Non-Violent Protest

Recently, in the Fine Arts building of Shorter College, a poster was put up beseeching resident assistant professor John Cimics to "Teach [his] students something today!" with a picture of beneficent Jesus behind the man. The flyer attributed the command to God and concluded with a Bible verse. Cimics has become notorious through the theatre department for wasting class time, being a bad director, and for having unrealistic and bizarre classroom practices (for instance, a Voice for the Actor I class spent 5 minutes on the International Phonetic Alphabet but their final [in a degree focused towards contemporary stage performance] will be Ventriloquism).

Responses ranged from outrage to agreement. People have called the author of this flyer "soulless" and have said that the flyer is "tacky." Of course it seems soulless and tacky: protest to those satisfied with the status quo seems that way. Regardless of what I think of the man, the flyer was funny, poignant, true, and non-violent. Thus, I have to support it.

This piece of resistance to the dumbing down of education (made even better by the fact that the author still remains anonymous) has inspired me to think of other ways of spreading resistance.

As some of you know, I recently responded to a pamphlet put out about the morality (or lack of it) of homosexuality by Dr. Aaron J. Werner, Dean of Chapels at Shorter. However, the problem of LGBT hate is a tad rampant outside the Arts Department here. In my Shakespeare class today, I came across a poster listing twelve of the stupidest reasons to ban gay marriage done in rainbow Sharpies. The reasons ranged from gay parents always make gay kids (not only assuming that kids are the only reason for marriage but also supposing the fact that straight parents only make straight kids) to the fact that religion was against homosexuality (to which I would respond that this was a gross generalization). Regardless, though, I would love to take a more extreme measure. And here's what I'm thinking.

In a few days, the local BCM (think Baptist Student Union with a new name: Baptist Collegiate Ministries) will be having a date auction to fund their summer missions immediately following one of their meetings. What if I took a group of LGBT's and made the dates always end up same sex? I mean, I support the idea of going out and doing good in the world. Further, I support a charitable, loving view of all religion. And I think it would be hilarious to know that your support came from people who you actively mistrust and hate.

And maybe we could all get together and watch The Birdcage and feel better about life...or maybe Eddie Izzard. This plan is still in the formative stages. Thoughts?