So I'm walking out of my class the other day when I overheard these kids talking about some party they went to last night. The one girl commits about how she hooked up with one guy while the other dude can't even REMEMBER what happen because he was so wasted
is that fun for you?
Everywhere I go all I hear is about is sex, drugs, parties and Alcohol. I can't escape this college scene without hearing about this stupid crap
Next thing you know they will be talking about it in thier papers!
O wait they DID!!
i picked up the UB post to find an article about SEXUAL FANTASIES and even gave an example of one in it.
But thats not what my point is today people, my point is that everybody talks and WRITES about this so freely, but when i talk about JESUS; woah dustin, slow your roll there.
I've talked about Jesus to other people and the first thing they do is become socially awkward, or run away as fast as they can because for some reason, JESUS is a forbidden topic on campus.
I CAN'T EVEN BLOG ABOUT JESUS ANYMORE!!!
No, UB I'm done with your stupid crap.
Yes, Jesus was peaceful and loving, but he as also the Most Radical figure in the history of time.
It is time to stand up for him, so if this is my last post, so be it
But Next semester UB, be ready, because you are going to be hearing alot more about Jesus in your lives. I will not go down without a fight to stand for the reason i exist, for the reason i am saved!
I LOVE JESUS!!! Watch out UB, here I come ready to speak up and stand up
FOR JESUS!!!!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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23 comments:
Great point Dustin... but it's not only in the school scene... we also see this in work, outside settings with friends (just hanging out), and the be honest, even in church. There are people who profess to be Christians or what not, and can speak freely about sex, alcohol, drugs, and anything else under the sun, but when it comes to talking about Jesus, the brakes are pumped quickly... it saddens me that our society is like this. That, although on ALL of the US money it says "In God We Trust", we are limited in where we can speak about him and interpretation are switched around. I urge you to keep spreading the word on campus and in your everyday life... because whether or not anyone wants to admit it, or doesn't, if it was for God, none of us we even be on this planet to begin with (of course others will argue differently for scientific reasons; but there can be no denying that there is a higher being that works for and through us, period)... let no others detire you in your mission... be blessed.
i agree with him on point! its sad that you are hindered this way. Wait you can't blog about him?
and yea I hear about this stuff too on campus all the time and that article about the sexual fantasies was very inappropriate
Free speech allows people to talk about what they wish. That includes sex, drugs and yes...Jesus too. So, just as you have freedom to talk about your belief, those students have freedom to talk about sex. Sorry if that seems unfair to you because it offends you but it is the facts. I don't think you can blame UB for this. I've actually found that the majority of the students and staff here are very open minded and are willing to discuss a variety of topics without judgement. And, just as a last thought...I thought Christian beliefs supported not judging others and forgiving transgressions. So maybe your judgement of those students having a private conversation which you overheard and then took offense to, is not very Christian after all.
You have made a good point sarahb, as did the other two anonymous people... no one should cast judgement... I am no expert on all of the various religions, but I highly doubt if any of them 'tell' us to judge people, it's human nature and we all have done, and still do it (even if it sub/unconciously [sry if spelled wrong lol]). People can take offense to any and everything being said, it goes with what they are comfortable with... topics, such as above, are often the ones that are taken more notice of... 'this person talks about Jesus too much for me, I'm offended'; 'they talk about sex all the time, it gets on my nerves'; 'what's the hype about alcohol or drugs, can we change the subject?'... but even in the classroom setting with discussion, although judgement is not said outrightly about topics, I'm almost certain that it is thought of in the mind, which is just as bad... we are all humans, we are all sinners, no one is perfect and shouldnt be expected to walk upright all the time, it's not really realistic in the world we live... everyone is making valid points, but it almost all boils down to: to each his/her own... at the end of the day you can only answer for yourself and what you think, say or do... but that's life, right?
