From the mixed-up mind of Gordon Gee

When it comes to life at a university, I am sure most of us have heard the term “ivory tower” used to describe life at such places. It is a term that is often used to demonstrate how life there is not the same as it is in the real world.

However, we recently saw an example of how so-called enlightened people can be just as bigoted and narrow minded as people in the rest of society.

It was recently revealed that Ohio State University President Gordon Gee has some salty attitudes regarding the truthfulness of Catholics and intelligence of people in the South. Unfortunately for him, his comments were caught on tape, allowing us to share in his ugly insights.

Folks here locally might remember Gee from his stint as chancellor at Vanderbilt University. He was known as a colorful character while there, but his recent comments demonstrate how Vanderbilt people should be happy he left their school.

The comments were made last December at a meeting of the school’s athletic council, according to ESPN.com. His comments were directed at Notre Dame, which is a private Catholic school that some thought might be going to the Big 10 Conference (of which Ohio State is a member).

However, Notre Dame did not join the conference, prompting Gee to state “those ---- Catholics” can’t be trusted. He also stated: “The fathers are holy on Sunday, and they’re holy hell on the rest of the week. You just can’t trust those ---- Catholics on a Thursday or a Friday, and so, literally, I can say that.”

As he made these comments, laughter can be heard in the background. Since then, Gee has apologized, saying the comments “were a poor attempt at humor and entirely inappropriate,” according to the Associated Press.

He should consider himself lucky that he did not get fired, but he has announced he will retire July 1. For whatever reason, our society is more tolerant of hateful speech toward some religious groups compared to others.

Members of Christianity often have to tolerate more of a sharp sword when it comes to words. This is strictly an opinion, but if Gee had made his comments toward Muslims or Jews, then he would have been quickly fired. It appears Christians have to have a thicker skin than everybody else. This may not be fair, but this is the world we live in, so my advice to members of that group is too strengthen your backbone and deal with it.

Gee also had insults for the Southeastern Conference. When discussing comments from fans of the SEC regarding why the Big 10 still uses that name despite having 14 members in the conference, Gee stated: “You tell the SEC when they can learn to read and write, then they can figure out what we’re doing.”

Ah, yes. The poor, dumb and ignorant stereotype of people in the South remains alive and well. As a culture, we are told that people who live in “ivory towers” have advanced beyond the mundane stereotypes that drive our society, but Gee is walking and talking proof that this is not the case.

The bottom line is the value of people like Gee to a university is not measured in the dopey words they say, but the money brought in through fundraising. If people like him can still rake in the money while making irresponsible comments, it will not matter.

This is probably one of the most cynical examples of how money trumps humanity in our culture. This example should make a cold chill run down all our spines.

Quote of the day: Mark Twain

"Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." -- Mark Twain.

Quote of the day

"The LORD redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him." -- Psalm 34:22 (NIV)

Precious religious freedom

We should always cherish the freedom that we enjoy here in our country, and included in that freedom is the religious liberty we have at our disposal.

It is easy for people of faith to take for granted just how good we have it here. The only obstacle that we face when it comes to attending a worship service is our own willingness or lack of willingness to go. Complacency can be a mighty foe, and all too often, we let it get the best of us.

Of course, our nation's religious liberty has not always come easy. Just about every major religious group has faced some kind of hardship or opposition during its history. I will not go into much detail on that fact, but if a person disagrees, simply 'Google' it on the Internet and a massive amount of information will be presented.

We see this struggle play out in many different ways. Currently, we have seen controversies involving Muslims wanting to open cultural centers and mosques. The most prominent of these disputes have been efforts to open a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City.

'Ground Zero' is the term commonly applied to the site where Islamic terrorists attacked the World Trade Center complex on Sept. 11, 2001. Approximately 3,000 people died and many oppose putting a mosque in that area because they feel it is insensitive to the families who lost loved ones.

Though the sensitivities of the families are important, I do not see any legal reason to prevent the opening of the mosque. If the people proposing the facility have followed the regulations of New York, then they have every right to put a mosque there.

As Newsweek magazine put it recently: 'Does being American mean holding the personal pain of some above the constitutional rights of others...?' It is a fair question, but a person or group's constitutional rights still have to be protected even in an emotionally charged situation like this.

However, are the people proposing the mosque being insensitive? Yes. The people behind this effort had to have known that they would be walking into a storm of controversy. If they did not, then they were being remarkably naïve, but I believe they knew what they were doing.

The discussion we have seen on this has been a fascinating example of the 'marketplace of ideas' in action. Both sides have been under a lot of scrutiny but have done a good job getting their points across.

Of course, there have been some fringe elements that have engaged in rhetoric that has been regrettable, but that is to be expected these days. I will not single any of those people out because I do not want to give them publicity.

I will say this though. We should all be wary of anybody who advocates violence when it comes to dealing with this situation (or others like it). Personal disagreement and civil disobedience have their place, but when it comes to destruction, don't you know that you can count me out.

The bottom line is America is a melting pot. Throughout our history, our strength has come from our diversity. Islam is a faith that concerns many right now because of what we read in the newspaper and watch on television.

I share the concerns that a lot of people have. A casual look at Islamic governments around the world shows that most of them are hard line. Being a woman in those countries must be unpleasant.

However, the United States is a country that emphasizes democracy.

And part of being a democracy includes dealing with issues that are complicated.

