George Fox University, a Quaker college in Newberg, Oregon (near Portland) was upset by a racist incident yesterday, when a life-size cardboard image of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree in the quad with a sign reading “Act Six reject,” referring to a scholarship program which benefits minorities (among others).
Steve Duin, a columnist for the (Portland) Oregonian, wrote about a gathering that took place on the campus yesterday:
Flanked by Act Six recipients and student leaders, [university President Robin] Baker reminded the assembly, “We are all created in the image of God and placed in this world to reflect the character of God.
“We can absolutely not hate those around us and say we love God. It is not possible.”
Ah, but it is par for the course in American political discourse, including much of which is generated by the right-wing publicity-seekers in the evangelical church. [...]
“Where do you learn critical thinking and dialogue in the evangelical community?” [Laura Simmons, who lectures on reconciliation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary] asked. “Progressive evangelicalism is growing but conservative evangelicals are louder. Those who make it into the media are not about dialogue. What you see is confrontation and defensiveness.
“When I talk to my classes about racism and sexism, I argue a lot of this stuff has its roots in laziness. It’s easier to make people into enemies than to understand why we disagree. I place myself under the evangelical tent, but I believe evangelicals will have to answer to God for the ways we have dehumanized other people and twisted the issues to support our own agendas.”
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