Liberty's choice of Romney leads to angry student response
Last edited Tue Apr 24, 2012, 07:53 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: CNN
Washington (CNN) Liberty University students and alumni are accusing the Christian school of violating its own teachings by asking Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose adherents are called Mormons, to deliver its 2012 commencement address.
By Friday morning, more than 700 comments had been posted on the school's Facebook page about the Thursday announcement - a majority of them decidedly against the Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr.s invitation, citing that the school had taught them Mormonism isnt part of the Christian faith.
I cant support Romney and I am happy I decided not to walk (in the commencement) this year, wrote student Josh Bergmann. Liberty University should have gotten a Christian to speak not someone who practices a cult. Shame on you Liberty University.
Janet Loeffler, a 53-year-old freshman at Liberty, expressed her anger at the decision when contacted by CNN. She also sent a copy of the page of the freshman textbook The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics which includes the passage, Mormon doctrine stands in stark contrast to Jewish and Christian monotheism, which teaches that there is only one true God and that every other God is a false god.
Read more: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/20/libertys-choice-of-romney-leads-to-angry-student-response/
Those fundy students tuition $ wasted on a heathen, it was least it wasn't that socialist communist marxist facist muslim kenyan
Any student protests planned? Oh wait, those aren't allowed at Liberty U
rfranklin
(13,200 posts)Why can't they concentrate on their studies and quiite wasting time on religious hogwash?
What? That is what they're being taught? Never mind!
geckosfeet
(9,644 posts)Not that I care a hoot about Rmoney, his religion, politics or opulent wealth, but I am amazed that kids just graduating from a religious institution already have intolerance ingrained in them.
Nice job amurcan educational system, nice job.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Ingraining intolerance in kids IS the job of religious institutions like Liberty "University".
You shouldn't be amazed at that. Those kids's parents paid a lot of $ to make sure they were properly programmed.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)Just do that at your local community and state colleges, you can still get your fundy brainwashing from the campus preachers there
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Yet.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)maybe in religion classes
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)I had the misfortune to work for a hardcore wingnut for a year. He was sending his youngest son to the Falwell Brainwashing Academy. He couldn't always pay me on time, but he surely managed to cover his son's exorbitant tuition bills.
Frankly, if I saw a resume with Liberty "University" on it, said resume would immediately be relocated to the toilet stalls or a paper shredder. Fundy diploma mills are no substitute for real educational institutions.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)Last edited Tue Apr 24, 2012, 10:58 AM - Edit history (1)
Like homeschoolers have
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)It isn't as though any REAL educational institution wouldn't provide candidates with objectively superior credentials.
Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)SemperEadem
(8,053 posts)for exposing exactly that for which your parents paid thousands of dollars. If we need to know exactly where all of this intolerance in our society will be manifesting in the next decade, we can look to all of you "graduates" first.
so, between a "mooslim" and a cultish mormon, what are you all going to do? Sit out the election? Please do.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)He did for the Lynchburg VA mayoral election
marshall gaines
(347 posts)it just hit me, lynchburg. musta been a mecca of some sort.
nxylas
(6,440 posts)It's always fun to see the Republican party tearing itself apart.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)Muahahahahha.
izquierdista
(11,689 posts)Thanks for alerting us.
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,344 posts)oldhippydude
(2,514 posts)nice that they are gettting them right out of fundie high
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)Nice ageist comment.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)Do they expect their distance learning students for follow their rules?
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)And, yes, of course they would be expected to abide by LU's rules and regulations.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)Do they tap your phone NSA style?
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)They won't deviate. That would send them to Hell.
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)pstokely
(10,530 posts)nt
ingac70
(7,947 posts)and regionally accredited. I imagine the science classes are easy.
KG
(28,753 posts)fasttense
(17,301 posts)The millionaire Falwells teach those things in order to keep the mass of people from forming a mob and attacking the uber rich oligarchy that is destroying our democracy. Falwell is one of those who thinks he's part of the oligarchy. The problem is the oligarchy is stupid. They taught that Mormons are bad, sinful people, in order to keep the masses from uniting. Now that the rest of the oligarchy, who really don't give a flying f**k about religion or Mormons, has chosen a Mormon to be their leader, the carefully taught intolerance is used against their own.
Kind of like the chickens coming home to roost. They really thought that the students, who are good little robots, would just go along. Because Falwell also teaches obedience to the powers that be. But what they forget is that their good little robots, err students, really believe the crap they are taught.
