SEASON’S GREETINGS
BP
CAMPUS
INSIDE:
MINI ISSUE | WINTER ‘10
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WHY I’M A LIBERAL CHRISTIAN HOW THE RIGHT STOLE CHRISTMAS CHEMICALS IN YOUR STOCKING HAITI: READY FOR A NEW YEAR “NO TIME FOR TEA” - A ROCK SONG
BluePrint CAMPUS
acknowledgements erin becker editor-in-chief sally fry creative director
mike foote, troy homesley, molly hrudka, chelsea phipps. arielle reid writers
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MINI ISSUE | WINTER ‘10
why i am a
how the
LIBERAL
CHRISTIAN stole BY ARIELLE REID
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hough it can be conceded that Christianity and liberalism have never had the most amicable of relationships, the recent trend towards blatant and often hostile antagonism between the two camps is troubling. To some liberals, Christian is synonymous with lunatic. The mere mention of the word may conjure up images of people smacking Bibles as they rant about the evils of homosexuality and Harry Potter. In contrast, “Thou shalt not be a liberal,” is practically the 11th commandment in the eyes of many Christian Fundamentalists. Or at least, in the dichotomy set up by the mass media, in search of a good politicalreligious fight, it can certainly seem this way. But, luckily for myself and the millions of other Americans who play for both teams, there is much room for reconciliation. Conservatives seem to believe that they have monopolized the market on Christianity. And because the Democratic Party does not continuously exploit Christianity for political gain, the congruences between the two are often overlooked. But the truth of the matter is, in spite of the antagonism that characterizes the relationship between Christians and Democrats, the two are linked by a complementary set of fundamental principles. My mother was raised as a Catholic and my father as a Jehovah’s Witness, so if there is one thing I’ve learned from being a product of that union, it’s that the fundamental principles of Christianity don’t lie in the details. Instead, the only thing that is really constant, that really matters, is love: our love for God, God’s love for us, and a love for our fellow human beings. To me, it is patently clear that the principles of the Democratic Party best reflect that universal imperative to love our fellow man. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart...This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Though the first is self-explanatory, Jesus proclaimed that those who adhered to the second commandment could be distinguished by the way they treated the poor, the hungry, the wretched, and the weak. From Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal to the Civil Rights Acts of the 1960s to the fight for universal health care in the present, the Democratic Party has consistently and tirelessly worked to protect even the most marginalized of society. According to the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey, 75% of Americans call themselves Christians. However, any course in Western history will quickly dispel the notion that calling oneself a Christian and truly living like one are co-dependent. Unfortunately, because of the mockery some fundamentalists are making of the religion as a whole, the term Christian has garnered a negative connotation. Famed evangelist Leonard Ravenhill acknowledged “ The Holy Book of the living God suffers more from its exponents today than from its opponents.” The sad truth is, Christianity has been hijacked and turned into something it was never meant to be. First, when Jesus said: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” he meant it as a deterrent for judgment, not as an invitation. Second, God did not send his son to die for our sins just so he could damn most of the world’s population to hell. Third, he is not a God of hate, and his word does not teach bigotry. Fourth, those who use the Bible as a means of oppressing others have completely warped its purpose, and forget that one of the things that angered Jesus most was religious hypocrisy. Carol Wimmer sums it up best in her poem “When I say I am a Christian.” She writes “When I say...’I am a Christian’ I do not wish to judge. I have no authority. I only know I'm loved.” Loving others and rejoicing in the love of God is really what Christianity is all about. And personally, I believe the union of a religious doctrine that celebrates love, and a political party that emulates love in its policy is a match made in heaven. • This article was orginally printed in the 2009 Decemeber issue of CBP.
