Ashley Pierce is a political science freshman and Mustang Daily conservative columnist.
A few Christmases ago in Santa Monica, Calif., a group of atheists became offended (how they love that word) by Christmas decorations at a local park. Then they challenged the city about it.
They were told the park had lots that people bid for to put decorations on every year (Hanukkah decorations included). The atheists naturally decided to buy their own lot (even though they have no holiday to celebrate). But they did not stop at one lot, or even a few: they outbid almost all the Christian and Jewish members of the community.
That holiday season the park, once full of Christmas and Hanukkah scenes, was full of anti-Christian decorations (a non-religious Santa or Rudolph would have been just fine).
Today, Christianity is under attack. Readers, you can all roll your eyes and send me hate mail, but it’s occurring and the evidence is everywhere. This nation has turned against 78 percent of its own population and the mainstream media has completely ignored it.
Christians in Egypt were persecuted and tortured on March 26 in Egypt for protesting the Muslim Brotherhood. They were dragged to a nearby mosque and tortured (some Muslim protestors included). But the news networks were completely silent about the entire affair.
After hearing about it, I tried to find out more so I Googled “Christians persecuted Egypt.” The Internet findings were disappointing.
Fox News and unheard-of news websites were the only sources that came up on the first page of the search, besides one article in the Wall Street Journal. With any other huge catastrophe, CNN, Los Angeles Times and The New York Times would all have been on that first page of searches. Why weren’t they? They have no articles about it.
CNN and Los Angeles Times have no articles currently covering that story. The New York Times does have one article that came up about Christians being targeted in Egypt — but it’s from 2011.
CNN should have been all over that. Am I right? Am I wrong to think that Christians being tortured in Egypt should be news? Doesn’t CNN cover big stories like that? Yes, they do, but apparently this wasn’t newsworthy enough.
The media ignoring a story that is newsworthy horrifies me. The mainstream media, much like Hollywood, frowns upon Christianity and it is seen time and time again. Our country seems to be headed in the same direction.
An InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Michigan was recently denied approval from the school’s board for breaking its non-discrimination code. The code was put in place to be sure that campus clubs welcome all types of students.
The Christian club apparently broke the school code by not allowing members who were non-Christians to run for club leadership positions. Another branch of the InterVarsity club has since been kicked off another college campus in Florida for the same reasons.
That would be the equivalent of demanding an on-campus Democrat club to allow its leadership roles to be given to anyone: Republicans, Libertarians, that one guy in your class that still thinks George Bush is president and so on.
It would be a silly rule. I cannot even begin to fathom why the school’s board would even begin to think this is a logical reason to remove the club.
While the majority of Americans affiliate with some denomination of Christianity, those in charge of the media, the school systems and Hollywood (but that’s a whole other discussion) don’t seem to understand that. They ignore a huge majority of the population and it seems to be getting worse every day.
Christianity isn’t forced upon Americans — it’s not the national religion and would never be stated to be — but Americans are forcing it out and lashing out against it as though it were an oppressive dictator.
For a country and a younger generation that have become so obsessed with tolerance and accepting all people, Christians don’t seem to be on that list. So listen up mainstream media, and practice what you preach. Tolerate Christians and actually cover stories that are important — such as a group of people being tortured and targeted in Egypt or an on-campus club being unfairly and ridiculously accused of discrimination.
Ashley,
I think it’s great that you’re writing these articles, I really do.
However, i’d like to recommend that when you point fingers to not use the middle finger every time. It’s fine if your articles place the blame on certain groups or peoples, but do try to instill some restraint when you do this.
You’re generalizing an entire group of people and painting them as evil—I understand if you don’t like the particular actions of some Atheists, but it is completely unfair and illogical to assume they are all like this.
I can only assume from your other articles that you believe all Atheists are like this, because you seem to be staunchly opposed to certain groups in your writings. And please be my guest to refute this claim; as far as I can tell and as far as every reader of the article now knows, you receive a barrage of hate mail and spiteful comments.
Atheism doesn’t mean you hate all religions, it simply means that you don’t believe in one. Irreligion is far step from anti-theism. I’ve heard many Christians at Cal Poly use the word “Atheist” with a negative connotation when they simply refer to someone who is anti-theism.
Look, it’s easy to point fingers. CHRISTIANS always force beliefs down people’s throats even when they’re polite—I mean, just look at the Westboro Baptist church. CHRISTIANS think its ok to hate gays and picket funerals. It’s disgusting, and they think non-Christians are the ones without morals.
See that? That’s me giving you the middle finger. And it’s COMPLETELY unnecessary. If you assume all atheists are like this, I should assume all Christians are radicals like the Westboro church, right?
Whether or not you respond to this doesn’t matter to me. In all likely hood, you’ve been reading this entire article with the intent of finding refutations and counter arguments to my points…just don’t. Please. Tone down the aggressive writing and focus on something concrete; Focus everything on the devastating attacks that happened recently, or perhaps talk about the struggles that Christian groups have on some campuses—and use solid evidence to back them up instead of the slippery slope argument you so love. I’m sure some of the readers love the controversy you stir up, but having an intellectual article every once in a while wouldn’t hurt either.