They should of taught hypocrisy 101. You can believe the crap we spew but not too much.
phylny
(8,389 posts)coming from a campus that votes lockstep for anything with an "R."
The campus has fought for a polling place right on campus, and they have been behind the effort to have college students be able to vote in their college towns (which I hate, because they don't LIVE here). Let them vote absentee ballot in their own hometowns so they stop fucking up my life here in Virginia.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)But Jerry Jr. has done everything to ensure his good little minions will vote in every little election in Lynchburg, even cancelling classes. A lot of places have polling sites on campus
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)3 months a year in what you call my home town. While I wasn't at college, I did nothing but work every shift I could pick up. Guess which town's politics I was more aware of.
Feel free to dislike that your town has a large population of residents that go on vacation three months out of the year, but if you don't like how they vote, educate them, rather than trying to disenfranchise them.
phylny
(8,389 posts)Can't do a thing, either, about "educating" them as they're brainwashed before they get here, and it only continues as long as they're here. I don't live in Lynchburg, but work there, and it's annoying as hell being near the campus and dealing with the university's creepy overreach.
They can either move here, or vote where their official address is.
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)If you spend 9 months of the year in one place and 3 months somewhere else, where do you live? They move there in their freshman year and most often move away after they graduate.
Regretably, there are oncentrations of idiots at conservative colleges, but college student at residential colleges live in their college town. Don't get me wrong, I dislike Liberty and Regent and all the conservative schools, but I'm not for disenfranchising any college students.
BTW, if you don't live in Lynchburg, why are you complaining about the students that live there, voting there? And if the town is that creepy, maybe living near there isn't worth it?
phylny
(8,389 posts)would have no problem with them voting. The vast majority of them have their residence elsewhere. I'm not saying they can't vote - they can fill out an absentee ballot where they live, like I did when I was a college student.
As I said, I WORK in Lynchburg. Who they vote for affects me on a state and national level. They vote for governor, they vote for president. They bring even MORE conservative votes into Virginia instead of spreading them out over the states where they live. The town is creepy, but I live on one of the most beautiful lakes around, and therefore it's quite worth living where I live.
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)You seem less than enthralled with the total package...
But here's the deal, you don't get to decide where their residence is. That is up to each student and if they decide it is where they spend the vast majority of the year, that is where they get to vote. If a college has dorms, where the students live, it's called a residential college. Residential, as in residence, as in the students live there. If you want, complain that they don't change their driver's license, their car's registration (if they are from out of state and have a car).
The concept that their vote affects you on a nation level... Seriously? Where are you going to deport them for voting purposes that does NOT affect you on a national level? At a state level, one college worth of out of state students isn't going to swing an entire state. Locally, as you pointed out yourself, you don't live there.
Requiring someone to get an absentee ballot is no less a hindrance than requiring a photo ID to be able to vote. It's a form of disenfranchisement, pure and simple. If college students were required to obtain an absentee ballot, fill it out and mail it back, many of them will just not bother. Bad enough that most college towns place the polling place as far from campus as possible.
It's unfortunate that you have to interact with conservative students day to day where you work, but from a voting perspective, you don't really have a leg to stand on. Personally, I'm having to keep an open mind to specifically defend a conservate's right to vote where they live, but my goal is to quash the notion that college students don't have a right to vote where they live. Mainly because there are more liberal college students than there are conservative students and throwing up roadblocks in their path to voting is not a good thing.
phylny
(8,389 posts)residency for in- or out-of-state tuition. And, thanks, I'm aware I don't get to decide. I'm stating my opinion that they live where their permanent address is. That's my "complaint."
As for absentee ballots, that's really a stretch. I used one in 1976 when I first had the chance to vote, and it was no biggie. I got it, filled it out, mailed it in.
If you don't understand that a bloc of Republican voters amassed from around the country can swing my state from blue or purple to red, then I can't really explain it to you any simpler.
And, how are we certain they aren't voting in two places? Their "non" residence, where their parents live and take them as a tax deduction, and where their cars are registered, or their "real" residence where they go to school?
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)And a goodly portion of that lived in Virginia before they moved to college. If that few can swing your state to red, it's already so purple that blue can not been seen. If you can't grasp those numbers, I'm sure there are classes available to brush up comparitive math skills for adults.
ANY obstacle to voting that is imposed selectively, or affects a selective group is disenfranchisement.
