Love Thy Neighbor (So Long as He's Like You in Every Respect...)

Do not misunderstand me- Houghton has a great many good qualities. We've got beautiful campus, warm dorms, modern facilities, a well-stocked library, wireless internet, and good food- even if it is a little bland time to time.

However, for all its fame as a "community", "unity", and "diversity" tolerance is not one of Houghton's greatest attributes. Sure there's a general philosophy of "we don't have to agree" when it comes to minor disagreements such as the merits of breakfast or the quality of a chapel sermon, however, should you differ from the student body's mainstream philosophy, God help you.

It's here that Houghton's dark side really comes through. There's nothing wrong with not liking those who are different- after all, society is based on mutual needs, goals, and philosophies. However disliking someone for being different is never acceptable. While Houghton has done all in its power to make the campus more diverse, Houghton's treatment of those who are diverse leaves much to be desired.

If you're different enough- if you're far away enough from what's deemed to be wholesome or holy- then chances are you'll be treated as if you were nothing more than a half-crazed homeless man. If your a Democrat, you might be given the courtesy of the "You're entitled to your own wrong and unethical point of view". If you're a liberal or a hard-core leftist, you'll get the same amount of respect and credence as a conspiracy theory. Your arguments, philosophies, and world-view will be considered to be either childish, Utopian fantasies or angry, irrational fanaticism (and as a Communist, believe me, I know...). Some will laugh and shrug you off as if you're a joke, others will angrily snap at your heretical statements as if they were a personal attack. Respect is for those who conform.

But it's not just politics or philosophy- it can be your actions as well. Last year when the Chapel Scanners were removed by a self-appointed bunch of rebels known as "La Revolucion", there was a massive outcry from much of the student body, not so much because of the anti-Chapel rule the group had made, but because of it's act of rebellion. Lashing against the system might be glorified elsewhere, but at Houghton, fighting the machine will not not gain the support of the masses. On the contrary, one of the quickest ways to a table at the back of the cafeteria is through raging against the machine.

So-called "unethical" behavior is yet another way to put yourself in the stocks. With a still-powerful Wesleyan background, smoking, drinking, and gambling are placed along side a list of other sins in the Community Covenant. As a result, smoking, drinking, and gambling are often treated as veritable sins. You don't have to be an alcoholic or an addict, there's enough of an anti-liquor/tobacco/gaming movement to ostracize those who do choose to sip a glass of wine now and then, or once in a while play some blackjack. Even with the policy change, "sketchy" dancing is considered to be immoral by some and therefore so are the dancers. "Love of the sinner, hate the sin" has yet to take hold here.

And so we reach the conclusion. Are we saying we should turn a blind eye to what others do? Are we to accept everything?
Not at all.
Obviously there are certain things which cannot be tolerated. We shouldn't condone crimes or sins or the poor choices of others. We have every right to hold our own opinions.
So do they.
And simply because a person or group of persons do hold differing ideals doesn't mean they should be burnt at the stake. We can believe a person to be wrong and still respect their choices and actions and beliefs behind them. We need to cut each other some slack and not demonize them for simply being different.

Can't we all just get along?