Regards,
A fellow Christian.
Hey, I’m sorry if you think I hate atheists or generalize them – but this article was about the mainstream media , not atheists.
The introduction was to demonstrate that Christianity is not looked at fondly anymore and that there are atheists groups that don’t like it publicly displayed. I was not raising a middle finger at anyone. In fact the introduction was the only place I mentioned them when I look back over this.
This was not an attack of atheists but of the news media failing to recognize persecutions and torture as news. I’m sorry if you saw it any differently.
Hey, I’m sorry if you think I hate atheists or generalize them – but this article was about the mainstream media , not atheists.
The introduction was to demonstrate that Christianity is not looked at fondly anymore and that there are atheists groups that don’t like it publicly displayed. I was not raising a middle finger at anyone. In fact the introduction was the only place I mentioned them when I look back over this.
This was not an attack of atheists but of the news media failing to recognize persecutions and torture as news. I’m sorry if you saw it any differently.
While I disagree that Christianity is at all at risk in this country or in the rest of the Western world, I can agree that the news media does not cover international stories such as the protests and religious violence in Egypt as much as they should. I think that’s of greater concern than the “plight” of religious clubs in secular academic institutions for being forced to include everyone (I also know of no law or policy of the Democrats club that says a republican can not be an officer, by the way. Their unlikelihood of winning an officer position =/= discrimination, sorry). I wish that this article had looked more at religion as an international issue, an area of concern with actual factual basis.
Show me constant religious-based violence against Christians in this country, rather than against non-Christians (Florida mosque bomb, 2010; Missouri mosque fire, August 2012; Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting, August 2012. I’d be happy to find more, this is just what came up in a 90 second google search.), and I could see a basis for your argument. Hard mode: find violence against white Christians, who are the community most vocal about the persecution of Christian beliefs. When we’re not a culture saturated with Christmas songs 2 months out of the year, and nightly bible study in the student union, and Christian radio stations taking up a sizable slice of the top half of the dial, and talk radio suffixing “Muslim” with “extremists” and not “people”. When people gape in horror at the thought of a Christian community center in proximity to the World Trade Center, maybe I’d see some cause for concern.
If the one straw of domestic persecution you can grasp at is rich atheists buying lots open to purchase by the general public (yes, even Christians!!) to display their chosen symbol, then I find your point incredibly difficult to care about. It’s hard not seeing your symbols as the only ones represented, when that’s the privilege you’ve been GIVEN in our society until recent years. But it’s UNEARNED privilege and visibility over other social/religious groups, and as we move toward a society that is equal — as in, for all people, not just “equal” for Christians — you’re just going to have to get used to hearing from voices other than your own. Non-Christians have been tolerant of Christians in this country by default for as long as we’ve all been here. Maybe it’s time for Christians to try a little acceptance.
Once again you prove your naivete on social issues.
If one group can outbid all the others on holiday decorations for a park, doesn’t that just mean a system where holiday park decorations can be bought up is not the solution? Never mind that this is Santa Monica we’re talking about, which isn’t exactly a conservative stronghold.
As for the news media not covering the Coptic Christians, I find it funny that you go after them without mentioning what they were covering that day, then get fussy about them not covering international news. The news media is NOTORIOUS for covering national news and ignoring international issues. What? Did you expect immediate news coverage just because your victims were Christians? What about all the other human rights violations that have been waiting for reconigtion from the American news media? Get in the back of the line, sister!
Just because Christians make up 78% of the US population doesn’t mean Christian-related news gets 78% of the attention. You aren’t even thinking about whether or not all those Christians have the same opinons as you when you write these articles. Instead of embracing the differences of opinions like other religions do, you fly the Jesus flag and assume everyone who identifies as Christian will fall in line behind you.
Reality is this: even if 78% of the USA is Christian, it’s doubtful that even 50% of those folks go to church every single Sunday. If you’ve got a problem with how people feel about your religion, you should stop looking outside the flock for the spectres of wolves and probably start paying attention to the straying sheep.
Once again you prove your naivete on social issues.
If one group can outbid all the others on holiday decorations for a park, doesn’t that just mean a system where holiday park decorations can be bought up is not the solution? Never mind that this is Santa Monica we’re talking about, which isn’t exactly a conservative stronghold.
As for the news media not covering the Coptic Christians, I find it funny that you go after them without mentioning what they were covering that day, then get fussy about them not covering international news. The news media is NOTORIOUS for covering national news and ignoring international issues. What? Did you expect immediate news coverage just because your victims were Christians? What about all the other human rights violations that have been waiting for reconigtion from the American news media? Get in the back of the line, sister!
Just because Christians make up 78% of the US population doesn’t mean Christian-related news gets 78% of the attention. You aren’t even thinking about whether or not all those Christians have the same opinons as you when you write these articles. Instead of embracing the differences of opinions like other religions do, you fly the Jesus flag and assume everyone who identifies as Christian will fall in line behind you.
