In Response To The Anti-Gay Cartoon In Notre Dame’s Observer

Posted on by TL

First, a word from the president … of the University of Notre Dame:

The Jan. 13 issue of the University of Notre Dame’s student newspaper The Observer included a cartoon that was inappropriate and offensive.

“The University denounces the implication that violence or expressions of hate toward any person or group of people is acceptable or a matter that should be taken lightly,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president.

In accordance with Notre Dame’s Spirit of Inclusion, a formal statement adopted by the officers of the University in 1997, at Notre Dame “we prize the uniqueness of all persons as God’s creatures” and welcome " all people, regardless of color, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, and nationality."

Further, “we value gay and lesbian members of this community as we value all members of this community. We condemn harassment of any kind” and “we consciously create an environment of mutual respect, hospitality and warmth in which none are strangers and all may flourish.”

The University respects The Observer’s status as an independent, student-run newspaper and appreciates that the editorial staff has issued an apology in its January 15th issue and that the cartoon’s authors also have expressed their regret. Notre Dame administrators will work with the Observer staff, as they say in their editorial, to “move forward, and….to promote…a culture of acceptance and support for all.”

In the wake of the publication of this cartoon, which has been widely covered in the media, all I could think was "here we go again." Certainly Fr. Jenkins’ words are welcome, especially when he says, “we value gay and lesbian members of this community as we value all members of this community. We condemn harassment of any kind” and “we consciously create an environment of mutual respect, hospitality and warmth in which none are strangers and all may flourish.” But as a Catholic institution, Notre Dame can only go so far.

Face it.

Please understand, this is not a slam at Catholicism. I do not believe Catholicism is limited to the Vatican, which many in the media seem to believe. All religions is local, to paraphrase former Speaker of the House Thomas "Tip" O’Neil. Church is what happens when I go to my parish and worship with my community. Our Catholic parish is open to all.

But Notre Dame is a bit more "on the map" than my parish is in the south suburbs of Chicago. As a Domer, I appreciate Fr. Jenkins words, but he needs to go much further. What does that mean? For that, I defer to Tom O’Brien ‘86, Michael August ‘96, Steven Saftig ’03, and Liam Dacey ‘04, officers of the Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College (GALA-ND/SMC):

As officers of the Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College (GALA-ND/SMC) for the past two years, we have encountered people on campus who disagree with us on many issues. What we have not encountered from the student body, faculty, or administration is the lack of respect evidenced by the publication of this hateful cartoon from other members of the Notre Dame community.

This is not a question of free speech. If the editors weren’t concerned with community standards, they wouldn’t have rejected the first version of the cartoon. No, the decision to publish it demonstrates a serious lack of judgment and lack of commitment to the Catholic belief in human dignity and stance against violence.
We know that the cartoon does not reflect the feelings of a majority of the people on the ND campus; and we have been heartened by many of the responses appearing in the Observer. But this will hurt the university unless it is clear that Notre Dame does not tolerate violence against any members of its community.

The author and editors seem to have missed the point of a Catholic education if they cannot see that LGBT students, faculty, staff and alumni are indeed members of the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s family and should be treated as such.

We make every attempt to share with people outside of campus the positive steps being made to improve the lives of the LGBT community at ND and SMC. Sometimes this takes convincing, even with our own membership. The publication of the cartoon is a prime example of why Notre Dame ranks first in The Princeton Review’s list of the most unwelcoming campuses for gay and lesbian students. The noise being generated by this will drown out any good news about the work being done by the students, faculty and Core Council. That’s not good news if you care about our university’s reputation.

The administration needs to take the lead in responding by holding panel discussions with the Observer, the faculty and the student body. GALA’s more-than-900 members are ready to join with the rest of the Notre Dame community in stating that the free flow of ideas can only occur if we respect each other.

Tom O’Brien ‘86, Michael August ‘96, Steven Saftig ’03, and Liam Dacey ‘04
GALA ND/SMC Officers

It’s time for Notre Dame to bring that respect to life. Fr. Jenkins and the University of Notre Dame Trustees need to step up.

Will County Businesses Love Todd Stroger

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The Sun-Times puts an interesting twist on the Todd Stroger saga: Will County businesses love Todd because Cook County taxes drive shoppers over the border.

From the Sun-Times:

The real reason why Todd Stroger will fail to win another term as Cook County Board president won’t be because of a dynamic new candidate who emerges to capture the electorate.

Stroger will be shown the door in the Feb. 2 primary not because he was unsuccessful getting a key endorsement again from the Fifth Floor at Chicago City Hall or from a certain fellow from Hyde Park who now resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

No, the single biggest reason why Todd Stroger is about to be bounced from office after one term can be found at Kenwood Liquors in Homer Glen.