Absolutely, I agree, you are responsible to set an example to others of the type of conversation you feel is appopriate and non-offensive by practicing it yourself first. Personally, I was just upset by Dustin's blame of UB for their "compliance" in his situation. I can't see how they are responsible whatsoever for people's individual actions and discussions on campus. Isn't a college campus supposed to be a safe place for students to express themselves as they see fit?
well said sarahb... and all too often we do forget that point ("you are responsible to set an example to others of the type of conversation you feel is appopriate and non-offensive by practicing it yourself first")... touche lol
I dont think Dustin was upset over UB for their compliance with the situation. He says in his article that he cant blog about Jesus, but others can talk about sexual fantasies. I see where he is getting at though, that thier first amendment rights are being uphold, but his first amendment right to talk about Jesus is being abused. I am friends with Dustin at school here and he is definitly not judgemental as he has told us and the rest of the christian group that he has fallen and done stuff he is not proud of. To call him out and attack his christianity is very rude of you and very hypocritcal of you Sarahb
SarahB,
I'm not being judgemental of these people, I am sorry if I upset you, but what i was trying to get out was that My free speech is being hinder here because I've been told that I cant blog about my love for Jesus, but yet people can write about sexual fantasies!? do u see where i am coming from? Email me at changelives4jesus@yahoo.com if you wish to discuss in further because i dont want to offend u or upset you
Dustin,
So why can't you blog about Jesus? Did someone tell you not to?
I was approached and told that i was talking about my "religious" views and that it is not the way the blog is supposed to be heading towards. I feel Jesus is a big part of college life and needs to be talked about because "religion" is one of the biggest decisions someone will make in thier life, whether they believe in a higher being or not. It just upsets me that a person can write about sexual fantasies and give an example of one and be allowed to when i cant even write about jesus u know? i see where ur coming from and i realized i made it sound like i was judging those individuals but i was using them as an example.
D,
I hear ya. Well....I'm on the fence here to be honest. I understand where you're coming from- you want to tell people about God because it's very alive and important to your everyday. I respect that. But I also see this blog as a way for UB students to participate in a discussion about ways to improve our school. Maybe that person who approached you wasn't clear in giving a little "constructive critism" rather than just asking you to cut it out completely. Keep it real.
Dustin, continue to stand out for Jesus and spread the Word! So many people are close-minded and react differently to things they've never experienced or been introduced to. I run into the same problem when I talk about Jesus...people look at me like I'm crazy. But I'd rather stand out and look crazy for Jesus than be a flunkie for the devil any day! Continue to be bold, because whether you believe it or not, someone's listening to you! God bless you!
I'd like to step in here to respond to the First Amendment rights discussion that's come up. Dustin was never asked not to blog about Jesus. He was asked to ensure that his blog entries were UB- and student life-relevant rather than his using this blog as a forum to tout his personal religious beliefs. Since UB is a public institution, we are bound by law to uphold the separation between church and state. We didn't create this blog as a forum for students to discuss their own person religious beliefs--as there are plenty of other, much more appropriate places to do so on the Web and nonvirtually--but as a forum for students to discuss UB- and campus-specific issues. You'll notice that none of Dustin's entries were deleted, even though the administration has both the capability and the right to do so. While there may be many students on campus who agree with Dustin's beliefs, there are also many who don't. And anyone who blogs about religion simply for the sake of blogging about it (and not, for example, from an academic perspective)--whether they're blogging about Islam or Hinduism or Judaism or Taoism or Wicka--will be asked to make their entries more relevant to UB and to student life.
I think what Dustin is doing here is challenging you all to do some critical thinking about what you believe in and really consider the evidence of what lies before us. Religion is a big topic on campus and it is true that its crap that you think he is "touting" his religious views. i think u need to wake up yourself there!
even though im not a christian i think the speration of church and state ruling applying to a blog entry is rediculous and would be overstepping. yes dustin does seem to really shout about god, but its his freedom of speech
But the blog has a different purpose than to be Dustin's personal soapbox about Jesus. I'm not trying to be offensive, Dustin, but I do agree with Giordana's comment. The point is that no one is taking away his free speech. As a fellow blogger, I signed up for this with full knowledge of what we can and cannot blog about. I know you did too, Dustin. I think it's actually a bit childish of you to air your complaints here on the blog rather than talk to the administration about your feelings first.
HAHAHA well im glad i finally sparked something on this place. i thought that is what college is suppose to be about is to speak up and speak out and be radical. hahaha sarah b, ur comments are always a delight =)
You are all college students. Please learn to write.
