I saw We are Marshall tonight. The movie about Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia and the tragedy that struck their instituion during their 1970 football season. First let me say that it’s a wonderful film, that from all I can find in research (i’m trying really hard these days not to say things with out trying to get as many facts as possible) is pretty historically accurate (I always like when Hollywood can do things right).

As I was watching the film it hit me…it hit me real hard. I think my one and only true complaint about my instituion of higher education is our inability to create community. You go to any state school in Florida, and in any state for that matter and the overwhelming sense of community you feel is insane. Go down to the other instituion of higher education in our town and the sense of community is great. Why do we not have a sense of community?

Agendas.

We have too many folks who are out for themselves and it’s amazing because we’re a “Christ-centered liberal arts college” yet we have so many folks who would rather show their self-centeredness than create a Christ-centered community. I love my school, don’t get me wrong, I question things (i’m 21 years old…I question everything) they do, but I truly and devoted to our cause. I just wish more folks would be too. Going to a basketball game, a baseball game, a student life planned activity IS NOT COMMUNITY. Community is stepping up to the plate and showing pride in your school. Stop littering for the love of pete, stop treating employees of the school who may be lest educated than you like dirt, and deffinetely stop being so darn fake to them(they see right through you). Stop pretending like you’re the only right person on that campus, just because you think someone else is wrong doesn’t neccesarily mean you’re right…here’s an idea…BOTH OF YOU ARE WRONG!

The beauty of gaining a higher education is the ability to LEARN, to grow your body, your mind and your spirit (uh oh…body, mind and spirit…that’s devil talk right there). It’s the ability for you to begin to comprehend, analiyze, and draw a logical conclusion based on what you’ve found instead of what mommy and daddy and professor smith have told you.

I guess another reason this was on my mind is watching the USF bowl game yesterday. Man…what I seen from those USF students…it wasn’t spirit…it was community. I’m sorry…spirit is painting your face your school colors and cheering at a basketball game. Community is driving from Tampa to Birmingham, Alabama to support a team that up until this point in their football program was a bunch of loosers and saying that no matter the outcome of the game they’ll still be YOUR USF BULLS. Community is the car pool to the game and meeting new people. Community is coming together in the greatess time of need and meeting the need of the moment…TOGETHER.

I pray that maybe one day we’ll have an authentic college community here.

Merry Christmas Folks. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanza. Feliz Navidad. And if I forgot your holy day It’s because I’m ignorant…hopefully next year I’ll remember it. Never the less happy I’m sorry I forgot your holy day.

P.S. That was not political correctness every person of every faith has the right to be wished a peaceful, joyful celebration of their choice. Oh my goodness that’s right Christian Right…I think it’s ok to say happy holidays, and I serve Jesus just like you. I’m not lessoning the value of Christmas, I’m simply being tolerant (which by the way, I’m working on a very long blog entry about tolerance…I’m so sick of the right thinking it’s wrong to be tolerant…that’s what half of our country hates the other half, and oddly enough 50 percent of both halves believe the same daggum thing!) of their belief system.

Carpe Diem

One Response to “We are…who knows”

1. Kenny Says:
   December 28th, 2006 at 9:32 pm

   agendas and lose of focus! We have, or certain people at the school, lost focus of what matters. EDUCATION MATTERS. but based off our checkbook you would have plants, housekeeping, and etc. mattering more!ki

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