August Newsletter
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UFL Super Sunday ... continued from page 1

Patrina Bostic's article in the July 19th issue of the Longview News-Journal covered the basic comments from panelists Anna Beck, 18, Michael Herbert, 21, Bryan Parker, 21, and Laura White, 19, a group of well-educated, eloquent, idealists who shared their thoughts in a two-hour program which included questions from the audience. In addition to statements in the paper, the following comments by the panelists are worth sharing with members and friends who were unable to attend.

Bryan Parker, a budding English teacher, explained that he sees formal education as an opportunity to teach people critical thinking skills as well as teaching them facts. It has been his experience that most teaching doesn't seem to go beyond rote learning. "Instead of thinking for themselves, some people in this area of the Bible Belt just repeat what's being taught in school and church. It's disturbing that one is considered a Christian as long as one accepts Christ as their savior and there is no mention of Jesus' teachings. I, for one, believe in and try to follow the teachings of Jesus. Some of his core teachings are never mentioned in school or church, but Old Testament mentality seems to be very prevalent among Christians. People here take the Bible as the ultimate authority, as divine, although it was written by man and translated thousands of times. Man is fallible," Bryan said.

Since entering college, Bryan has become a liberal Christian. "My parents call that a 'phase'. What's wrong with thinking and widening one's horizons? They aren't upset about my own decisions; I do basically everything my parents ask me to do. I never touched drugs, and I'll be graduating from UT with honors," Bryan said. "I don't fit the usual stereotype of how a man should look. My parents frown because I'm wearing "girl's" pants, but they just fit me better. I even got in trouble for wearing a pink shirt to church, because it was too tight and was not an appropriate shade of pink."

After Bryan's focus on education, Laura commented that "We are a society driven by fear, and it's especially bad in this area of the country." Education, critical thinking skills, getting the facts, and thinking for yourself are necessary to avoid being swayed by gossip, rumor and fear. The more you know, the less you fear," she stated. "If you keep people afraid, they'll do whatever you want them to. We're afraid of taxes, even though they provide more services for us; we're afraid of terrorists, although the threat is not as imminent as our president makes it seem; we're afraid of homosexuals, but they're just normal people. Our society should be driven and governed by knowledge, not ruled by fear."

Michael made the following points: One's opinion ia devoid of meaning if they fail to actively express it. The

responsibility of every American to defend democracy has nothing to do with joining ranks on the front line of an imperial invasion. Exercising democracy and defending democracy are synonymous. Exercising democracy includes but surpasses JUST voting. It means taking direct action. It means cutting out the middleman. It means passing out flyers for an issue that concerns you. It means educating yourself instead of relying solely on institutional classes. It means making relevant and visible art. I think that reliance on the bureaucratic system alone is responsible for more and more people feeling disempowered. Ironically, I think that this feeling of helplessness is responsible for fewer and fewer people turning up at the voting boxes. Stop wasting your power. Show your patriotism. Be creative. Save America. Take direct action.

Anna Beck grew up with the understanding that "women stay home, cook, and raise kids. Fathers go to work, come home, eat, and sleep." She also learned at an early age that "boy/girl relationships were okay, but girl/girl or boy/boy relationships were no- nos." "I was taught what everyone else was taught. The difference between me and my peers, in general, is I chose to actually use my brain instead of blindly accepting societal norms." She questions the mentality of the general population with a quote from Earnest Gaines: "Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" "Everyone, from our parents to general society, teaches us what being a man means and what being a woman means. We're taught what to wear, how to act, who to be friends with and who we should marry. We're taught what we should be like according to accepted norms. I find that wrong. We are all individuals with unique outlooks and personal characters. Why should we all have to fit the same mold?"

Anna noticed at an early age that she didn't fit the mold. "I'm different, and I wouldn't have it any other way," Anna said. " When I was about four, I remember thinking: girl...girl ... wrong; boy…girl …right. WRONG!!! I love who I am today and wouldn't change anything about myself."

Panelists agreed that older people tend to be more homophobic. "There are many misconceptions about gays in the general population. That they are trying to convert people to become gay is one particularly ridiculous idea," Bryan said. The panelists were unanimous: "Being gay is not a choice!" Sexual orientation is a genetic endowment, like eye color. Panelists also agreed that young people, even many conservative Christians they know, are accepting of gays.

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