Campus Protests

College campuses are close to my heart.  I spent many years as a campus minister, and I know well the heightened level of dialogue on campus- for better or worse.   It has been hard for me to watch the conflicts erupt on campuses across our country in recent weeks.  Columbia, UCLA, even here at Emory, students have clashed with students over strongly held beliefs. 

Of course there is nothing wrong with strongly held beliefs.  In fact, college is intentionally a time of exploration, learning and trying things out.  But colleges have been much maligned recently, portrayed as bastions of liberalism.  But liberalism, as my high school history teacher taught me, “is maximizing individual freedoms.”  And part of exploring one’s freedom is the discovery of strongly held beliefs and passions.

Passion in pursuit of truth is always commendable.  Indeed, we call the final week of Jesus’ life- passion week- after the Latin ‘to suffer, bear or endure.’  Passion, as strong emotion, often arises as a burden, a weight on the soul.  And this passion leads us to speak forth.  

I truly believe that the vast majority of those protesting on college campuses are doing so out of a sincere desire to see an end to extraordinary atrocities in the Middle East.  Yes, there are some who are going too far- some who espouse racist views (interesting that antisemitism and islamophobia, two of the most insidious forms of hatred are here pitted against each other). And there are some who engage in violence (the irony as they protest violence). Not many are rushing to justify such extremes.  But we should not allow the extremes to garner all the attention. The young are quite often the conscience of a people.  Full of passion and idealism- factors that should lead us to listen even more closely.   It was Isaiah who related the prophecy that “a child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6) 

I’m reminded of the closing scene in Franco Zeffirelli’s Brother Sun Sister Moon, the beautiful portrayal of the life of St. Francis.  Francis and his young band of celibate monks have been cast aside by the religious establishment for being too extreme and idealistic. In an audience with the Pope, Francis asks if they are wrong.  The Pope (played by Sir Alec Guinness) says, “We are encrusted with our riches and power while you in your poverty put us to shame.” 

Do you have thoughts to share?  I’d love to hear them.  Let’s grab a cup of coffee!