Oh, the humility...

Well, we are more than two months into the BP debacle in the Gulf of Mexico, and this mess looks like it will not be resolved anytime in the near future.

Oil continues to saturate the Gulf. BP tried the most modern advancements in science and technology to make the problem stop. Despite some very minor success, the oil continues to make life difficult for those living down in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

There are lots of lessons to be learned from this disaster. Perhaps one of the most important ones is that there are limits to what science and technology can do for us.

In the last 50 years or so, we have seen successes in those fields that have impacted each of us in our every day lives. The technology that delivered man to the moon in the late 1960s seems primitive by today's standard, but it got the job done.

Since then, people dedicated to those fields have come to rely on them to explain just about every aspect of life. It does not matter whether the questions surround the creation of the universe or how to more effectively cook chicken in a microwave oven. Science and technology have been presented to us as the answer to almost everything.

But now, we have to face the very sobering reality of what is happening in the Gulf. Even if the problem is resolved tomorrow, the environmental impact is going to last for years and years.

When it comes to disasters, people often turn toward spirituality after science and technology have let them down. I have heard the calls for people to pray about the situation down there, and I believe that is crucial when it comes to the resolution of this.

Human nature being what it is, people want to rely on their own abilities to solve a problem. When they fail, it is at that point that they become humbled enough to start asking for help. This is often where God enters the picture.

Obviously, I can not speak for God, but sometimes I wonder what He must think when events like this unfold. Those who believe in God understand that He can resolve this issue with the blink of an eye. However, this situation continues to horribly continue.

Maybe a disaster of this magnitude should remind us that we are not quite as advanced as we believe we are. When we were children and we acted like we knew it all, our parents would comment that we were getting 'too big for our britches.'

So, could this be an example of suffering being caused because we got 'too big for our britches?' The very fact that BP would search for oil in such a dangerous way without an effective emergency response plan would indicate that.

All too often, we are willing to push the envelope without thinking through the consequences if we fail. Company e-mails that have recently come to light indicate that there were grave concerns within BP that too many corners were being cut.

However, BP kept pushing and pushing. All the successes the company has enjoyed over the years probably made them numb to the possibility of disaster. After all, BP was one of the most successful companies in the world.

Well, even the biggest fall on their faces at some time. It does not matter whether it is a large corporation or individuals like you and me.

Nobody likes to be humbled, but it might be the one thing that protects us from bigger calamity somewhere down the road.

So, let's learn now.

Farther Along

Tempted and tried, we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long
While there are others living about us
Never molested tho' in the wrong

(Chorus)
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by

When death has come and taken our loved ones
It leaves our home so lonely and drear
Then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year

(Chorus)
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by

"Faithful to death" said our loving Master
A few more days to labor and wait
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing
As we sweep the beautiful gate

(Chorus)
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by

When we see Jesus coming in glory
When He comes from His home in the sky
Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion
We'll understand it all by and by

(Chorus)
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by

Copyright 1937 by The Stamps-Baxter Music & Ptg. Co.
W.B. Stevens
Arr. J.R. Baxter

The duality of man

My spiritual side longs to serve and please God in all that I do.
My fleshly side longs to serve and please myself no matter what the cost.

My spiritual side loves to lift up and support other people.
My fleshly side is only interested in what they can do for me.

My spiritual side cultivates kindness, gentleness, and forgiveness.
My fleshly side embraces abrasiveness as a tool that manipulates others.

My spiritual side is disciplined enough to obey traffic laws.
My fleshly side loves to zoom like the wind with no concern about how it endangers other motorists.

My spiritual side is patient with those who live near me.
My fleshly side wants no neighborhood children playing in my yard. Ever!

My spiritual side knows I am a unique creation of God.
My fleshly side thinks I am just another cog with no special purpose.

My spiritual side knows God wants an active role in my life.
My fleshly side wonders whether He really hears me at all.

My spiritual side understands the need for moderation.
My fleshly side believes there is nothing wrong with that fourth piece of chocolate cake.

My spiritual side wants me to open my heart and let others see who I am.
My fleshly side wants to keep people at arm's length.

My spiritual side loves to attend a worship service and praise Jesus.
My fleshly side loves to sleep late on Sunday and watch ESPN in bed.

My spiritual side looks at the hobo on the side of the road and wants to help.
My fleshly side believes he is getting what he deserves.

My spiritual side teaches me to be content with what I have.
My fleshly side wants the green grass on the other side.

My spiritual side prays for our leaders in government.
My fleshly side wants to set everything on fire and smile while watching it all burn to the ground (but then again, there is a time for everything).

My spiritual side is grateful for modern conveniences.
My fleshly side wonders whether the restaurant meal I just ate for $12 was slapped together in a microwave.

My spiritual side understands the need for humility.
My fleshly side believes I have a higher IQ than everybody in Alabama combined.

My spiritual side enjoys giving.
My fleshly side is selfish in unspeakable ways.

My spiritual side runs to the Light.
My fleshly side crouches and rests in darkness.

My spiritual side understands that I have been blessed in remarkable ways.
My fleshly side wonders why my life is so lacking.

My spiritual side enjoys the give and take of teaching a Sunday school class.
My fleshly side makes it easy to view that class as just another obligation to fulfill.

My spiritual side is filled with contentment.
My fleshly side is filled with despair and restlessness.