Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos. Due to space constraints, this letter was not published in the print version.

Dear Editors:
This is in response to Amanda Seebaugh’s column in the Pharos on Oct 18^th.

When we read the article, we were hurt not only because we felt like people were singled out, but also because we felt like it was us, as fellow human beings, that were causing her to feel silenced. In response to the article, a dialogue took place on campus that Amanda took part in. We got to speak with her and how her article affected some of her readers.

We value that everyone has a voice and we strongly believe that everyone deserves to be heard. However when we do vocalize what we feel, we believe that there is an obligation to make sure what we’re saying is clear.

There were a few points in the column that we wanted to recognize. First, she said that she felt like she was being persecuted in several different ways including her religious beliefs and her moral standing. The problem that we found was that in response to this persecution she then singled out another group that then felt persecuted. This, we feel, doesn’t solve anything and may have even deepened the rift in communication that could have remedied the situation.

Secondly, she makes a point that she’s afraid of offending people for what she has to say. What we could do, instead of constantly remaining silent, is to recognize why these thoughts are offending people, to take a moment to see things from another person’s perspective. This doesn’t mean that you can’t say what you feel, but that you should be contentious of others and their feelings when you’re speaking.

We realize that if this article wasn’t written, we would have no idea how this one person felt, and if you don’t speak up about what you feel, no one will know what you feel either. In addition, it’s also important to listen to what others are saying and not be afraid to disagree with them. You may disagree, and that’s not a bad thing, we need to learn how to talk to one another, and this is where we can start.

So now that we’ve learned that there’s prejudice on campus, let’s talk about it.

--Jennifer Jones and Jess Barkley

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

I have grown since coming to college. In my three years (and change) here at Wesleyan, I have learned more than what can be taught in lecture halls. Some of these lessons have been very difficult. Perhaps one of the most difficult, and yet obvious, is that communication is the key to any relationship, whether it be with your significant other, your friends, your professors, God – whoever. Though some might not recognize it, communication is important with your peers, as well, even if you don’t consider yourself to be in a direct relationship with them. What you do and say may come in conflict or agreement with what other people do and say, even if you aren’t interacting personally. In a way, this is communication within a relationship.

Upon reading Amanda Seebaugh’s latest article, I recall these things. She makes several valid points. She has brought a pressing issue to the forefront and it might make many people uncomfortable to have opinions expressed so bluntly that until now only seemed to be undercurrents. Some may react with indignation, claiming that the problem rests with the “closed minded, out-of-date, and mean” Christians. Others may express empathy and feel defensive about their own beliefs as well. Neither of these stances is helpful to the communication required to handle the situation.

Open communication between people of different faiths and practices is desperately needed on this campus. What are the true differences and what are the roots of conflict? These questions should be approached with open dialogue that is non-judgmental. Those involved should understand that they will walk away not having gained a convert but instead a better understanding of someone else’s beliefs.

I recognize a double-standard that exists within our language on this campus. Many people have worked against the use of the word “gay” as an adjective to describe something undesired and there has been success with that. However, many of these same people, if they were to become particularly frustrated, might growl, “Jesus Christ!” This is something Amanda claims to be particularly offensive. If you ask others to check their language, I think it would only be fair to check your own language as well. This comes from understanding.

Speaking of frustration, it seems to run deep with the students here. Hot topics such as homosexuality are closely intertwined with ones’ spiritual beliefs. These are also political issues (same-sex marriage, for example), making the need to discuss them all the more necessary and yet, when they are mentioned, people roll their eyes. The talking points have already been spoon-fed to the opposing camps by the spindoctors and no one wants to hear them rehashed. The world of politics does not stand still while we grow tired of the issues at hand – Congress still passes laws despite our short attention span. Now is the time when we should be gaining a deeper understanding of what the other side has to say. Why do some people believe homosexuality is wrong? Can you ask this question of someone and listen patiently to their answer, honestly trying to understand where they are coming from?

It is difficult. And yet, it is necessary. What can be gained from letting our anger and frustration rule our discussions? Does this help anyone on either side of the debate? I encourage the people of this campus to speak with someone about something on which you disagree. Ask questions curiously, not spitefully. Let go of your concerns about being judged and simply learn from one another. Share what you believe, what you’ve learned here and elsewhere, and this will lead to a better understanding of that which once frustrated you.

--Josh Briscoe

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

I am responding to the article written by columnist Amanda Seebaugh in the last issue of The Pharos. It has come to my attention that Ms. Seebaugh has received considerable negative feedback for her work. I would like to express my thoughts.

First of all, I have to say that I am a Bible-believing Christian. Therefore, I agree with Ms. Seebaugh’s stance on homosexuality. Also, I understand how she feels. It is true that prejudice exists on this campus, against both homosexuals and those who do not agree with that lifestyle. However, sometimes this results in a self-righteous attitude and people such as I seem to evade such people. This is not what Christianity is. Christianity is not about avoiding non-believers. Jesus commands us to love. He calls us to love God with everything we have, as well as our neighbor.

Ms. Seebaugh pointed out that she does not avoid homosexuals. I am glad she mentioned this. She does not believe she is any better than someone who is not a Christian, and neither do I. We are not perfect; Christians mess up. This is not an excuse to sin, however. I am glad she mentioned that Christians need to speak up more. This is true, but we can’t do it out of self-righteousness or duty. It has to be out of love and a desire to point people to Jesus. I do not believe Ms. Seebaugh is trying to be hateful with her article, merely truthful. She wants people to hear what the Bible says.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about being right. It is about the fact that humans are sinful, sin separates us from God, someone was going to have to pay the price of death for that sin, and Jesus Christ died so that we wouldn’t have to. I just want everyone who reads this to know that love is not about saying something is ok. I don’t hate homosexuals because I disagree with them. I still love them as people, just as everyone should. Thank you for your time.

--Josh Carpenter

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.


Dear Editors:

Practitioners of Christianity have been persecuted since the religions’ first emergence; it’s practically a foundation of the dogma. Amanda Seebaugh voiced her opinion that she feels persecuted by much of the student population because of her beliefs. My response to this is: who doesn’t? West Virginia Wesleyan College is a very unique animal—a religious liberal arts college. With a student body of less than 1300, we are going to encounter, in close proximity, people and ideas that challenge our beliefs. But if I believed for one second that there is a wave of anti-Christian sentiment on this campus as massive as the one described by Miss Seebaugh in her article, I’d have to eat my shoe. I have seen nearly nothing here but positive acceptance of a variety of convictions, and I can’t imagine something so widely endorsed as Christianity would meet with the amount of opposition expressed in her article.

As we are a predominantly Christian campus, with an assortment of Christian student organizations, I am astonished that she could not find more like-minded companions rather than people who oppose her.

But even in the midst of my incredulity concerning the basis of her article, a thought springs to mind: is seeking similar friends the point of going to college? If college were just about a degree, then we’d all just come in, learn, and leave. But part of the college experience, the one we’re paying nearly $30,000 a year for, is to interact with different types of people. I imagine that Miss Seebaugh, though anticipating a change of scenery, was perhaps ill-prepared to deal with the very real actuality that there are people who’ve had different lives and who have different ideas about the world we inhabit, and perhaps confused ugly prejudice with strong criticism. But criticism isn’t prejudice; your convictions are your convictions whether others hold them or not, and criticism can, in fact, strengthen your beliefs. Who knows, Miss Seebaugh; you may come out of college with an even stronger faith than when you entered.

--Jennifer Scott