Extreme views bring disgrace to religion

David Forbes

The Appalachian State University Faculty Senate last week approved a motion calling for the severing of all athletic ties between Appalachian and Liberty University because of comments made by Liberty’s chancellor, conservative minister Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell.

The first thought to come to my mind was “it’s about time.”

While Falwell’s comments on “The 700 Club” soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks shocked and offended many, it should hardly come as a surprise to any who have observed Falwell’s intolerant rants over the years or those of host Pat Robertson, who was right beside Falwell on the screen and nodded approval as the Liberty chancellor made his comments.

Growing up in northeastern North Carolina, close to Virginia Beach (the base of Robertson’s organization and a place Falwell frequents), I remember their actions over the years.

I remember how Robertson claimed, every time a hurricane did not strike the coast, it was the presence of his organization averting the “wrath of God.”

I remember when Falwell announced he believed the Antichrist would be Jewish.

I remember Robertson saying Florida would be struck by natural disasters, possibly even a meteor, because Disney did not stigmatize homosexuals.

However, I also remember last February, when Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., then running for the Republican nomination for president, finally had the courage to say at a rally where many of Robertson’s supporters were present the words I had long hoped to hear from a public figure.

He referred to Robertson and Falwell as “self appointed leaders who have used spirituality for their own self-serving ends” and called them “a disgrace to the church and the Republican Party.”

It was about time.

The worst part of it is far too many see such demagogues not as the extremists they are, but as representatives of the Christian religion at large, despite the fact they have interpreted scripture time and again out of context to suit their narrow-minded social and political ends.

Christianity has been around for over 2,000 years, and God has been around for all eternity. I seriously doubt the almighty has a political preference.

As it is, Falwell and Robertson would do well to remember the book they quote so often has an injunction to “judge not, lest ye be judged yourself.” The savior they claim to hold in such high regard challenged prejudice, rather than spouting it, and he hung out with prostitutes and other types who are hardly shining paragons of family values.

I hope their recent comments have opened the public’s eyes a bit more to exactly how extreme their views are and they are perceived less and less as representatives of a religion they disgrace.

Our Perspective ...

Questionable intent

The Appalachian State University Faculty Senate approved a motion last week that recommends Appalachian sever ties with Liberty University as soon as the athletic contract between the two institutions expires.

The legislation was prompted by inflammatory remarks made by Liberty’s chancellor, Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell, on “The 700 Club” regarding the Sept. 11 attacks.

While appearing on the show, Falwell accused several groups for being partly responsible for America’s assault.

“I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, the People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say, ‘you helped this happen’.”

We fervently disagree with Falwell’s sentiments, but feel it is important to note his right to voice such opinions is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Two Student Government Association (SGA) senators drafted legislation in October saying the body supports any administrative decision to not renew sporting contracts with Liberty University.

The SGA Senate will vote on that piece of legislation tonight. If passed, the SGA bill will join the aforementioned Faculty Senate motion on the agenda of the Appalachian administration.

Although we agree athletic contracts with Liberty should be severed, we question the motives that prompted the Faculty Senate and SGA to address the issue.

Dr. Stephen Simon, professor of history and chair of the Faculty Senate Academic Policy Committee told The Appalachian last week, “If we are promoting diversity, we should not have contact with a university that believes the contrary. By playing them in football, we are recognizing them as a sister institution. It is indirectly supporting their position.”

If the Faculty Senate is serious about upholding this ideal for Appalachian, why did it take a national tragedy to bring to light Falwell’s bigoted attitude?

Also, in the SGA legislation were several past comments made by Falwell, including a remark made about the Antichrist in 1999. “If he’s going to be the counterfeit of Christ, he has to be Jewish,” said Falwell.

Falwell led the Moral Majority, a Christian political organization, from 1979-1987. Aside from fighting sex education in schools, opposing a woman’s right to choose abortion and supporting the teaching of creationism in science classes, the group was also outspoken about its opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment and equal rights for gay Americans.

Liberty’s Web site includes a list of Falwell’s long-standing controversial thoughts on various social issues, including his ideas about homosexuality leading to violence, husbands having authority over wives and AIDS and herpes being social diseases used for judgement.

Yet, Appalachian has played Liberty in football a total of eight times, in 1987, 1993, 1994 and from 1997-2001.

While Falwell was busy tending to his zealous flock, so-called concerned faculty members and students ignored his intolerant religious ideology and did not take action against Appalachian’s ties to Liberty until his Sept. 14 comments.

Are these two pieces of legislation an attempt to send a message that Appalachian State University is an institution clearly focused on increasing its diversity? Or is this merely a case of a handful of faculty and students using the most horrific attack on American soil in history to further a collective political agenda?

Unfortunately, we feel the latter is the true motivating factor in the effort to cut ties with Liberty.

Don't believe all the Anthrax hype

Malcolm Smith

Let me first say I’m no tough guy. I’ve cried when I’ve bitten my tongue, and I own a copy of “The Lion King.” But I’ve been through enough the last 20-plus years of my life not to fear some white powder the media is so passionately reporting everyday.

Before a couple of weeks ago, I thought Anthrax was just the rock group that performed a remix of “Bring the Noise” with Pubic Enemy in 1991.

So anthrax is here. It seems it probably won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. But the powdery white stuff will not stop me from going on with my daily life. I have personally faced tougher barriers than anthrax.

I have faced racism, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, my first introduction to another white powder, peer-pressure, gangs and the Reagan administration—a key contributor to the aforementioned evils.

I have survived my mother’s abundant collection of tree limbs, or as some are so accustomed to calling them, “switches.” There was the recession in the early 1990s and Hurricane Hugo, which left my family without electricity for 10 days. I’ll never look at Spam the same.

There have been disgruntled ex’s (beware a woman scorned), Tabor Drive, the threat of being gunned down by someone who looks like me and last but definitely not least, crooked police.

So I’m not saying anthrax is not a threat or should not be taken seriously, but living in America has always been harmful, at least to my health.

My only suggestion is to go on with your lives. We are Americans. What happened to our John Wayne image? Would Shaft cower in these times?

We need to look out for each other now more than ever. If you see something out of the ordinary, take extra precautions and help your neighbor.

Our country will never be the same. But is that bad?
Now is an opportune time to change ideas. Let’s fight these terrorists, whoever they are, with courage and bravery.
Continue to go to the malls.

If you take your kid trick-or-treating, take extra safety precautions, and let’s not fall victim to psychological terrorism.
Let’s fight terrorism with intellectualism.

We will persevere. We are Americans.