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RIGHT christmas
BY TROY HOMESLEY
he late Jerry Falwell once declared in an episode of The Scarborough Report that the left in America was waging a “War on Christmas.” Many conservatives believe liberals are trying to limit religious practices surrounding the holidays and stop long-established traditions. I guess I’m just an exception to the rule, or perhaps conservatives have misinterpreted the ideals of liberals when it comes to the holidays. I can only speak for myself, but as a spiritual person and a Democrat I embrace the holidays. I embrace the idea of family tradition: yes, tradition. I embrace the idea of people coming together to celebrate the people they have in their lives, and the idea of stopping for a moment to realize just how lucky they are. I embrace the practice of multiple religious traditions during this holiday season.As a spiritual liberal I love Christmas, because for me it is a chance to show others how thankful I am to have them in my life and to remember that Jesus Christ died for my sins. But there are certain aspects I refuse to embrace, like the conservative idea that the holiday season is only about the Christian holiday. Because for some, the holiday season has nothing to do with Christmas. Perhaps they enjoy the holiday season because of the weather, or seeing family, or the gifts. Or perhaps they enjoy the holiday season because of Hanukkah, or because of time off work or school. The point is that the holidays are about much more than Christmas and the reasons for which I celebrate Christmas. Instead, the holidays are a sprawling mosaic of hundreds of thousands of different opinions and ideas about what this time means. This is where conservatives have misinterpreted liberal views on the subject. Many conservatives forget that there is much more to the time surrounding Christmas (the holidays) than their view on the matter. A liberal effort to incorporate the multitude of opinions surrounding the holidays into a broader and more inclusive discussion has been misinterpreted by conservatives as a “War on Christmas” and in turn an attack on religion. However, the real meaning of this liberal effort is to ensure that this country is more than just its majority, and representative of more than just those in power. This end is achieved by adhering to a key element of our Constitution, which holds that there should be a clear separation between church and state. Additionally, a main component of the holiday season that I, along with many liberals, do not embrace is the move towards a season dominated by rampant consumerism and irresponsible spending. Herds of shoppers wait outside stores for hours and at the crack of a door trample each other trying to be the first to spend their money. This scene has been repeated time and again, year in and year out regardless of the state of the economy. This consumerism has fogged the true meaning of the holidays and has been under attack by many liberals. This is one part of the holidays I will never come to embrace as it embodies a part of American society that led to our current financial crisis - irresponsible spending, over usage and waste. This is a much more dangerous “war” on the true values of the holiday season that conservatives continue to ignore. This holiday season, remember that there is more to this time than what it is to you. As a spiritual liberal, I urge Americans to hold on to what this time means for them but also to embrace the endless alternative meanings this time of year has for others. So, enjoy the holidays, whatever that may mean for you. •
MINI ISSUE | WINTER ‘10
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HAITI:
WHICH CHEMICALS are in your
STOCKING this year?
READY FOR A NEW YEAR
Bisphenol A, Nalgene and the EU’s rise in consumer protection policy BY MOLLY HRUDKA
BY CHELSEA PHIPPS
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f you have purchased a Nalgene water bottle in the last few years, you may have noticed a sticker reading “BPA free” attached to cap. BPA stands for Bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is found in products like toys, electronics, baby bottles, adhesives, can liners, food packaging, automobiles and household equipment. While its specific impact on human health has not yet been ascertained, many studies have shown that BPA functions as an endocrine disruptor that has adverse effects on developmental and reproductive health. It has also been associated with the development of prostate and breast cancer in adults. The EU and the US have starkly contrasting opinions on what chemicals present a risk to human health and which don’t. The EU follows what is known as the precautionary principle, taking a conservative approach and banning chemicals that are suspected but not proven to have negative health effects. This is partially because in Europe scientific institutions are not linked to government or big industry. The US, however, has not been as successful in the separation of science and government. Many of the studies that have produced data showing that BPA is safe for humans were sponsored by companies that manufacture products that contain BPA like Procter & Gamble. These industries also have a significant influence on government policy through lobbying and special interest groups. According to Mark Schapiro, author of Exposed- The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products And What’s At Stake For American Power, “One FDA rule requires that warning labels be put on products that contain ingredients ‘whose safety has not been determined.’ But it is the cosmetic companies, not the FDA, that make that distinction. While the cosmetic companies assert that their products are safe, 89 percent of the ingredients used in cosmetics today have not been assessed by either the FDA or by industry.” In the absence of governmental policies, companies like Nalgene have responded to consumer demand for BPA-free products. “Based on all available scientific evidence, we continue to believe that Nalgene products containing BPA are safe for their intended use; however, our customers indicated they preferred BPA-free alternatives, and we acted in response to those concerns,” Steven Silverman, the general manager of Nalgene, said in an interview. Other countries are choosing to veer away from the US’ laissez faire policy on potential chemical hazards and instead are choosing to follow the EU’s precautionary principle. Canada, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, China, and Korea are all at various stages of implementing banned chemical lists and legislation that would severely limit what chemicals can be used in the production of everyday items. With the establishment of several environmental regulations in the 1970s such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, the US led the way in environmental protection and the rest of the world followed suit. There has been a transformation in leadership and the US now lags behind in protecting people from potential chemical hazards. According to Schapiro, now that the EU is challenging US leadership, there could be “long-term effects on America’s global competitive edge.” •
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MINI ISSUE | WINTER ‘10
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hough it has already suffered enough heartbreak for one generation with the earthquake in January 2010, Haiti has now been struggling with a new type of natural disaster: cholera. Haiti is hardly in a position to handle a public health crisis of this magnitude. The country isn’t rebuilt yet from the damage caused by the devastating earthquake that less than a year ago. But now, the cholera epidemic has already taken over a thousand lives and promises to ...Tents that were take tens of thousands more over the next few years. Haiti was thrown into only ever meant to the spotlight first in January and again be temporary but when cholera began to spread, espehave become cially when it hit the capital in November, but that spotlight has been flicker- anything but that. ing and turning away. In the midst of the relief efforts in January, it was in vogue for governments to make promises to help Haiti rebuild its capital to “better” than it was before the earthquake. But with an unreliable Haitian government that had offered a weak reconstruction plan, international pledges to usher in change were most likely showcases of humanitarian support without real bang for their buck. However, Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, is still filled with the million now-homeless people living in tents that were only ever meant to be temporary but have become anything but that. It is less trendy to pay attention to this country in desperate need because the international community focuses in only as long as the story is sensational. The epidemic of cholera that will eventually slow and affect less people but still remain destructive to the Haitian people is not on the same level of sensationalism as the earthquake was when it first struck-- especially as the aid that was promised does not arrive, or when it does but turns out to be only a band-aid where an entire bandage is needed. The presidential election on November 28 had an understandably low turnout as the citizens in Haiti were focused in on the more immediate issue of their general health than electing another set of corrupt politicians. But the lower turnout probably had more to do with polling disorganization than voter apathy. Those that did go out to vote were met with difficulties finding where to vote, polling stations opening late, stuffed ballot boxes, and repeat voting. The results were protests, oftentimes violent ones, and candidates crying fraud. The poorest country in the Americas is reaching its limit on catastrophic events. However, the leading candidates finally decided to pursue getting the voting results declared invalid, despite how horrific the process was collecting them. Michel Martelly, a rap musician, and Mirlande Manigat will most likely be up against each other in the runoff that will be held in January. An election that successfully elects a competent political leader will be an essential first step for reconstruction of a generally devastated country. Haiti has taken a lot of hits this year and needs, more than anything right now, something to be hopeful about. •
NO TIME FOR
TEA
A ROCK SONG BY MIKE FOOTE
Let rhyme banish reason, my pen conquer treason, The idealists’ workings are the blooming leaves in season For wrong ideas’ plight, and I intend to fight, My guitar’s politics: how really wrong is the Right
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Employment’s getting better, stimulus is up, But oh no-lets put some damn tea into our cup Throw us overboard into the Massachusetts Bay, We’re Partiots- Damnit, it’s the American f#$#ing way
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We’ll eliminate healthcare, turn away the sick-Sorry! We cut all your taxes to support the Tea Party If you can’t work, then don’t expect no pay, Live and die on the streets-it’s the American Way!
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Republicans in 2010, we turned back progress to start again I wish we had hope and I wish we had change, Now the future hold fears well within our range Oo-oh reason, save us from our pain.
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Well I don’t know what you’ve been told, But learning in the classrooms is getting old, Better get my facts from the slanted news, They pick leaders for me-no need to choose!
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Forming my opinions is tiring work, Can’t be bothered to stay alert, And all the while the rich get richer, A message ain’t a message if it ain’t on a sticker
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Hard work don't equal wealth, Disadvantagement cycles prey with subtle stealth Oppressive forces have a hand in our fates, Society should kill what society makes
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Republicans in 2010, we turned back progress to start again I wish we had hope and I wish we had change, Now the future hold fears well within our range Oo-oh reason, save us from our pain. •
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