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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY, 25 • THE MAROON TIGER • PAGE 15
Letters to the Editor
Ashamed to Remember
Sometimes, although not as often as I should, I wonder if my actions here at Morehouse
would make my mother proud. I look back on my high school days and realize that if I
did some of the things at home that I do here at school, my mother would either yell at me
for an hour, slap me in my face, or throw me out of the house. The swearing, loud talking
and disrespect would not be tolerated for a moment. It is funny or sad (depending on your
perspective) that some of the teachings that my family tried so hard to instill in me have
fallen by the wayside so easily. I may be assuming incorrectly, but I believe that ninety-
eight percent of the conversations held on Morehouse's Campus would not be held with
the same attitude or language in somebody's mother's house. Additionally, half of the
actions that take place would not if a mother's eye was anywhere in the vicinity. I know
that my actions turn around 180 degrees as soon as I step off the plane in my home state.
All this complaining, and I am complaining, comes about from actions I have witnessed
that have made me ashamed of myself and how I had been behaving.
I was on the bus recently, on my way to Lenox. The bus was crowded as usual. College
students had piled on the bus, headed for whatever weekend retreat they had planned.
There were no seats left on the bus for the excess number of passengers. Best believe that
I was seated though! As the bus stopped at Flipper Temple Baptist Church, about fifteen
elderly ladies climbed aboard. They paid their fares and looked around for seats. I have
never seen so many brothers avoid gaze or stare of their fellow passengers. The ladies
began to file down the bus, grabbing hold of rails as they passed. I admit, I was one of
the people who were looking at the floor, feigning sleep. I really did not fell like standing
all the way to the Five Points station. I was prepared to "sleep" all the way to the station.
As I began my charade, a freshman stood up to let one of the ladies take his seat. I knew
he was a freshman by his shiny face and happy eyes. You know the look. I was shocked,
the lady was delighted and grateful, and everybody else began to look embarrassed.
Brothers suddenly began to look extremely uncomfortable. As long as no one stood up
we were united in rudeness. Now that one had "sold out" it was making the rest of us look
very bad. One by one, brothers gave up their seats. I even gave up mine. Of course that
was after I had been stared at by just about everybody on the bus. I was tired. Give me
a break.
What shocked me and surprised me was the fact that it took an example from a freshman,
one who is fresh from his home training, to forcebrothers to remember things that our
parents taught us for years at home. So whenever I go home. I'm going to try and bring
a little of home back to Morehouse with me. I should thank the freshman who stood up
and relinquished his seat to the elderly lady. It was he who brought about the compliment
from the group, "Oh, these young Morehouse men, what gentlemen they are." If she only
knew.
Dwayne E. Valeau.
Age does seem to make us cynical and selfish, and to kill our sense of idealism. I'm glad
that you've found yours again, and I hope that the other Morehouse MARTA patrons can
learn from your example (you know who you are).—tg
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Homosexuality: A Christian Perspective
When a person reacts to the pressures of life by murdering innocent people, do we
simply chalk it up as an alternative lifestyle? When a baby is born with only four fingers,
is it an example of variety in form? Of course not. Any individual can clearly recognize
these as problems crying out for remedies. Why, then is it that when the Word of God
plainly calls something a problem, the world must debate its acceptability?
The raging debate over homosexuality is indicative of a world that has lost touch with
God and no longer has the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. When one
assumes that one's "natural instincts" are by default options he or she should choose, it
is obvious that our society has become spiritually dysfunctional. We have compromised
to the point where homosexuality, clearly declared wrong by the Bible, is considered an
acceptable alternative. Do not, however, make the all too common mistake of thinking
that since homosexuality is wrong, homosexuals should be avoided like the plague and
treated with disdain and disgust.
In his editorial, Malek Raheem brought about a very good point about the gay bashing
that has often been perpetrated by Christians. That is a true shame. 1 fail to understand
why someone equipped with the message of redemption from sin would seek to punish
those they have come to preach forgiveness to. The very people we exist to reach have
sometimes been destroyed at our own hands. It is not logical. It is not right.
However, the mistreatment of homosexuals does not justify homosexuality. Since the
days of Abraham, approximately 4000 years ago, God has spoken plainly through His
servants to make clear how He feels about homosexuality. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 call
it an abomination. The first chapter of Romans uses language such as "vile affection,"
and "That which is against nature," as well as "That which is unseemly." There is no room
among those who call themselves Christians for terms such as "alternative lifestyle" or
"variety in human existence."
Homosexuality is a sin and there is no question about it. But are we guilty of operating
on a double standard? I wonder, do we have a tendency to forget that lust, premarital sex,
and drunkenness are also sins, as well as hatred of gays? Why don't I hear such an
outspoken condemnation of these and other sins? God's command is not to hate one sin
while ignoring others. It is not to hate one brand of sinners while loving others. We must
not consider any sin tolerable, yet we must remember that we are all sinners. Do not think
that anybody walking around here is righteous in the sight of God because of his/her own
moral fortitude. "All have sinnedand fallen short of the glory of God." Nevertheless, we
are all fully loved by God. Further, we are all commanded to love each other, regardless
of what types of sin we struggle with. Persons that say they love God but have a problem
loving homosexuals have a sin problem they need to get straightened out.
So what, then, are we to do? Christians in particular, we clearly have a responsibility
here. Perhaps this is a part of the reason why some of us have been commissioned by God
to receive training in theological, physiological, and sociological arenas. There are those
who way that homosexuality is genetic, or somehow occurs solely as the result of physical
composition. If that is so, some Christians have surely been called into medicine to work
on determining the cause and remedy for this situation. Others say it is a choice, or result
of sociological pressures. Christians psychologists, sociologists, here is a task for you.
Theologians, Romans 1:18-27 clearly points out that the ultimate root cause of homo
sexuality (as well as a host of other problems) is spiritual, found in humanity's turning
away from God. Your calling is the clearest of all.
The homosexuality issue is important, but never allow it to become a distraction. In the
final analysis, it is not a matter of are you gay or not; it is a matter of do you have Jesus
or not. As the Word says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him
might be saved." (John 3:16,17)
tg. The points are as well taken as they were made, but not everyone is a Christian, and
not all those who also call themselves Christian believe as you do. The Bible can be and
has been used to justify nearly anything, and I am suspicious of any and all who use it to
justify their actions. -I fear those who claim to be "right" by virtue of Divine Authority
far more than who admit themselves to have a particular set of biases and that they, being
human, could be wrong.