Perhaps it takes a while for news items to trickle down to where we live in Colorado – namely a very small town in the midst of a valley. I received a link from AFA Action Alert about the “cartoons” of Jesus Christ which seem to make Insurgent editor Jessica Brown a very happy camper because she “pissed off” so many people. Now her actions and decisions will reach a worldwide audience and I think she may be surprised to find that few will follow her lead or appreciate her actions.
My comment to you is that I feel the sorriest for Jessica. Really? Yes, I do. I gather that Jessica is a student? If so, her future looms ahead, and, one would presume, she is aiming for a career in journalism? Even if not, her choices now will potentially affect her deeply in the future.
Yes, as a Christian, I am deeply offended. I was saddened most of all. Why? Ironically, had Jessica resorted to responsible reporting and published an article or series of articles that centered on her reasons – based on solid, clearly-stated research and sources – for believing that Jesus was a homosexual, even though I might have wholeheartedly disagreed, I would have defended her every right (particularly in this country) to publish those articles. Instead, she saw fit to do nothing more than piss off Christians. She is clearly not a responsible journalist.
Jessica’s future is ahead of her. She has now agreeably made a name for herself. What she will find as potential employers look over her resumé is that many doors will close – doors that might have been opened to professional, reliable and responsible jobs. She will get hired, but she might have asked herself who would hire her should she go forward with her obvious decision. Those of us who are older, have “been there, done that” and those of us who “wear the T-shirt” know how she has potentially damaged her future. Sure, she’ll get hired. Whether it be in journalism or some other field. But, who will hire her? Will it be the people who can help her reach the true big leagues? I doubt it.
I also feel sorry for her because she obviously does not realize the power of the press and how it can be used for change. Believe me, this didn’t change a thing. In fact, it just serves to galvanize the Christian community who see it and make us all stronger as a community. She chose a group of people she knows as “safe” and who would not riot and burn down the campus. She did not show any “bravery” in her decision to take on any issue. It was smut under the guise of “thought-provoking journalism” and it backfired miserably.
The biggest reason I feel very sorry for this young woman has to do with the fact that she (or probably her parents) are paying dearly for her education. They most likely believed that she would receive good leadership skills, good life-balancing skills and be led to those critical points of making good decisions by trusted professionals who would help her think about her choices before acting on them.
Obviously, at the University, that is not the case. She has been badly cheated by the University Administration and other adults who were entrusted with this task.
The administration of the University has now clearly let it be known that this kind of smut is “okay,” or perhaps they just wished it would “go away.” It hasn’t, it won’t and their attitude has brought shame to the majority of professors and other professionals who work hard every day to make the University a quality institution of higher learning. The administration also represents all of the other students on campus as well and, as of now, the students who have been deeply offended have been told they don’t matter.
Yes, Brown has clearly made a name for herself. Unfortunately, it is a name that will not serve her well when she enters the real world and goes head-to-head with the real professionals in any field.
Ellyn George lives in Center, Colo.