accept their bothersome tirades. I am highly interested in religion, that is why I stop to listen, but I’ve heard it all before. Yes, I watch the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Let’s congregate as a community to explore the nuances and intricacies and issues of the highly relevant topic of spirituality. Let’s take back the pulpit from which these people preach. If they want to sit down and discuss their faith with us, we should encourage it; but they’re going to have to listen to our side, in full, also.
Please let it be known it is not my intention to criticize beliefs here. Rather, I seek to come to an understanding of others and their beliefs. And, from this angle, ranting and raving preachers denouncing my person and the persons of my peers does nothing to promote our positive development as a society, as a country, as human beings. Let’s send a message back to the preachers on their high horses by gathering on Thursday to say we know you’re here and we refuse to let you ambush us and monopolize the microphone. If we come together, I assure you that our collective voice will be more than enough to silence whoever it is that thinks we need to be scolded. And if they move to a new spot to preach we’ll be there; but first we must retake the grassy knoll.
Taylor Ashton Grimmer
senior, Spanish
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