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4 Monday, December 6, aoio | The Rbd & Black Carey O’Neil | Managing Editor me@randb.com Courtney HoHraok | Opinions Editor opinions@randb.com Don’t pervert the lessons of Christ As a non-religious kid growing up in a small-town notch on the Bible Belt, I accrued quite a few war stories relating to Christianity. When my childhood friends realized I didn’t belong to a church, they treated me like I had a disease. When my best friend’s grandfather discovered I wasn’t Christian, he stopped allowing me into his home. In the seventh grade, my school held an atten dance-required religious assembly. Bodybuilders from a local Baptist church ripped phone books in half and informed us that “using a condom is like throwing tennis balls through a volleyball net.” If you have sex, you will get pregnant and get AIDS and die. In high school it was the Christian students who cheered the loudest for war overseas “Just bomb the shit out of ’em!” It was the Christians who criticized welfare pro grams “lt’s their own fault they’re poop” And when news reports showed gay teens dragged behind cars or bullied into suicide, it seemed the cul prits were invariably Christian “lt’s Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve, faggot.” Naturally, I thought of Christians as many people think of Christians: hypo critical, ignorant, arrogant, misinformed, intolerant and simple-minded. That is, until I spent a summer volunteering with real Christians. The summer after my freshman year, I lived and worked alongside Christians at Jubilee Partners in nearby Comer, Ga. Jubilee is a non-profit Christian community that hosts refugees newly-ar rived to the United States for two-month intervals. During this time, volun teers teach the families English, set up medical appointments, help them learn to shop for groceries, etc. Though refugee families are invited to Jubilee’s worship services, many families choose not to go and are not pressured to attend. For most residents and volunteers at Jubilee, this work is done in the name of Christ. But, despite my secular background, Jubilee accepted me into their community with open arms. The experience radical ly changed the way I view Christians and Christianity. Though I didn’t adopt the religion, I gained respect for it. It was powerful to see people using Christ’s teachings to propagate . soundbite It’s the last week of classes, and we at The Red & Black know people are angry about something. Annoyed with those upcoming finals and 20-page papers? Frustrated with self-pitying Facebook posts? Then send in your anonymous, one line opinions to opinions@randb.com for our special Tuesday “Soundßite” feature. We hope you’re angry. Opinions sxprwsed in Tht Rod A Black are fw opinions of its writers and not ntoMwfy tiost of Th# Asd and Black PuMtoNng Company Inc Al rights reserved Reprints by psrmMon of the editors NEWS: 706-433-3002 Newt Editor: Mimi Eneley Associate Near* Editor Rachel Bunn Sport* Editor Zach Dillard Variety Editor Joe WWamt Photo Editor Meghan Pittman Deeign Editor* Lauren Betamy. Haley Temple Copy Editor* Elaine Ketch, Beth Pokak, Jessica Roberts Online Editor Wit Brown Online Copy EdNora: Lauren Cronon, Taylor Moae EdKorial Cartoonists Jude Bailey. PhMp Henry, Sarah Quinn, B* Richards A MM Young love, rather than hate to see Christians walking the walk rather than talk ing the talk. I realized many people who call themselves Christians war support ers, homophobes, most fis cal conservatives are not real Christians. My religion classes have con firmed this realization. According to my Biblical studies, the defini tion of a Christian is sim ple: one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ. So, how can one be Christian yet support vio lence? How can one be Christian and not believe in helping those who can not help themselves (i.e. universal health care, wel fare)? These ideas run contra dictory to Jesus’ most basic teachings. Jesus did not use quali fiers. He didn’t say, “Love thy neighbor unless they’re gay.” He didn’t say, “Thou shall not kill unless you have a really good reason.” The Christians of Jubilee live simply, grow ing their own food and sharing their possessions. Above all, they preach Jesus’ teachings on hospi tality, opening their doors to volunteers and refugees from around the world and from all faiths. For those of you jaded by or disgusted with the state of Christianity, I encourage you to visit Jubilee. They welcome visitors and volunteers year around. And remember, don’t stereotype Christians according to the imposters among them. I’m not sure why so many misanthropes call themselves Christians. Perhaps it’s tradition. Perhaps they eryoy the camaraderie of Sunday service or the claim to moral superiority. But mis using this title is unfair to true Christians. Let’s stop giving false Christians the dignity of the title, “Christian.” If you wish to espouse anti-gay sentiment, that’s fine. If you choose to sup port war or the death pen alty, that’s your right. If you deny that all Americans