the point weekly | monday, october 7, 2013
8 | OPINION
opinion
Abby Hamblin /// Editor-In-Chief Kathleen Callahan ///News Editor Kimberly Miller /// Features Editor Tavis Robertson /// Sports Editor Kathleen Rhine /// A&E Editor
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The Point Weekly
The opinions in this section may not reflect those of The Point Weekly or of Point Loma Nazarene University. Letters to the editor and columns are subject to editing for length, taste, grammar and clarity. Letters to the editor must include the author’s name, major, class standing and phone number and be limited to 500 words. Please submit your opinions to gsibingo1992@pointloma.edu.
Diversity: letting go of ignorance BY TAYLOR VON STRIVER SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
Malcolm S. Forbes, former publisher of Forbes magazine, described diversity as “the art of thinking independently together.” To some, this notion of corporately seeking independence might be considered an oxymoron, since independence is, by definition, “self-governing; not influenced or affected by others; impartial.” As we navigate this season of emerging adulthood in the context of PLNU culture, we are expected to seek to be more independent. Spiritually, we are to make our faith our own. Emotionally, we are to find healthy outlets when life gets overwhelming. Mentally, we are to manage our time and responsibilities well. Physically, we are to take care of ourselves as best we can in the midst of all-nighters, peer pressure, and the rockiness that comes with figuring out who we are. Ultimately, these formative years at Loma provide structured space to solidify the sand that we added to the tank at the Sunrise Service during NSO, while walking alongside those
who dropped their handfuls in as well. In preparation for this writing, I asked several people about their thoughts on the issue of diversity. Director of Spiritual Life Zac Austin, eloquently shared, “Diversity invites us to become more fully ourselves, because if it weren’t for people from different backgrounds, there are parts of myself that others wouldn’t see.” These authentically unique parts of us are drawn out by differences; it takes a spirit of humility to genuinely embrace the full selves of those around us. And yet asking a majority group, such as white students here at PLNU, about diversity is like asking a fish, “What’s water?” A very wise man (a.k.a. Jake Gilbertson, RD of Goodwin Hall) shared an insightful analogy with me, and the idea is that privilege surrounds a majority group and becomes such a part of their context that they cannot even see it. I recently had the pleasure of making a new friend: Yesenia Gomez. For those of you who don’t yet know Yesenia, find her and meet her; she is a beautiful girl with an even more beautiful heart. She came and sat by me in
the library computer lab one afternoon; I turned to her, introduced myself officially (up to this point, we had just been “hi” friends; you know what I’m talking about, right?), and asked her what her thoughts were on the topic of diversity. We ended up talking for nearly two hours! Yesenia sincerely expressed her heart to me, and I did the same with her; our conversation was both honest and sensitive. Something she shared that has stuck with me since is the power of “letting go” of our ignorance. Her active verb choice struck me because I have most often thought of ignorance as something one is unaware of, indifference toward something one does not see. To “let go,” however, requires a combination of awareness, humility, and surrender; there’s nothing passive about it. My hope for our campus is this: May we begin to see diversity as the art of thinking independently together so that we might become more aware of the areas in which we are ignorant, allow these realizations to humble us, and then surrender to the One who purposefully created us so differently – and yet alike “in His image.”
May we ask more questions and seek out answers from our brothers and sisters who differ from us in the areas of gender, geography, faith, family, race, wealth, and so on. May our eyes be opened to those around us who feel the need to blend in because they find it easier than standing out, and may our eyes be opened to the ways that we do the same. May we become more confident in the areas in which we stand out, and may we learn to love ourselves, our families, our friends, our peers, and above all else, our Maker. May we let go of our ignorance, “For there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Taylor is a senior Psychology major. She hopes to stay in San Diego after graduation and go to graduate school for Speech Pathology. She hopes to someday work with autistic children and their families. She has a passion for kids, loves singing and dancing, and loves listening, talking, thinking and praying with people.
Love over dogma: the Pope and homosexuality BY EDUARDO “PO” ALVAREZ SENIOR CONTRIBUTOR
Pope Francis I has been creating a stir in the Catholic community since his papacy started eight months ago. He has called for a shift in the church’s attitude toward groups that have been historically marginalized, particularly homosexuals. “Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person,” he said in a recent interview. As a person who is gay and Catholic, Pope Francis’ words are warm and welcoming, unlike his predecessors. I can remember my early years in the Catholic Church were marked by ill talk towards groups that weren’t right with the church. The priest preached at the altar about God’s love and his son who died for us, but somehow, His love was not for everyone. How could this be? I learned that if I wanted acceptance from my church, my friends, my family, then I could not be gay.
I came out my freshman year at PLNU. As freeing as the experience was, it also ate away at me. I was consumed by a subculture that I let define who I was. Every night was a different damaging experience. As my behavior spun out of control, my relationships with friends were severed. When I thought I would find acceptance from my parents, I was proven wrong, and lost my last beam of support. A depression manifested itself in me that threw me into isolation. Prayer and God faded from me, and I felt my soul disintegrating. I didn’t want this life. I questioned my position in the church and the Christian community as a whole and I made plans to leave this school. I was convinced that there was no longer a place for me at this school or in church. Misery overwhelmed me and I all I wanted was to crawl out of my skin. In my last effort to find absolution from a life that had broken me, I prayed to God who I had selfishly shunned from my life. It would be nice to say that I found revelation and
spiritual enlightenment that radically changed my life, but that didn’t happen. What I did come across was a new form of prayer. A new prayer that engaged in active conversation with God, a prayer that became honest and humble. Convictions arose in my life, and a new journey began. I decided to wrestle with Scripture. I sought guidance from friends, from professors, and from strangers and received nothing but love and affirmation that my sexuality did not define me. These were fruitful endeavors. Where I thought I would find resentment, I found acceptance. Although I continue to fall into bad habits and make stupid decisions, I do not let them impede me from searching for God. Three years later, I continue to struggle with what scripture is saying and how my life is living out according to scripture. There are many parts of scripture regarding homosexuality and marriage that I do not understand. What I do understand is that I am fearfully and wonderfully created in the im-
age of God. I believe in a personal savior who died for my sins, who loved me long before my existence. My identity is in Christ. To my fellow students who are second-guessing this truth…don’t. Don’t give up on the church. Don’t give up on your faith. You are loved and welcomed in His kingdom. I don’t expect the stance of the Catholic Church to radically change in my lifetime, but I do believe it is taking the necessary steps to represent a community that was once shunned and condemned. “This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all, not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people,” Pope Francis said. “We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity.” Eduardo is a senior environmental science major with a minor in cell and molecular Biology. He has a passion for conservation Biology, and plans to start a Ph.D. program in developmental Biology after graduation.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Once again we apologize for those who tried to text the number last week and didn’t work…this time it will. I promise.
That one time you’re talking about someone in the caf and they look directly at you.
Worship under the stars was actually worship under the fog.
Endlessly gasping while watching Grey’s Anatomy.
I survived the Young Hall drought of 2013. I hope everyone made it out alive.
A supposed freshman reading Road Less Traveled in a hammock outside of Colt at 9 am....you shall succeed here young one…
Save Point Loma Running EDITOR’S NOTE: Wow, whoever keeps sending this really wants to save point Loma running!
I should get an A in philosophy because whenever I’m in class I ask myself the big questions, like why am I here?
OH MY GAHD JOHN MAYER #BESTSHOWEVER
Thursday night study sesh at Lestat’s! #delish
Got egg stuck in my beard this morning #beardhood CARTOON BY DARIN VERA