Whoever replaces Stroger should stock the victory party with champagne from the store to show the proper appreciation.

Stroger might not be smart enough to realize it, but he’s done wonders for the Will County economy by ramming through a 1 percent sales tax increase on behalf of his constituency a year ago. The Cook County Board banded together to roll back half of the tax starting July 1, but the effect already has been felt across county lines.

Who cares if every man, woman and child across all income brackets in Cook County hates paying an extra penny for every dollar they spend?

As if you needed another reason to vote for someone besides Todd Stroger on February 2.

I’m still considering Toni Preckwinkle. She makes a good first impression. I hope its lasting.

Conservatives Longing For More Of Ross Perot’s ‘You People’

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I chanced on a blog today written by a self-proclaimed "Concerned Christian Conservative." The Left – Watch What They Do, Not What They Say! appears to be a decenly-traficked site for a relative newcomer to the blogosphere. The author laments in a January 11 post the use of the term "African American," seeming nostalgic for the days when other terms were used instead. And, just in case you want to accuse the writer of being racist, he had black friends in the 60s, so let’s have none of that.

Mostly, the author is still hurting for Ross Perot, who took heat during the 1992 presidential campaign when he referred to African Americans as "you people." Yes, you see, Perot is the victim here.

From the post:

It seems that the American People have just about had it with the contrived leftist power technique of “Political Correctness.” Yes, power technique, the technique of changing a simple word and meaning to another and over and over again. Example, the word used to describe people from the African Continent. We first used the name “colored people” than to “negro” and on to “black” and now “African-American.” It’s funny, I specifically remember in the 60’s when my black friends in college insisted that I call them black instead of colored. That was fine with me, it made sense and it seemed they were happy about the new name. Then came the very political name in the 1980’s “African-American.” Now, that name was purposely issued direct from the Democrat National Committee to manipulate the majority of whites in America. It irritated many in America that the black population needed to change their name again. Many just came to the conclusion that the black population in America had an identity crisis. But the real reason was to have more ammunition and issues to attack the majority white population, who usually voted Republican. It’s simply manipulation and power control over a majority for which they cannot gain control in other ways. Anyone who didn’t conform was labeled racist, thus the political overtones and manipulation.

Ross Perot found that out in his attempt at the Presidency when he made an off handed comment referring to a group of black voters as “You People.” Boy, you would have thought he used the “N” word.

As a Christian, I really don’t get some of these so-called "Christians." What is anyone losing by calling our black brothers and sisters "African American?"

How dare any group decide for themselves what they should be called without asking white Americans first? Racism is about power, and the writer misses the power of those words.

Blessings to all on this day celebrating the memory of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blessings and peace to all.

Uganda’s Catholic Bishops Come Out Against Proposed “Kill-The-Gays” Bill

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From the Human Rights Campaign:

Uganda’s Catholic Bishops have come out against the anti-gay bill that could impose the death penalty for homosexuals in Uganda. Citing the Bible, Dr. Cyrian Kizito Lwanga, the Archbishop of Kampala said that the bill “Does not pass a test of a Christian caring approach to this issue.”

Thank God for good bishops.

The video above is the entire Equally Speaking for Friday, January 15, 2010. Enjoy.

Antigay Group Focus On The Family Buys Super Bowl Ad

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From The Advocate:

The antigay group Focus on the Family will air a TV ad during the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, the Denver Post reports. The 30-second spot, which features University of Florida quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy-winner Tim Tebow and his mother, is supposed to be “life- and family-affirming,” a group spokesman said. In addition to his success on the football field, Tebow is known for his strong Christian beliefs and for wearing Bible verse citations inscribed on his game-day eye black.

From the Denver Post:

[Tim] Tebow and his mother will share one of their many positive personal stories, Schneeberger said, but he wouldn’t reveal which one. One contender is Pam Tebow’s decision to carry her son to term despite a life-threatening pregnancy in the Philippines, where she and her husband, Bob, were serving as Christian missionaries.

The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, also known for being home-schooled, winning an NCAA championship and wearing Bible-verse citations inscribed on his game-day eye black, agreed to appear in the ad because the issue of life is one he and his family feel strongly about, Schneeberger said.

Schneeberger wouldn’t say how much it cost to make the ad or the price of air time. However, TNS Media Intelligence reported Monday that 30-second Super Bowl commercial slots, which will reach an estimated 100 million viewers, are selling for $2.5 million to $2.8 million, down from last year’s record price on NBC of $3 million.

