Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1989)
Opinion THE CLACKAMAS PRINT May 3,1989 Page 2 PRO/CON Gideon International distributes bibles on campus The constitution states that we, the people of the United States have the free dom of religion. The problem is that some people on the campus of Clackamas don’t think that this is true. Last Wednesday, the college was vis ited by some of the nicest people in the world, the Gideon International. Since the early seventies, the Gideon Interna- Dan Fu,ton PRO tional has been coming to the campus once a year and handing out little parts of the bible that consists of the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs from the Old Testament The people that pass these little booklets out are usually between the ages of 50 and 70. They stand around smiling and talking to people as they pass by. They offer a booklet containing part of the Gideon Bible. The only reason they do this is to reach out to someone who hasn’t heard about the Lord. They are just doing what they think is right. People go by and try no tolookatthem because they think it is stupid to receive the book, or they think that they will try to preach to them as they take one of the books. Believe me, they will not try to lock you down for an hour and try to beat you to death with the word of the Lord. If people are not interested in receiving one of the books, they can just say “No, thank you”. The Gideons will stop right there. It’s not like they will group together and,try to gang tackle you or chase you down the stairs. They are old meh. They might be friends of your grandfather and they might tattle on you, but that is about all they could do. They are people too and when you pass them up like they are the plague, they probably don’t have the greatest feel ing inside. I walked through McLoughlin Hall and was greeted at the door with a hello and a little booklet. I would much rather walk through the door and receive a little book than be greeted at the door with a test. There is no reason to treat these nice old men without dignity and respect. They are only here one day a year; if you cannot respect your elderly, then you have a little more schooling to do here than you may think. Last Wednesday a group of gentlemen came to Clackamas Community College and handed out “mini-bibles” to Clacka mas patrons. These gentlemen were veiy pleasant and cordial in their actions and certainly didn’t mean, or to my knowledge, inflict any harm. Their ef forts were a little excessive S"» Christopher L Curran CON minutes of walking through the Community Center and McLoughlin Hall between 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. I personally was approached by these gentlemen six times. That qualifies as excessive. I realize that they are only at Clacka mas once a year, but I think their efforts could be done in some moderation. Stu dents can’t walk into Norm’s Cafe in the Community Center without being ap proached tty one, or possibly’even two of these gentlemen. The scene at Clackamas Wednesday reminds me of what might be seen at an airport. If Clackamas is going to be open to the people of this religion, then what’s next? Should we prepare for Muslims? Hebrews? Even skinheads? True, the beliefs and actions of gentle men at the college last Wednesday were no cause for alarm. However, the mere fact of them being here is significant when other groups show interest in visiting the college. It’s almost as though theywould be turning Clackamas into a pulpit where week-to- week a different religion would be fea tured. I am not against this particular group of gentlemen who were at Clackamas Iasi Wednesday, I do want to look at the bij picture and explore the ramifications that the future holds for activities such as this. ] am not against the religion they represent The freedom to choose or not to choose t religion as well as the freedom to peace fully assemble are protected by the first amendment of the United State Constitution. By no means am I trying to attack the constitution, I do want the college to be cautious when they’re regarding it. Laughter attracts writer, leads to warm friendship I am particularly addicted and attracted to people who laugh. People who display “joie de vivre” in their daily comings and goings. John and Genevieve Mueller are fine examples of this wonderful trait I met John during a semester in Craig Lesley’s Creative Writing class. We organ ized the “Ernest Hemingway Writer’s Club.” It came together when members of the The Laugh Clinic* Joseph Patrick Lee class repaired to the cafeteria for coffee and conversation after each session with Craig. Several meetings were held in the homes of members: Mueller’s and Arlene Labarre’s. Once in while we would read from work we were currently into, critiqu ing and enjoying the idea that we were carrying on in the tradition of aspiring scriveners. The club has gone into a hold pattern, but John and I have kept in touch. I have been to the Mueller home for dinnerand slide shows put together from their trips to Japan, Germany, Italy, Egypt, and the Vir gin Islands in the Caribbean. Throughout the evenings, good con versation and reminiscing are the order of the day. The Muellers are in their seventies, but an almost child-like play is going on all the time. Thè other evening I visited them after one of their joyful episodes and in a vicari ous way learned a lesson in spontaneous humor which we all can enjoy.: John had returned from an errand, parked his Chrysler in the garage, and looked out in the garden area of the back-yard. Genevievewas watering her newly-planted spring garden. “I’m home, dear,” he said. Genevieve said nothing, but turned the hose on John, drenching him thoroughly. He yelped and began to laugh, wildly. His next move was written into the script. He grabbed the hose hanging in the garage, turned the faucet and aimed the stream at his lovely wife. Genevieve screamed when the cold water hit and the fight was on. The two septuagenarians sprayed one another for the next fiveminutes, laughing and hollering with each good hit. Neigh bors on both sides peered over their fences as those two hilarious clowns, now soaked to the skin, vented themselves of all the stress they had accumulated during the day. It was good therapy for the neighbors to see these seventy year-old kids having the time of their lives. I listen for the music of laughter in Norm’s Emporium of Culinary Excellence. Risibility points out the healthy students. Uninhibited hilarity tells me who is getting along well in school in their studies and social activities. Well-adjusted students are always ready to laugh at situations and themselves. There is a good-looking blonde on campus who comes to mind. She is about five-feet, laughs gloriously and keeps a table of friends doing the same. I would like to meet her. Perhaps when she reads this she will come forward and identify herself. To laugh with her, just for a .few moments, would warm the cockles of an other septuagenarians heart. The Clackamas Print welcomes Letters to the Editor. Such letters must be signed or will not be printed. Letters must not exceed 250 words and should be typewritten or neatly printed. Letters can be turned into The Clackamas Printoffices in Trailer B Nor th of Randall Hall. The Qackamas Print reserves the right to edit Letters to the Editor for grammar, obscenities and libelous material Letters to the Editor must be turned in Friday in order tobe printed in the following Wednesday’s edition. The Clackamas Print The Clackamas Print aims to be a fair and impartial newspaper covering the college community. Opinions expressed in The Clacka mas Print do not necessarily re flect those of the college admini stration, faculty or Associated Student Government. Articles and information printed in this news paper can be re-printed only with written permission from the Clackamas Community College Student Publications Office. The Qackamas Print is a weekly pub lication distributed every Wed nesday except for finals week. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Ore gon Qty, Oregon 97045. Office: Trailer B. Telephone: 657-6958, ext 309 (office), 577 (production) and 578 (advertising). Editor-In-Chief: Christopher L. Curran Managing/Feature Editor: Caree Hussey Copyeditors: Jim Titus Roseann Wentworth News Editor: Briane C. Dotson Photo Editor: Julie Church Sports Editor: Mark A. Borrelli Reporters: Stad Beard Amber Cordry Dan Fulton Tim Jones Rick Piller Angela Wilson Photographers: Jillian Porter ,L; 5 Tara Powers TimZivney . Eric Olson Columnist: Joseph Patrick Lee Business Managers: Angela Wilson Rick Piller “Rhapsody” Editor: Michelle Walch / ' ; • Advisor: Tinda Vogt Ï