How can we be certain any person isn't voting in two places? That's an issue that applies to everyone and is really a bit of a stretch.
Again, my purpose is to deflate nonsense arguements supporting the concept of disenfranchising college students. While I'm sorry you are afflicted with the pestilence of Liberty, the overall disenfranchisement of college students at all schools can not be tolerated.
Very rude, but I was waiting for it, because I thought you might need to resort to being insulting to make your point. You still haven't convinced me of anything, other than the fact that you might be a tad nasty. Bravo.
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)Nasty is trying to disenfranchise college students (a conservative meme) which is what you have been promoting. So far, you have done nothing but complain. No facts, no numbers. There is no potential for an effect, except in the rare case where a state election is within 0.2%. Local, you don't live there, so that is moot. Federal elections, for obvious reasons, are not in play. So all we are left with is your personal dislike of conservative college students. I just don't see your personal prejudices justifying roadblocks to the voting rights of all college students.
So, continue to complain, advocate for right wing talking points, work in a place you hate.
hobbit709
(41,694 posts)davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)Sadly, I have to stand up for Romney here. This is wrong, there are plenty of perfectly good reasons to not want Romney to come speak at your school - but his Mormonism is not one of them. As a (non-practicing/lapsed/whatever) Catholic, I frequently in the past had Protestants tell me that Catholicism was not real Christianity... that we were heathens for worshiping Mary. Heck, I've even had Mormons tell me that Catholicism is a twisted, despicable religion for reasons that I found amusing, rather than offensive.
Generally speaking, Catholicism and Mormonism are right behind Islam as the religions most hated by the far right. They (conservative protestants) constantly complain that they are attacked/insulted/condescended to because of their religion, yet they are far more guilty of doing that than most. While generally any mockery or insulting of Romney amuses me, this time it doesn't. These "students" are religious bigots and assholes. It's not just this particular University, it's these so called "Christians" all over the world who can't stand it that anyone who has another view... another religion, might possibly have a right to it and not be a damned to hell heathen.
I don't much care for religion or for Romney, but this is bigotry based on ignorance and stupidity and should be pointed out and denounced.
HotRodTuna
(114 posts)Well stated.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)on both your houses."
Evangelicals view Mormonism as a cult and, hence, Satanic. (Historically, they have viewed Catholicism much the same, although I'm not sure whether, post-JFK, they still do.) If you think Romney is a practicing Satanist, of course you're morally obligated to oppose his speaking on your campus. In other words, if you accept the fatally flawed premise of the Liberty U students (that Mormonism is Satanic), then their resistance to a Satanist appearing on their campus is logical and defensible.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)I suppose you could say that it is defensible, but it is still not logical. I have read some of the book of Mormon, I find it to be an odd religion, too conservative for my tastes, but there truly is nothing to suggest that it is Satanism. Some of these evangelicals see devils and demons in everything, I find that a sad way to live.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)'Satanic'. But it's been quite awhile since I was in contact with Evangelical theology on anything more than a passing basis. Evangelicals' hatred of Roman Catholicism dates back to and derives from the Reformation, Counter-Reformation (Inquisition) and 30 Years' War, IIRC, so some of this stuff has its origins in the somewhat distant past.
I agree that it is a sad way to live.
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)To me, all religions are a pick of crazy. And yes, I'm bigoted, but I'm still shocked at all the Mormons and Scientologists I meet who have jobs and positions in power. Mormons collect tithings that they plow back into scholarships and assistance to help their younger members to get a toehold into the world and then assist them with job referrals and recommendations. Thus, assuring them great employment, better income and more generous tithings. It's no secret; they admit to the system themselves when trying to entice new members. I guess Scientology is a Hollywood phenom since so many actors are Scientologists like Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Kirstie Alley, Catherine Bell and John Travolta. Don't ask me why Greta Van Susteren is one. She strikes me more as the snake-handler type. But, I'm not apologizing for my mistrust of Romney's religion. Mormonism is a very secretive faith, with many of the rituals and ceremonies of it's priestly order, of which Romney was one, stringently guarded. I'm an atheist. The most hated minority of all and sure, I'm being discriminatory here myself. But, I don't think Romney's Mormon faith is as bad as Romney himself, though. I think Romney's his own god.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)To some extent I am also discriminatory. That ends though (for me) when it comes to public matters and public matters of faith. I consider faith and spirituality to be more private, individual things. A case could be made that the evangelicals make it more public intentionally, but Romney is hardly an evangelical. I don't think it's right to make a case of someone's religion in this particular instance because it is neither a religious ceremony nor a religious speech. It is a political issue. Separation of Church and State comes into play here, regardless of how the right and right wing evangelicals behave, I do not think we can condone it or permit it to pass without condemnation. Not that I'm saying anyone here is - just referencing the OP.
