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.
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