Uganda ‘Phobe to Attend Prayer Breakfast

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From The Advocate:

David Bahati, the author of Uganda’s so-called “kill the gays” bill, which proposes the death penalty for gay people, has announced that he will attend the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4. President Obama is also expected to attend the event.

According to the article, the annual prayer breakfast is organized by The Family, a conservative Christian organization that counts several high-ranking politicians among its members and whose teachings are said to have inspired Bahati’s bill.

NPR: Justice Department Intervenes In Gay Rights Suit (Audio and Text)

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From NPR:

For the first time in a decade, Justice Department lawyers have moved to intervene in a lawsuit on behalf of a gay high school student who was beaten up for being effeminate.

The case marks a novel interpretation of the Title IX statute, which prohibits discrimination against students on the basis of gender.

Gay and lesbian groups see it as a bold statement about the Obama administration’s priorities.

Brutal Harassment

The case centers around a 15-year-old named Jacob who lives in the town of Mohawk in upstate New York. His family requested that Jacob be identified only by his first name.

"He is one of the greatest, loving, timid kids you could meet," says Jacob’s father, Robbie Sullivan, who does not share his son’s last name. "I love him to death, and he doesn’t give me a bit of problem at all."

Long before Jacob came out of the closet at age 14, he was harassed for being effeminate. According to court papers, kids threw food at him and told him to get a sex change. One student pulled out a knife and threatened to string Jacob up the flagpole. A teacher allegedly told Jacob to "hate himself every day until he changed."

One day, Jacob came home from school limping. That evening, he called his father from a party and said he had sprained his ankle at the party.

Sullivan described taking his son to the hospital: "It was a really bad sprain. They put a cast on it, gave him crutches. And shortly after that, I found out that it didn’t happen at the party. It happened at the school, because somebody had pushed him down the stairs."

Over two years, Sullivan went to his son’s school three or four times a week to talk with the principal. According to court papers, officials did nothing. The harassment became so bad that Jacob changed school districts. With the help of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Sullivan eventually sued.

"A parent can only do so much against an entire school," he said. "I can’t go to the school and grab the students and investigate it myself. I have to rely on the school to hopefully do what they’re supposed to do."

School superintendent Joyce Caputo was at a conference Friday and was unavailable for comment. In August, she told the local newspaper, "Our district has not and will not knowingly tolerate discrimination or harassment of its students by anybody."

Sun-Times Endorses Robin Kelly For Treasurer

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From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Two strong Democratic candidates are vying to become the next Illinois treasurer.

But only one has the right experience, temperament and background for the job.

Robin Kelly, the chief of staff in the treasurer’s office, is the Chicago Sun-Times’ choice in the Feb. 2 primary.

Kelly, 53, served as a state representative from south suburban Matteson from 2003 to 2007. Previously, she was director of community affairs for the Village of Matteson.

In Springfield, Kelly, who has a Ph.D. in political science, is known for her smarts, honesty and ability to work with others. An effective legislator with a passion for economic development, she parlayed that into the chief of staff job. She and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias have upgraded that office, whose main function is to invest the state’s money, and run it well, notwithstanding major losses with one account in the Bright Start college savings program.

Is Jack Bauer A Terrorist? ’24’ Returns To Fox (Video Preview)

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From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Here’s one reason to be proud to be an American: No matter how deep the recession, no matter how hopeless the situation, we can rest assured that there will always be enough money in the budget to blow things up for entertainment purposes.

Rare is the series that doesn’t have collateral damage. "Trauma," "Sons of Anarchy," "FlashForward" — they’re all upping the pyrotechnic ante. Even "Desperate Housewives" devastated Wisteria Lane with a plane crash.

Impressive, yes. But those are the kinds of situations Jack Bauer eats for breakfast.

"24" is back, and although Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) toys with the idea of settling down and enjoying the quiet life with his granddaughter, he is soon prevailed upon to save Western Civilization. Again.

He narrowly escaped death when he was exposed to a bioagent last season. But thanks to daughter Kim’s generous donation of stem cells, he’s all better, 18 months later.

A former informant tracks down Jack in New York and draws him into a plot to kill a Mideast leader. President Hassan ("Slumdog Millionaire’s" Anil Kapoor) is about to sign a groundbreaking anti-nuclear treaty with Madame President Alison Taylor (Cherry Jones) at the United Nations. Peace is at stake!

The new season of ’24’ debuts Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. on WFLD, channel 12, in Chicago, Day 8: 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. On Monday, two new episodes will air beginning at 7:00 PM.

Is Jack Bauer terrorist or savior? Just as long as he’s fictional, I love the show, and plan to tune in every week.