This year’s Coming Out Week reminded us that we had passed the one-year anniversary of the infamous rock-painting. For those who don’t remember, the rock outside Old Main, which had been painted to advertise Coming Out Week, was later repainted black with a Bible reference that condemns homosexuality (Romans 1:27).

While we do not agree with the methods in which this was carried out, the reaction of the Gustavus community reminded us of a concerning issue. There are people at Gustavus, including us, who adhere to the Bible and believe homosexuality is morally wrong, yet those people are deprived of their voice. It has been labeled as intolerant and muted by more vocal advocates of “tolerance.”

The issue of “tolerance” is a double-standard. Tolerance is preached everywhere on campus, and we are encouraged to accept all ethnicities, creeds, orientations, etc. The exception to this principle, however, seems to be that doctrines which do not preach universal acceptance should not be allowed. Why is it okay for those who preach tolerance to pick and choose whom they tolerate? For instance, we have not once felt that our beliefs are welcome on this campus. Is it because those beliefs are viewed as intolerant? This, we say, is intolerable.

Returning to the rock incident, during the days and weeks following, the person responsible was arguably the most hated person at Gustavus.  This person’s action was torn apart by many students and even some professors, merely for standing up for what he or she believed in.  Fighting so-called “hate,” and “intolerance,” with hate and intolerance seems somewhat ironic and hypocritical.

Gustavus is purportedly a campus that accepts all beliefs and is open to conversation, yet reactions to certain events suggest otherwise. Despite its avid defense of tolerance and acceptance, the Gustavus community manages to be harshly intolerant toward people that adhere to a different moral code than the louder voice on campus.

In order to truly practice what it preaches, the Gustavus community must accept all beliefs—not just those that are convenient.

Ethan Degner
Biology, ‘12
&
Josh Fredrickson
Mathematics, ‘12