deserve afford able food, shelter and health care, so be it. But don’t call yourself a Christian if your words and actions are a perverse betrayal of the teachings of Christ. Devon Young is a senior from Danielsville majoring in magazines Arhrieer: Ed Morale* EdHorW AaaMant: Sarah Jean Dover Recrnttmant Editor Sari Caldwell Senior Reporter Dabs Duncan Staff Writer* Sereen ML AJ Archer, Jaaon Axelrod, John Barred, Ryan Bleed Milch Btomert Rachel Q. Bowen, Kettey Byrd, Anne Adam Cartaon, Jute Carpenter Moiaee Cohen, Undaey Cook, Kely Corbitt, Daniel Curan, ChrMopher D'AnMo, Jacob Demtrttt, Chrie DeSantis Sarah Jean Dover F. Tyler Elrod, Michael Eibpalridk. Brian* Oerdeman. Sarah Oiarratana. Emly Qraid Aniaha Hedge, Mariana Hands. Draw Hooka, T. Patrick Hooper, BHy Hulaay, Kathryn Ingaff, Jan Ingle*, Shawn Jamard. Edward Kkn, Headier Kinney, Alei LaugNn, Darcy Lera, Polna Marinova, Opinions Wot” ”. I The World Cup; God's way of-teaching .k- ✓ —— God s way of teaching everyone correct pronunciation SARAHQUINN/I Ignorance frames racial inequality A statement has haunted me every day of my college career: “You only were admitted to UGA because you’re a minority.” That has had the power to dismiss my intelligence and years of hard work in a matter of seconds. Jeremy Dailey further reinforced this stereotype. Dailey’s insecurity about his chances at being admitted to law school apparently prompted his column (“Change needed in affir mative action policy,” Dec. 3), where he argues that having to identify himself as a white male is synonymous to saying “Don’t pick me!” He forgot to mention this University does not use affirmative action in admission decisions. What I ask of Dailey, who thinks being white means a decreased chance at school admissions, is to look at the people who attend those schools. I can guarantee most of the students look like him. Affirmative action attempts to make sure qualified minority not lesser qualified applicants have a fair chance in order to balance past practices that benefited whites and prevent racist hiring practices. The inaccurate idea that under represented minorities, such as myself, possess some advantage that allows them to be easily admitted at top schools and hired for jobs over whites is false. It is also reflective of a shallow under standing of the reality of racial inequality that has shaped the institutions of our country and con tinues to give preference to whites. This unearned advantage given to whites is called white privilege. White privilege also includes being assumed you are smart, qualified and a hard worker versus minori ties, who are stereotyped as lazy, dumb and unqualified and have to be more qualified to break through negative stereotypes. Most white Americans usually react negatively to hearing that not everything they have received in Mailbox E-mail and letters from our readers Affirmative action sparks campus debate and discussion I admire your bravery as a white man, Jeremy Dailey (“Change needed in affirmative action policy,” Dec. 3), to stand so gaUantly in the face of oppression as you apply to law school to work in a profession which is 89 percent white and 71 percent male, according to the American Beit Association. It’s hard enough as a white man to drive down the road and worry that you wUI be puUed over because of your race, or to walk into a math class and wonder if you’ll be taken seriously because of your sex. But taking a stand against a practice which so obviously under mines your chance at success? I mean, in fan 2009, the University’s freshman class of over 6,300 had a whopping 367 black students. I applaud your efforts, and I only Jamie McDonough, Meredith McKay. Kalhryn Mercer, David MUchell, Deanna Mechel. Stephanie Moodw Cody Nicheleon, Tunde Ogurraakm, Nick Parker, Michael Procheska, Aipen Smkh, Adki* Solomon, Nathan Sorensen, Tiffany Stevens, Zack Taylor. Amber Thomas. Katie Valentine. Paige Venter. Eva Vasquei, Mary Walter, Ertm Waldo, Katherine Weiee Chief Photographer Wee Blenkenahip Photographer* Charles-Ryan Barber, Miriam Camp, Laid Oaagan. Emly Karol, Maagan Kelley. Neherrw Lucian. Natasha Peat. AJ Reynolds. Julianna Upchurch. Jenna Walkar. Dma Zolan Page Deelgnera: Radial 0 Bowers, Amend* Jon**. Ana Kabakova. ChrMopher MUtr. Robbia OOlty. Chari** Russell. Adam Wynn Our Staff MM Yasmin 1 Yonis their lives has been because of any thing other than their hard work. Imagine how I feel every day when people assume I was chosen to be an honors student, received the Truman Scholarship and was awarded various fellowships and internships because of my skin color rather than my hard work and intelligence. Dailey wrote, “I would argue [affirmative action] is working unfairly to oppress those that just happen to be bom in the majority,” framing himself as a victim of race in America. Before you believe his claim that being a white male in a society that has always been and still is dominated by white males is a disadvantage, let me state some facts. Most people believe we live in a racist-free society because blacks are not called the n-word at least not to their faces —and we have a black president. Though being called the n-word is not my favorite experience, systemic racism has tremendously more power to disen franchise minorities than does the lingering sting of a racial slur. Institutional racism is the wide spread inequality stemming from the racial preferences given to whites in education, the workforce and other areas in our history. It continues today. We usually discuss racism in the passive voice. Minorities wore dis criminated against rather than whites in power discriminated against minorities. This not only absolves blame, but ignores the reality that whites were given more opportunities. A 400-year head start in education, wealth and power does not go away in 50 years less than one person’s lifetime. hope that The Red & Black office has ramp access. It must be hard to climb stairs with the burden of white oppres sion weighing so heavily on your back. LAURA BRISCOE Sophomore, Covington Sports studies I wish that the world was truly as simple as Jeremy Dailey describes. In his column (“Change needed in affirmative action policy,” Dec. 3), Dailey argues that affirmative action is no longer necessary, as it • unfairly oppresses those, like DaUey and myself, who are bom into the majority. I completely disagree with his rather arrogant and uninformed outlook. Affirmative action is not a ADVERTISING: 706-433-3001 Advertising Director: Natalie McClure Studant Ad Manager Lauren Jones Territory Manager* Sarah Carilon. Anna Lewenthal InaMt Salaa Manager Haley Wktther Account Executtva* Carolyn Evers, Andrew Love, Sarah Overstreet, Kely Pierce, Rebecca Tonne Siln Anodotw Nick Henner, Austin Lander*, Zach Smith Advarttalng Assistants Laurel Holland. Emly John* iti H*nteeiiitelliw lanno 1/mM v.ißitirNKlS neprwwimivf JWhi vimw Circulation Manager Blake Molina Craatlv* AaaMant Ottvta Scarborough Phone (706) 433-3002 | Flax (706) 433-3033 opinions@randb.com | www.redandblack.com 540 Baxter Street, Athens, Ga. 30605 White American’s average wealth is nearly SIOO,OOO compared to the average wealth of $5,000 for black Americans, according to the Institute of Assets and Public Policy. White Americans are more likely to have college degrees than black Americans. Job applicants with white-sounding names are 50 percent more likely than job appli cants with black-sounding names to be called back even with the same credentials, according to a study by the University of Chicago. The real truth behind these inequalities lies in affirmative action policies for whites, such as the racially restrictive housing poli cies of the 1930s to the 1960s that helped millions of white families own homes through FHA loans while excluding minorities. Social capital speaks to the real ity that having parents who were allowed to attend college provides you with more than a higher socio economic status. It gives you a sta tistically higher likelihood to attend better quality schools and have family members to help you in the working world. Though socioeconomic status, as Dailey mentioned, is a signifi cant contributor to these inequali ties, the power of race cannot be minimized. In theory, Dailey could be convicted as a felon and statisti cally be as or more likely to be hired than a black man with no criminal record, according to a Princeton University study. Only by stopping systemic rac ism can we work toward living in a country free of discrimination. Dailey should focus on improv ing his ability to assemble a well researched argument. That skill will help him in law school admis sions more than complaining about how minorities are taking his spot. Yasmin Yonis is a senior from Lawrenceville majoring in international affairs and newspapers response to race but rather one to inequality— something that Dailey apparently has never experienced. However, race often is a contribut ing factor to inequality that is experienced in education, careers and every day interactions. Affirmative action is a step to level the playing field. If you can’t get into law school on your own merit, LSAT score, personal statement, resume, OPA and recommendation letters, per haps it is because you are not an ideal candidate. Race is only one factor in the admissions process, and until we achieve an ideal world, it is a neces sary one to consider. SARAH QUINN Senior, Avondale Estates Art and art history Edkoriai board members Indude Robert Carnes, Courtney Holbrook, Carey ONel, Meghan Pieman, Megan Thornton end Joe WMams. Aeeletant Production Manager: Joehua Tray Barnett Production Assistants Ntcolette Chid*. Jenni Chiu. Priadlla Kathe, Elaine Ketch Production Manager : Sam Plttard Publisher Harry Montevideo Offlo* Manager: Erin Beaatey Aaeletanl Office Manager: Megan Vu* Cleaning Paraon: Mary Jones The Rad 4 Black I* pubithed Mondey through Friday M and spring *em#*ters and each Thunday summer semester, except holdeyt and exam period* by Th* Red 4 Black PuWshkig Company Inc., t non-pro* campu* newspaper not affHabd wtth the Urkvsritty ol Georgia StSacripion rMs: 5196 per year.