Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Jan. 18, 2007, edition 1 / Page 10
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Page 10 I Thursday, January 18,2007 OPINION The Pendulum Faith must embrace alternative lifestyles Christian love should reach out to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. “Love all” is the greatest commandment, any less is unchristian. Brett Scuiletti Columnist There is a problem with the modem reli gious and political landscape, and land has nothing to do with it. This is about people; people whose lives and means of living depend on decisions made daily by people other than themselves. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen der community continues to be attacked for committing to lifestyles dissimilar to those of the general populace. Many Christian groups strongly oppose these lifestyles and those who support them. The judgment must end here. Intolerance against the LGBT commu nity is unacceptable. God did not hand Christians, or any human being, a mandate to dispose of, or halt, the actions of people with alternative sexual lifestyles. In fact, as a Roman Catholic myself, I was taught the only judge this world will see is God. Yet, I continue to witness dis crimination against sexual minorities, com ing especially from Christian movements. The hypocrisy is unnerving. For a reli gion that prides itself on love and accept ance of all people, leaving to God the final judgment, it is quite apparent that many self-proclaimed “followers of God” still feel obliged to judge others and condemn them on their own. These movements to ban homosexual couples from marriage must not continue. People must keep their personal beliefs per sonal and remember that this nation was built around free choice and opportunity. Those who choose to marry another of the same sex have just as much a right to do so as anyone. A law or proclamation against gay mar riage does not sanctify Christian morality, it merely enables biased individuals or groups to attack and degrade people who are different than themselves. Mere tolerance of the LGBT communi ty isn’t enough. The many Christian and non-Christian groups that have opened their doors to the LGBT community are proof enough that love and acceptance can work together with spiritual beliefs. The tired excuse that, “I don’t want to get involved,” or “it’s not an issue I want to discuss,” should not be tolerated. This issue exists because many people won’t confront it. The time to make a stand is now upon us. This piece isn’t an attack on Christianity; it’s a pledge to challenge Christians and non-Christians alike who can’t accept people because of their sexu al orientation to change. Christian groups simply tend to be the most apparent exam ple of this type of prejudice. The moral dilemma faced here has both spiritual and political significance. What we as Americans, as people, should under stand is that homosexual or not, these„are human beings. We cannot sacrifice that fact at our own convenience or sentiment. Acceptance is a necessity. Contact Brett Scuiletti at pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247. Polar bear plunge leads to unprecedented mauling Brvan Rav Opinions Editor Last Thursday, many students participat ed in the ill-conceived Polar Bear Plunge. While the invigoratingly crisp, clear waters of Lake Mary Nell were enough to lure many students to its pristine grassy banks, a surprising few were deterred because they were facing almost certain death by a pack of polar bears. Despite their cute appearance, polar bears may be the most dangerous of all bears. Described as the “most carnivorous” of all the bear family, and known to hunt humans out of habit, male polar bears have been recorded weighing 660 and 1,300 pounds, making even the smallest bears more than three times the weight of the heaviest “plunger.” The largest male reportedly weighed 1,000 pounds, and actually smiled as he watched the scantily clad students prepare to thumb their noses at nature and common sense. “I haven’t the slightest idea why these kids would want to swim with a predator that hunts walruses and beluga whales,” said Bill McMamey, polar bear wrangler. “This thing’s a bom killer!” McMamey was clutching a powerful hunting rifle through out the entire event. Daniel Forsyth appearing apprehensive said, “You know, this might not be a good idea, but my friend Joey bet me thirty bucks that I wouldn’t do it, so of course I had to try.” He was devoured by ravenous bears moments after jumping into the lake. Despite three previous polar bear events. Lauren Hill and Hollis Theard swim with polar bears. Angela Lovelace/ Graphic Editor coordinators wanted to spice up the event, especially since the last event was canceled due to water contamination. “That’s why the polar bears were so aggressive. The warmer water was agitating them,” McMamey said. A witness overhearing the conversation yelled, “They’re bloody polar bears; that’s why they’re agitated!” The witness would not comment further. More than a thousand witnesses showed up to watch the spectacle from behind a sturdy barrier. Many wielding camcorders or cellular phones were speaking excitedly to friends and families not present. In total, 43 students showed up to take part in the event. Most cited that their moti- “I haven’t the slightest idea why these kids would want to swim with a predator that hunts wal ruses and beluga whales!” -Bill McMamey vation was the free T-shirt and hot choco late. Many of the students, after leaping into an unknown fate, disappeared, as the sur face of the water seemed to boil with activ ity. Many students, satisfied with their adventure, ready to enjoy hot chocolate and claim their t-shirt, attempted to crawl out of the lake, but were pulled back into the lake by eager bears. Emergency services stood by to treat any students or polar bears who contracted hypothermia or received minor injuries from “rough housing” in the lake. While 37 students decided never to leave, six partici pants left the lake early, having experienced as much frivolity as they could handle. Two had minor lacerations and blood loss, one suffered from a freak amputation of the leg and three reported some routine intemal bleeding. A few of the polar bears were treated for stomach aches. All are said to have suffered from an overdose of fun! “Hopefully the next Elon event will be as much fun. I hope they release starving tigers into the Turkey Trot next year,” exclaimed Jose Alvera, raising a mangled limb in the air in triumph. “That would be loads of fun!” Contact Bryan Ray at . pendulum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Jan. 18, 2007, edition 1
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