Spring Break
Editorial: Praise the ... First Amendment
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
10/09/08 - You have one week to save your soul.
Find Jesus and he will grant an eternity of love and devotion to you in the afterlife.
Free yourself of your earthly sins.
It was hard to miss the bright, fluorescent green signs floating around the Quadrangle yesterday, with protesters shouting, "Repent!" and "Find the Lord!"
Some students ignored the protesters, turning their heads and drowning them out with the normal chatter of the day. Others stood with gaping mouths, unable to decipher the "Jesus talk."
The demonstrators stood firm, thrashing their signs in the air and pumping their fists. They did not associate themselves with any particular brand of religion, but pleaded with passersby to heed the call of God, the one true path to happiness.
On the opposite side of the Quad, one evangelist was telling students they were going to go to hell if they didn't follow the ways of the Lord.
To quote the only good line in the 2002 romance flick, "A Walk to Remember," the "Bible-huggin', crucifix-wearin', honk-if-you-love-Jesus people" made quite a scene.
But in spite of many student reactions, the demonstrators also prompted sensible religious and philosophical discussion, not only around campus but inside the classroom. The words "Buddhist," "Catholicism," "Hindu," and "dirty atheists," were strewn about discussion groups formed on the Quad. In classes, professors asked what they thought about the evangelists and discussed various uses of freedom of speech.
Among the religious questions, it also brings up a comforting notion: the First Amendment is very much alive and kicking.
Though many students, faculty and even religious officials might not agree with the expression of religion that took place yesterday, what kind of world would it be if that freedom wasn't there at all?
Nothing beats freedom of speech on a brisk, yet sunny October day. And while there were some shouting matches between students and demonstrators, it was easy for the outsider to see democracy at work, opening up peoples' diverse beliefs to challenging opposing viewpoints.
Debate doesn't always need a formal forum to strike up meaningful philosophies. It can take place anywhere at anytime, because we are blessed with the right to think for ourselves.
If it weren't for the First Amendment, your eyes could not grace the fair pages of The Good Five-Cent Cigar-the freedom of the press, just another form of freedom of speech, is a sacred value that many countries do not practice.
There may be a lot wrong with this country, but let's not forget the foundation we started with.
Find Jesus and he will grant an eternity of love and devotion to you in the afterlife.
Free yourself of your earthly sins.
It was hard to miss the bright, fluorescent green signs floating around the Quadrangle yesterday, with protesters shouting, "Repent!" and "Find the Lord!"
Some students ignored the protesters, turning their heads and drowning them out with the normal chatter of the day. Others stood with gaping mouths, unable to decipher the "Jesus talk."
The demonstrators stood firm, thrashing their signs in the air and pumping their fists. They did not associate themselves with any particular brand of religion, but pleaded with passersby to heed the call of God, the one true path to happiness.
On the opposite side of the Quad, one evangelist was telling students they were going to go to hell if they didn't follow the ways of the Lord.
To quote the only good line in the 2002 romance flick, "A Walk to Remember," the "Bible-huggin', crucifix-wearin', honk-if-you-love-Jesus people" made quite a scene.
But in spite of many student reactions, the demonstrators also prompted sensible religious and philosophical discussion, not only around campus but inside the classroom. The words "Buddhist," "Catholicism," "Hindu," and "dirty atheists," were strewn about discussion groups formed on the Quad. In classes, professors asked what they thought about the evangelists and discussed various uses of freedom of speech.
Among the religious questions, it also brings up a comforting notion: the First Amendment is very much alive and kicking.
Though many students, faculty and even religious officials might not agree with the expression of religion that took place yesterday, what kind of world would it be if that freedom wasn't there at all?
Nothing beats freedom of speech on a brisk, yet sunny October day. And while there were some shouting matches between students and demonstrators, it was easy for the outsider to see democracy at work, opening up peoples' diverse beliefs to challenging opposing viewpoints.
Debate doesn't always need a formal forum to strike up meaningful philosophies. It can take place anywhere at anytime, because we are blessed with the right to think for ourselves.
If it weren't for the First Amendment, your eyes could not grace the fair pages of The Good Five-Cent Cigar-the freedom of the press, just another form of freedom of speech, is a sacred value that many countries do not practice.
There may be a lot wrong with this country, but let's not forget the foundation we started with.