I'm one of those people that doesn't really fit in anywhere as far as religion and faith go. I don't know what I believe, other than in personal principles and the constitution of the United States. As for God? I haven't got a clue. I don't know what category that would put me in.
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)The school administrators are being huge hypocrites, and the student body has a right to be upset, whether or not if we agree with their reasons.
Festivito
(13,452 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,621 posts)No college or university in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a bigger recipient of Federal student aid than Liberty University.
Liberty tops state in federal aid for its students
By: Liz Barry | The News & Advance
Published: March 27, 2011 Updated: March 27, 2011 - 4:00 AM
Liberty University students received approximately $445 million in federal financial aid money last fiscal year, according to U.S. Department of Education data, making LU the top recipient in Virginia.
The rapid growth of Libertys online program has fueled the increased reliance on federal aid dollars, said Robert Ritz, LUs executive director of financial aid.
Last year, Liberty enrolled about 52,000 online students, plus another 12,000 through its residential programs.
....
In the span of a year, Libertys experienced about a 56 percent spike in federal student aid, from $284 million in 2008-2009 to $445 million in 2009-2010, according to Department of Education data compiled by The News & Advance. (LU calculates the total aid at $432 million and $277 million, still a 56 percent increase.)
The $445 million included $385.9 million in student loans. The rest came in the form of grants and other student aid like work-study.
marshall gaines
(347 posts)that's a lot of robots for the future american theocracy, well, maybe not. never mind! Roseanne rosana danna,I loved her comedy.
obamanut2012
(26,142 posts)They are taught that Mormonism is not Christianity nor an Abrahamic religion, and it isn't (not that I care). They are taught a very strict and narrow view of what is and what isn't allowed in both religion and life, and now they are having someone who adheres to a cult and whose beliefs and life spits into what they have been taught and made to adhere to, be there graduation speaker? With their families and friends there to see them graduate? Ruining their graduation ceremony?
I think both Evangelical Christianity and Mormonism is crazy and intolerant, but these students have a right to be upset, hurt, and angry.
BeyondGeography
(39,382 posts)AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)Those poor poor put upon Christians! Having to listen to/interact/tolerate/acknowledge something not their flavor of "Christian" ....
Oh if only the WHOLE WORLD were their kind of Christians! If only the 8 billion people on the planet believed the exact same thing they do!
Some day......
hatrack
(59,593 posts)After all, there's no way to say what "us" means unless there's a "them".
pstokely
(10,530 posts)nt
marshall gaines
(347 posts)this is a hoot
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Circular firing squad, ready, fire, AIM!!
Smilo
(1,944 posts)obviously what they were "indoctrinated" with - that America will become a Christian theocracy is now under threat from the Mormon "white horse" theocracy - after all Falwell Jr is obviously backing the latter.
agentS
(1,325 posts)[link:http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OrUHV6kgsEw/THVNvNVC4QI/AAAAAAAABNY/SZrOx8a1Lps/s1600/tank+battle.jpg]
God dang it! How do I post images?!
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)hasn't spoken at Liberty? He seems to be worshipped by alot of the right-wingers.
pstokely
(10,530 posts)nt
MountainLaurel
(10,271 posts)truthisfreedom
(23,157 posts)8^D
eridani
(51,907 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,234 posts)MatthewStLouis
(904 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)Now how do you think these people are going to react when both people on the ticket are baptised Mormons.
Its funny but it will keep Rubio off of the ticket.
yellowcanine
(35,701 posts)Does the Church Lady know about this?
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)yellowcanine
(35,701 posts)CULT - Any group which has a pyramid type authoritarian leadership structure with all teaching and guidance coming from the person/persons at the top. The group will claim to be the only way to God; Nirvana; Paradise; Ultimate Reality; Full Potential, Way to Happiness etc, and will use thought reform or mind control techniques to gain control and keep their members.
Sounds remarkably like Falwell's church and Liberty U.
Not to mention the RC church as well as many other churches.