If Dustin wants to wander campus with handouts asking people to join him in his quest for truth and faith, and his love for Jesus, THAT is covered under Freedom of Speech, as long as he isn't being violent or inciting violence (which I can't actually see him doing at all).
If Dustin wanted to blog about the different kinds of student organizations that orient to different kinds of faith, I bet that would be fine for this setting.
However, when Dustin blogs about his faith, and how we should join him in it, that's prosletyzing, and not appropriate for the blog environment. It has nothing to do with Freedom of Speech (which, by the way, is not as all-encompassing as folks seem to think it is). It also has nothing to do with the religious freedom aspects of the 1st Amendment.
I think it's awesome that Dustin has, at a relatively tender age, found a path that he can walk with pride and joy. I have more Christian friends here in Baltimore than I have ever had before, and learn from them all the time. And I think it's terrific that the school provides space for those students to have their organizations on campus (which, by the way, has been successfully challenged in a lot of other schools).
But we all signed up knowing that we needed to avoid being inflammatory. Posts in which you tell your readers to join you in your faith-life can cross that line.
Meanwhile, Dustin, I hope you keep blogging. Either here or somewhere else. It's great to see someone of your age be so invested in himself in such a positive way (and not in the "how many times did I score this weekend way" that many of your peers are). And I too think it's... inappropriate? tawdry? gross? that the UB Post has decided that sexual fantasies are something on which it needs to report.
I think many of you miss the point that Giordana is making. The blog was created with a purpose: to show different perspectives of the UB experience.
Blogging about your faith in the context of your experience at UB fits within the goal of this blog; using it as a pulpit is not. It seems more specificity is necessary, so here you go: If praying helps you be more balanced and focused on studying, for example, that would be an appropriate blog entry; telling people about Jesus for the purpose of evangelism is not. This is not at all an issue about the First Amendment, but of context. I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate me going to your church and using it as a forum to convince others of my views or to sing '80s cartoon theme songs in front of everyone.
You used students writing about sex in the UB Post as a counterexample, but it doesn't support your argument. The UB Post has made editorial decisions regarding content and subjects (they even have (or have had, at least) columns on faith), and the blog to which you have been accepted as a contributer has made editorial decisions, too, which are very open.
I've known many Christians like you; you want to be a witness for Christ, but your method is completely off-putting and self-righteous. You're confusing the rush of provocation with effective communication. You do nothing but stir up those who already agree with you while turning others off. Dustin, grow up and stop trying to make yourself into a martyr. It only makes you look insecure in your beliefs.
Hmm it seems as if some debate has been sparked here Dustin...I agree with several of the comments here especially about using the blog to broadcast your religious beliefs. Not that there's anything wrong with saying what you believe and how you feel, but there is a fine line between boldness and being radical. In this case, considering this is a school blog, a radical standpoint will potentially turn people away from not only the blog, but also Christianity if all they think is we impose our beliefs on those who do not believe with this radical approach.
Jesus wasn't a radical man; He walked the earth peacefully, but he was also firm in His convictions and let people know of the consequences of not receiving salvation. But He left the final decision to the individual. Our goal as Christians is to spread the gospel, but to ultimately let people make their own decisions...because we are not God, and we can not save people. We are called to stand out through our actions, not necessarily words.
While I do believe in being bold and standing out for Christ, I do not believe that a radical approach is very effective. I love Jesus with all my heart and soul, but to everything is a time and a season, and I don't think that the UB blog is the place where one should be radical for Christ.
but he was. He went againts the jewish leaders of the day and turned the world upside down, and we r still feeling the effects today.
A peaceful man who walks into temple ground and turns over tables and lets lose all the animals for sale and creates a racket not a radical?
yes, i agree, i went about it in the wrong way. I am still a youngin and still dont know everything in this world, but I do believe what i said and i mean every word of it
Go Dustin! I agree with what you are saying. I think we need to talk more about Jesus and the Bible, it is what this country is founded upon. Then it won't be so "taboo." We are always worried about offending someone, but someone cursing or talking sex might offend me. Keep up the great work Dustin
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