[Vision2020] Climate
amy smoucha
asmoucha@hotmail.com
Wed, 10 Dec 2003 22:02:39 -0600
Jerry,
I am not associated with U of I in any way, so I know nothing about this
meeting or your group or what went down, but I would like to understand.
You say that the people who attended the GSA meeting went to meet people,
develop, friendships & learn about the gay community. So were the four of
you just four people who wanted to know more about gay people and who
decided that was a good way to learn? Were you one of the people who
attended the meeting? And when you say "we" are still trying to figure out
why "they" were kicked out, who is "we"?
I truly am confused because your message implies that four people genuinely
wanted to build community and meet people who are not like them, and that
there was no other purpose or intention behind the decision to attend the
meeting. That may be true, and if it is I commend you.
As Mo pointed out so well, there are a lot of reasons that people would feel
uncomfortable with your visit. Also, it may be more difficult for young
people to feel like exposing themselves to your interests, for lots of
reasons. I have a mormon friend who sets strict boundaries in telling us
that she doesn't want to answer lots of questions about her religion,
because that is a private matter (questions like what is Mormon underwear).
That is a fair boundary to set, and setting that boundary is not about
exclusiveness. Sometimes people are just beginnign to form an identity in
college. I know when I was in college, a visit by strangers to a meeting
like that would have put me on the defense. It still might.
There are many of us within the gay and lesbian community who are willing to
talk with you and spend time with you towards learning about each others
communities. If you and your friends want to have such a discussion, I'd be
glad to participate.
If your purpose was knowledge and friendship, there are many other avenues
yet to pursue.
Amy Smoucha
PS what is "CRF" and what is its purpose and mission?
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Jerry Owen" <owenjerry@hotmail.com>
To: mghuskey@msn.com, vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Climate
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 23:29:05 +0000
Melynda et al,
Disrupting is an inaccurate thing to call it. Four NSA students went to the
Gay Straight Alliance to meet people, develop friendships and learn about
the gay community. Why? Because in the Christian worldview, just because
you disagree with someone doesn't mean you hate them or don't want to
understand them. For example, I think republicans are quite off, but that
doesn't mean I won't speak to them or tolerate their presence.
The CRF members who were kicked out of the Alliance (?) asked for a reason
why they were asked to leave and were never given one. They asked and
emailed (twice). They were told that they didn't get kicked out because
they're white or male or Christian or dispruptive (although the group leader
said told them as they were being kicked out that asking why they were
getting kicked out was disruptive). So we're still wondering why they had
to leave.
People of all color, gender and sexual orientation are (and always have
been) welcome at CRF meetings. And if you want to hear the only black
preacher in town, Chris Morris preaches regularly at Christ Church's monthly
Evensong services (third Sunday of every month) as he did this past Sunday.
Cheerio,
Jerry Owen
>From: "Melynda Huskey" <mghuskey@msn.com>
>To: vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Climate
>Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 14:59:01 -0800
>
>Doug writes:
>
>>Someone needs to take responsibility for the climate.
>
>We *all* need to take responsibility for the climate.
>
>When someone vandalizes Bucer's or the New St. Andrews College, the climate
>is affected. Likewise when members of the Collegiate Reformed Fellowship
>disrupt Gay Straight Alliance meetings, the climate is affected. When I
>give in to the impulse to be snotty at the expense of real conversation,
>the climate is affected. And when the Christ Church Board asserts that
>secularists inherently encourage racism and violence, the climate is
>affected.
>
>Nobody's skirts are clean here. And in a pluralistic community, each of us
>is responsible for our own actions, and for what we encourage, support, and
>abet.
>
>Melynda Huskey
>
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