These "Campus Preachers" or demonstrators or whatever you want to call them are really starting to piss me off.

By the Editor of The...TRUTH

   Okay. I'll be the last one to try to censor anyone or remove them from the center of campus. They do have a right to be there, as long as they follow the policies and rules that so far they have been somewhat respectful of. But, that doesn't mean I like them or what they're doing and saying.

   The worst part about the whole thing is that they're bringing out the worst in everyone. Not only are they making asses of themselves by offering cliche arguments with heated and raised voices... but people on the other side of the religious fence (who unfortunately are often not far above the religious nuts in their capacity to formulate an intelligent argument) stand and yell back - neither side paying one damn bit of attention to what the other is saying.

   On one hand I'm annoyed by the outdated display of religious Manifest Destiny, and on the other I'm ashamed of the lack of persuasiveness or intelligence shown by people who supposedly share a world view much closer to my own. My real question is "what is the point?"

   If neither side is listening, then what's the point in there being any talking? If you are someone who is really opposed to these religious folks being where they are and saying what they're saying, take some time to put together something intelligent to put back in their face. Don't stand there and get as riled up as the people you think you're better than. My main point here is that by shouting back, and acting like I've been seeing people act, all you're doing is confirming the religious folk's low opinion of you, and opening yourself up to looking like an ass. Let them choose that road; they see to be comfortable with being an ass.

   When you get right down to it... unless God changes policy and starts writing crap up in the sky where we're all going to see it, nobody is going to win these arguments. What happens after we die? Well, we'll find out eventually. Until then, why are we wasting so much time and energy on debates like this?

   Maybe it's my pagan, heathen, sinful, lust-driven, selfish way of looking at things... but it seems to me that for the few years we have on this mud ball, that the thing we should spend the most time on is each other. Why can't we share this experience we've been calling life, and appreciate each other for what we are... fellow travelers. I guess under all this cynicism beats the heart of an idealist.

   Next time you see an idiot making an ass of him (or her)self, let them do it. Don't make things worse by imitating them.