Officials at Louisiana State University defended their decision to remove Christian crosses from a picture, then felt pressured to apologize because of the enormous backlash.
Marianne Ryan
October 22, 2012
After reading the full story below, you may wonder what communist country did this happened in? China? Cuba? Venezula? No, none of the above. Actually it didn't happen in a communist country at all. It may surprise you to know that it happened here, in America. Land of the free, home of the brave. You may also wonder then, "Has the Muslim Brotherhood covertly infiltrated our academia like they have our government and churches." "Has Hilter come back to life?" Decide for yourselves.
Although the story went nationwide with articles in www.FoxNews.com, www.CNN.com, www.ChristianPost.com, and many others, I chose to take the story from CampusReform.org found at http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?ID=4441.
My response to the story about the LSU officials photoshopping out crosses that Christian students had painted on themselves is way too long for the "COMMENTS" section of any web site article or social blog, so I put it here on my blog, below the story. I am hoping someone will read it and it will help them come to understand why things like this are happening in this day and age. Especially the LSU officials. Because they need to see this and rethink their position.
I have three teenage children, all seriously considering a college education in their very near future. However, we certainly will be crossing Louisiana State University off our consideration list, and will not be checking this university out any time soon. And I'm sure once my Christian family and friends see this article they, too, will be doing the very same thing. Well, it's no loss. I'm sure Louisiana State University does not welcome Christians anyway. It's pretty obvious.
America is at a dangerous crossroads at this time in our history. After throwing God out of schools, teaching our children that we come from apes, and giving them the finer points of sex education by offering them free condemns, and informing them as to where they can go to get an abortion without parents knowledge, Academia is now teaching our young that we do not have first amendment rights (http://www.illinoisfirstamendmentcenter.com/freedoms.php) anymore. I believe by LSU officials editing the crosses out, it was a blatant violation of the students Consitutional rights. Just what are academians teaching our children?
The First Amendment says that people have the right to speak freely without government interference. Check out:
http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/firstamendment/firstamendment
Amendment ICONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791
Also see:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofrights
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Here is the story from CampusReform.org:
University officials stand by decision to digitally remove symbol of Christian cross off students
By Linnie Leavines, on Oct 19, 2012
Follow the author of this article: @linnieleavines
Officials at Louisiana State University defended their decision on Thursday to publish a photo in which they removed symbols of the Christian cross worn by students at Saturday’s football game.
The doctored photo, which appeared in an e-mail about the LSU vs. South Carolina game, featured a group of students known as “The Painted Posse,” who paint their bodies with LSU school colors and small crosses for every home game.
The students, who are Christians, were shocked to see the photo which appeared to be otherwise untouched.
“I was a bit surprised, because our pictures get used so frequently, and the cross had never been edited before,” said Posse member Cameron Cooke in an interview with Campus Reform.
“The cross painting is important to me because it represents who I am as a Christ follower,” Cooke added, “ and it reminds me who I need to act like in Death Valley.
”
But in a separate interview with Campus Reform on Thursday, Vice Chancellor for Communications Herb Vincent acknowledge the school had altered the image to prevent other students from being offended.
“
LSU Athletics attempts not to imply any particular religious or political message in any of its correspondence with fans,” said Vincent. “Thus the crosses were edited out of the photos.”
The image of the students with the Christian cross, before it was digitally removed by school officials (below):
I am a graphic designer (not to mention a Jesus-loving, God-fearing, Bible-believer), and my husband is a professional photographer. With over twenty years background experience in this industry, I am speaking from professional point of view. And my professional opinion is that the digitally photoshopped picture is pathetic. Not only because the digitally photoshopped picture looks off color, but the kids in it look sick. Compare it to the original. The original is sharp and colorful. My professional opinion is that this is an extremely poor retouching job. And it didn't have to be done. But you don't have to be a professional to realize this.
Actually, I believe what the LSU Officials did was disgraceful. The LSU officials didn't ask permission, or even mentioned to the group that they were going to digitally remove the small crosses from the picture of “The Painted Posse”, who paints their bodies with LSU school colors and small crosses for every home football game they attend.
LSU Officials never felt compelled to remove the crosses in the past. But, for some reason, it seems, the officials felt compelled to do so this time. Their reason? According to the article, it says, "Vice Chancellor for Communications Herb Vincent acknowledged the school altered the image to prevent other students from being offended."
They thought the crosses would "offend" other students. However, when this group of Christian students had painted crosses on themselves a number of times before, no one had ever complained that they felt offended by the The Painted Posse's crosses then. Not once. However, when I heard this story, I was surely offended by the actions of the LSU Officials. And, if you read the comment sections of all the different media outlets that ran this story, you will see I am not alone. There are many, many others that felt offended by the actions the LSU Officials took. By altering the image the LSU Officials have offended students.
I found it interesting that, "Vincent said the university will avoid using similar photos in the future to avoid controversy." Why do I find it interesting? Because there was no controversy to avoid until LSU Officials altered the photo. They created the controversy!
So let's recap: LSU Officials said they will avoid any controversy (which they never had before, except the controversy they caused this time by altering the photo), and they will avoid offending anyone (who was never offended before, except when LSU Officials altered the photo). And they will do these wonderful deeds by avoiding using “The Painted Posse's” pictures again. Hmmm . . . doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it? And these people teach our children?
