Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The afternoons on Wescoe Beach are now warm enough to allow two near-permanent fixtures back on campus: Those guys playing hacky sack and the seasonal assortment of street preachers.
I try to maintain a generally non-confrontational disposition, so when I am walking across campus and see a crowd foaming like the ocean before a storm, I turn my head and cross the street in order to avoid the situation.
nutgraf
Sometimes though, especially when the guy in the green, three-piece suit sits on his folding chair at the top of Wescoe’s stairs, I duck under someone’s arm in order to catch a few notes of his droning voice.
Sometimes though, especially when the guy in the green, three-piece suit sits on his folding chair at the top of Wescoe’s stairs, I duck under someone’s arm in order to catch a few notes of his droning voice. I like to listen to the music of his speeches, which incorporates the taunts from the crowd with his own imprecations. Listening to him is something of a guilty pleasure for me.
Whether we gather around him because we are angry or intrigued, we have only three options since we can’t ban free speech in a public place (nor would we want to).
The first possibility is simply to keep heckling, and spit back at his outrageous statements. Our second choice is to turn our heads away and walk on the other side of the street.
We have another choice, though. Instead of yelling, which won’t change anyone’s mind, we could become known as the prime destination for street preachers. What if the University of Kansas became famous for our courtesy and receptivity toward anyone who stood up and shouted from the top of the stairs?
This would change things in two ways. First, the street preachers of the Fred Phelpsian persuasion, the ones spoiling for a fight, would find themselves bored by a group of students who had no intention of growing angry and instead asked careful questions about the source of their views. Second, and this is the exciting thing to me, people who wanted open and honest debate would feel free to stand up and talk.
I would love to see an 80-year-old Presbyterian stand up opposite a Tibetan Buddhist to debate the path to God. I don’t pretend they would agree, but as it is, we don’t even know what the differences are because we’re too caught up in yelling.
When the hacky sacks and the street preachers begin to reemerge on Wescoe, ignore those preachers, whatever religion they are, whose only goal is to invite heckling. But, when you find a preacher who honestly wants to talk, don’t attack because you disagree; rather, ask some questions and listen to the responses. Help us create an atmosphere at Kansas which rejects pointless arguments and seeks the truth instead.
Schneider is a Topeka junior in English.
A generation ablaze
Forty years ago today, the Kansas Union burned during one of the ...
‘Confrontational Evangelist’
Brother Jed, a self-proclaimed preacher, travels around to college campuses in order ...
Bornstein: Weapon of choice against God-fearing preachers
An alternate to those who preach a message of hate and fear.
Basketball and football players scuffle outside Wescoe ...
The fight started after one of the Morris twins pushed a football ...
Living by the Book
Student makes money from playing the bagpipes
Chris Hannemann, Wichita junior, plays the bagpipes as a main source of ...
Low budget restricts elevator renovations
For more than one year, elevator repairs in buildings such as Wescoe ...
Players involved in second fight
Students report football and basketball team members scuffle behind Budig Hall.
Liberals confuse Coulter’s words, react without listening ...
A Lesson In Leaping
I watched my brother hurl himself thirty feet into the muddy water ...
Morning Brew: Running clears one’s mind and ...
During stressful times, only 20 minutes of running can help.
Vulgar kickoff chant draws criticism
‘Muck Fizzou’ is on its way out, and the Athletics Department thinks ...
BMX riders propose a local racing track
A new biking group, LARRI-BMX, seeks the city’s approval for a 1,500-foot ...
Interview with Calexico
Violence and profanity among fans are becoming ...
The recent “teabagging” incident between the Oregon University duck and Houston University ...
Perkins to speak during integrity week
Speech by athletics director part NSCS promotion
Free For All: October 10, 2007
Looks like someone forgot their power towel.
Political speakers in high demand
Dole Institute and SUA attract figures for political lectures.
Dealing with an end
Breaking up can have benefits
Better safe than sorry
SafeRide and SafeBus provide an often-unappreciated service to students.
Good Afternoon Mrs. E
One-hundred-and-thirty-seven buildings occupy the 1,000-acre Lawrence campus and more than 100 are ...
Police ride-along proves interesting experience
Chambers, officer were on duty when a McCollum resident reportedly overdosed on ...
Letter: Hecklers at speech should be ashamed
Facilities Operations working long hours to combat ...
Handicap ramps and stairs are the main safety concerns to clear before ...
That's funny
The game of improv might not be as hard to play as ...
Free For All: 8/22/05
All teacher wants is a little peace ...
Students and teachers find recent on-campus construction disruptive, yet no formal complaints ...
When a stranger doesn't knock
A night meant for relaxing brought some unexpected--and unwanted--company
Letter: Other places on campus are vulgar, ...
A strong foundation: Campus architect builds legacy
After a 63-year career, Warren Corman, University Architect, will retire on Thursday.
Mass. Street Mayhem
Fans poured out bars and restaurants on Massachusetts Street on Sunday after ...
Notes from Election 2008
Kansan staff members attend a Barack Obama event in Kansas City on ...
Brew: Don’t overuse sports jargon
Here is a list of what to do when confronted with unfamiliar ...
A look at KU's changing face of ...
University's turbulent past has evolved into a somewhat tranquil state of activism.
‘Jewish Jordan’ talks faith, basketball
Jewish Division 1 player who never played on holy days speaks tonight ...
A Two Wheeled World: The Life of ...
Local and professional riders explore the laws of gravity.
A dose of reality in the ER
One writer’s shock to the system after visiting the set of the ...
Catch of the Week: Micaela Clarke
Our weekly peek at a fish in the KU sea.
Obama delivers speech in Osawatomie
The President's speech focused on income inequality and a fairer tax code.
Protesters to march against killings
Solidarity Revolutionary Center volunteers protest both police killings and military occupations.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID