Religious Vandalizing On Campus

By October 10, 2011

Lately I have noticed that chalking campaigns from the Occams razor resident student organization have been routinely vandalized. While I hold no particular religious affiliation, I suppose I would fall under the moniker of “Secular Humanist” – with a respect for all others who claim to be from one religion or another.

I find it more and more difficult, however, to accept Christians who claim to follow the word of their Prophet, Jesus Christ, when I see them disparage and vandalize other people’s beliefs in the name of their lord. I am no biblical scholar, nor do I usually spend any thought on their teachings. It strikes me, however, that they ignore their own spiritual leaders expressed wishes to treat others in a respectful manner. I admit that it took me some time to find a quote that bests express this issue, but I believe I have. In the book of Matthew (7:12), Jesus plainly states: ““Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

I can only assume, then, that you want individuals to destroy the multitude of Christian chalking strewn about campus. I will personally make it my mission to undo that which has been done in defiance of your own Lord’s word. His LAW.

From this point forward, I will find no guilt, nor pleasure, in doing the same to those words that I, and many other students, find patently offensive. Every time I see an Occams Razor chalking vandalized, I will do what I now believe to be my civic duty, and punish the writers with “an eye for an eye” in order to set straight that which I believe is wrong.

It is tacky, it is uncalled for, and it is just plain ignorant. Not everyone is a Christian, but you act as if the act of desecrating other messages that do not meet your own criteria is your duty. Thank you for giving me a duty. I am not a member of Occam’s Razor, but know this: I now plan on attending their meetings, and helping them chalk their message. This is their right, just as it is yours, no matter how repugnant I find it.

If you have a problem with other religions, or anti-religions, re-enroll in a Christian academy. This is not meant as an offence against your one and true God. This is meant to appeal to the very words you claim to live by. ““Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

I can only assume it means you wish your messages to be erased by zealots. Something you have created in this person.

 

-David “Zeek” Martin, journalism major

KXUA station manager

  • Sawyer

    A wise man once said “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”
    Before I begin, let me say that I share your frustration. It’s unacceptable on a liberal campus for anyone to deface or graffiti the advertisements of groups protected by free speech.
    That being said, there is a multitude of flaws in your argument. The primary fault is found in your assumption that the individuals posting messages about Christian meetings are the same individuals defacing the announcements of the Occam’s Razor organization. From your written opinion, there is no way to discern that they are the same people, other than an overarching similarity in religion. If that is your argument, then you’ve just stereotyped all Christian associations as being vandals, which is an extreme error of judgement, comparable to categorizing all Muslims as terrorists.
    If you have a problem with vandalism, the solution is not more vandalism. By all means, take to the sidewalks and use your voice, written or otherwise, to respond the defacements. That is your right, just as it was the Occam’s razor group’s right to put the announcements on the sidewalk in the first place. However, do not commit the mistake of becoming that which you condemn: in denying the Christian groups’ right to free speech, you deny that right to everyone. As a journalism major and a radio station manager, I’m sure you can appreciate the value of an open forum for expression.

  • Flannery

    I dumped a whole bottle of water I filled up from the fountain onto a penis drawn over Occam’s Razor’s chalk. I don’t understand why they are singled out as an RSO. Secular does not mean we worship Satan. It truly, truly surprised me. Most of the Bible verses chalked alllll over campus see little to no graffiti. A simple advertisement for a meeting gets vandalized the same day of chalking. It’s just so disrespectful, I cannot even fathom who does that and thinks it’s perfectly okay. I appreciate this article and hope that whoever is responsible for the vandalism understands that they are wrong and just giving the group more attention. See you at a meeting.

  • Camille

    Hey, thanks for the support. I’m an officer of occam’s razors and I’ve been wanting the story of our hard work being vandalized out there. I must ask though, please don’t deface others’ chalk. We can’t single out who did it and I don’t want anyone to stoop to their level in our name. We would love for you to come for a meeting, though! Our facebook group is incredibly active and we’d be glad to have you.

  • JakeBrah

    If you don’t want people defacing it, then stop writing it. I can understand why someone would deface your messages, besides it being hilarious, you are shoving your religion down other people’s throats

  • Kristie

    Jake – You are completely incorrect. By them advertising that they are having a meeting, they’re inviting others who might share their view to join them. They are not shoving their view down someone’s throat any more than a billboard with an advertisement FORCING you to think their product is worth purchasing.

    P.s. Atheism isn’t a religion. It’s a lack of one. Get your facts straight, sir.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cameron-Treece/1117635204 Cameron Treece

    What kind of mental backflips are you doing to equate chalking with “shoving your religion down other people’s throats”?

  • Madeleine

    David, thanks for your comments. I am an officer of Occam’s Razors, and it is very frustrating for us when people vandalize our chalkings. We just want people to know we’re here and that they’re welcome to come to our meetings. You are more than welcome as well. I too am a secular humanist, and I am also an atheist, but you don’t have to be an atheist or agnostic to come to the meetings.
    We do not endorse vandalizing other people’s chalkings, as we expect others to do the same for us. That is not always the way that it works out, but we don’t want to get targeted as a group for vandalism. We appreciate your support immensely, but we would rather you come to the meetings and participate in our discussions and service projects than to vandalize other’s advertisements around campus. Thanks.

  • Madeleine

    What exactly is hilarious about us advertising for our group by just letting people know who we are and what we’re about?