Many years ago, when I was much younger, perhaps in my 20's, I was unsure at that time if I would be alive to see the last days and end time Bible prophecy come to pass. It's pretty obvious as I read the daily papers, that I am here to see it happening. How can I tell? Because of what Jesus said would happen in the end days. I certainly see everything he warned us about happening in today's society.
When I first read this story, I have to say, I found that I was surprised by it (and a little saddened). I really shouldn't had been as surprised as I was. Why? Because, as I said earlier, I am a Bible-believing, Jesus-loving, God-fearing person. And to be a Bible-believer you have to be a Bible-reader. Which I am. And in the Bible, Jesus warns us many, many times what these days will be like (notice I used the word warn?).
He warned, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38). The rejection of Christ has a terrible consequence to pay! I don't think those LSU Officials realize how serious this is.
Here's some other words of Christ that need to be pondered:
Matthew 10:33, "But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."
Proverb 8:36, "All those who hate me love death.”
In a comment section one person wrote, "The cross IS an offence to the sinner, the disobediant, the rejector, & the one who refuses to take a stand. But to the believer, it is the rainbow, the Promise." And he's so right, because the Bible tells us, 1 Corinthians 1:18, "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God."
Unfortunately, we see John 12:43 at work all too often in today's world . . . John 12:43, "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
If they painted a crescent moon, or perhaps a pentagram, on themselves, would The LSU officials had removed these items? Or perhaps if they saw a Muslim in the picture, perhaps a woman with her burka or a man with his turban, would they had removed these items? Or is our God the only god they don't want any part of?
Any symbol or hint of Jesus Christ anymore has to be denied. Everyone else can force their perverted beliefs down our throats, but Christianity, and Jesus, can't be mentioned above a whisper, or someone may get offended. Yet, without him there is no hope.
The LSU officials did realize what they did was very stupid when they saw all the negative comments, mostly in favor of the students, and condemning the actions of the LSU Officials. They ended up apologizing.
LSU Apologizes for Editing Out Crosses in Photo, But New Policy No Better?
http://www.christianpost.com/news/lsu-apologizes-for-editing-out-crosses-in-photo-but-new-policy-no-better-83757/
By Alex Murashko ,
Christian Post Reporter
October 22, 2012|10:28 pm
A group of Christian students at Louisiana State University who make it a tradition before football games to paint their bodies in school colors along with small crosses on their chests received an apology Monday from college officials who digitally erased the crosses from a photo. However, a statement from LSU suggests that any photo having a religious or political symbol will no longer be considered for any of its communications having to do with promoting the college.
Prior to the apology, LSU stood firm in its decision to send the photo minus the crosses in an e-mail about the LSU vs. South Carolina game on Oct. 13. The featured group of LSU students is known as "The Painted Posse."
"LSU Athletics attempts not to imply any particular religious or political message in any of its correspondence with fans," Herb Vincent, who is the Vice Chancellor for Communications, told CampusReform.org last week. "Thus the crosses were edited out of the photos."
The Christian student group was shocked to see the photo which appeared to be otherwise untouched, according to news reports. In an interview done for local TV, members said they were not angry with the college, but would simply continue to wear their painted colors and their crosses to home games.
"I was a bit surprised, because our pictures get used so frequently, and the cross had never been edited before," said Posse member Cameron Cooke in an interview with Campus Reform.
"The cross painting is important to me because it represents who I am as a Christ follower and it reminds me who I need to act like in Death Valley," said Cooke.
LSU's Tiger Stadium is also known as "Death Valley" because of it being one of the most difficult places for visiting teams to play. The stadium is nationally known for having among the best game day atmospheres in college football.
The story of LSU's "photoshop" removal of the crosses received national media attention over this past weekend and by Monday an apology by the university was issued.
"LSU sent out a promotional message on October 15 to its sports fans asking for feedback on their experience at the LSU-South Carolina game on October 13. In messages to sports fans we attempt to convey no religious or political messaging," LSU officials stated in a Facebook post. "We did not intend to offend anyone by the editing of this photograph and in the future we will use another photo rather than make a similar edit. We erred in our judgment and we have communicated our apologies to the group of young men represented in the photo whose school spirit is second to none."
However, by late afternoon on Monday, more than 700 comments had been posted under LSU's Facebook apology statement, many of them not accepting of the apology.
"Having a policy of not taking photos of exceptional Tiger fans who happen to identify religiously does make them second class citizens," commented Thomas Tobias D'Anna, a former LSU student.
"You discriminate according to religious identification from the beginning. While religious identification is not the only form of diversity, it's a pretty big one. From the outset, you choose to be less diverse than any university that doesn't have a similar policy. And it's the kind of policy that will keep LSU from being able to recruit Tim Tebow types from any religious background. The proper response to this was just an apology…"
Contact: alex.murashko@christianpost.com; @AlexMurashko
(Twitter); Alex Wire
(Blog) @AlexMurashko
Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/lsu-apologizes-for-editing-out-crosses-in-photo-but-new-policy-no-better-83757/#xgME8AXB5cKAXLj5.99
Romans 1:18, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."
The LSU officials need to take heed to the words of Jesus Christ. They would be doing themselves a great disservice if they don't. It needs to be known that Jesus Christ is the ONLY truth out there . . . and we don't want to keep him hidden? We need to follow the example of the LSU students. Wake up people . . . the hour is getting late!
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