Reality is this: even if 78% of the USA is Christian, it’s doubtful that even 50% of those folks go to church every single Sunday. If you’ve got a problem with how people feel about your religion, you should stop looking outside the flock for the spectres of wolves and probably start paying attention to the straying sheep.
Your comparison of the “non-discriminatory” Christian club to a hypothetical on-campus Democrat club was poorly thought out. The hypothetical Democrat club wouldn’t be forced to have its “leadership roles…given to anyone”–it simply would have to let anyone run. And if the Democrat club members elected a Republican into a leadership role, who would be at fault? Not the school code. In the same vein, so what if a non-Christian wanted to help contribute to a Christian club in a leadership role? It’s not like they would create some massive conspiracy theory to end Christianity. Isn’t the whole point of Christianity spreading love and tolerance and all that good stuff to everyone? Not that it matters. If the Christian club members cared so much, wouldn’t they just not elect a non-Christian?
Also, this nation was only officially declared “under God” to distinguish us from “godless communists,” so…
Your comparison of the "non-discriminatory" Christian club to a hypothetical on-campus Democrat club was poorly thought out. The hypothetical Democrat club wouldn’t be forced to have its "leadership roles…given to anyone"–it simply would have to let anyone run. And if the Democrat club members elected a Republican into a leadership role, who would be at fault? Not the school code. In the same vein, so what if a non-Christian wanted to help contribute to a Christian club in a leadership role? It’s not like they would create some massive conspiracy theory to end Christianity. Isn’t the whole point of Christianity spreading love and tolerance and all that good stuff to everyone? Not that it matters. If the Christian club members cared so much, wouldn’t they just not elect a non-Christian?
Also, this nation was only officially declared "under God" to distinguish us from "godless communists," so…
Hello Ashley,
I think the underlying theme between all the comments on your articles is that maybe right now is not the best time for you to be publishing a regular column in the Daily. It is really admirable that you are being vocal about what you believe in and want to bring it to as many people as possible. I’m sure it’s also great to get as much practice as possible writing and all of this experience will service you well as you look into fields related to polisci. That being said, the arguments and points you’ve been making from your articles come from a very narrow world view. Christians and non-christians, liberals and conservatives alike have expressed their frustration with reading your articles because of this. Since the Mustang Daily reaches so many people there is definitely an expectation for a certain level of writing on a subject that everyone is so passionate about.
After you’ve learned more during your time here at Cal Poly and in your life you’ll look back on these articles and realize how silly some points sound. So please consider coming back to this down the road, but for now these articles might be best suited for a politics blog or something like that.
Dear Ashley,
You inaccuratey mentioned that only FOX news covered the recent attacks on Egyptian Copts. Just this past weekend, numerous publications, including CNN, NYTimes and LA Times, dedicated multiple stories to these horrific attacks.
There is actually another story about the plight of Christians in next door Israel/Palestine that escaped mainstream media. During the Easter holiday, many Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem and other Palestinian cities were not allowed to go and pray in East Jerusalem (in their own land!).
Since you seem more concerned about the discrimination of Christians and given the GOP’s increasing hostility towards Palestinians, you would have more integrity if you were against the persecution of Palestinian Christians by Israel.
You’re right, I Googled and did find articles about it, and I’m very glad to see that it finally has been reported on!
This article was written over spring break and has been in the hands of my editor since. At the time there were no articles up and a Google search of Christians persecuted in Egypt brought up nothing except Fox News and unheard of publications. I can gladly show you the screenshot I shared on Facebook if you don’t believe me.
I will note that the articles I did find (perhaps I’m not searching correctly if you want to send links if I’m wrong) were not on the specific instance I was talking about on March 26th, in which Christians were dragged to a nearby mosque which was taken over by the Muslim Brotherhood and where they were tortured. However, you are completely correct that articles have come out covering events after in Egypt and I’m glad to hear it!
I’m sorry you have had to deal with so many negative responses to your article. I think the readers should open their eyes and see that the point of the article is to raise awareness about a vast discontinuity between the actual demographics of our nation and what is being represented in the media. Obviously this applies to a lot of categorizations, but that does not make your emphasis on Christianity any less legitimate. It is merely the aspect you chose to focus on.
It saddens me that people can be so passionate about tolerance of some people and lifestyles while remaining intolerant and even hateful of Christians who make up such a large percentage of our population here at Cal Poly and across our country. In a sense, the popular trend toward tolerance has left behind a hypocritical trail of victims–those whose affiliations have been stereotyped as being intolerant. I hope that in an effort to pursue a peaceful and accepting society, people can learn to give each other the benefit of the doubt and see past labels.
Ashley, work on your Google-fu. CNN covered Egyptian Christians getting tortured on February 28th, 2013. It took me a single search attempt to uncover this article.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-934992
Also work on your tone–from the first sentence, you come off as a petulant child, and I know you can write better than that.
But finally, I find it ironic that you juxtapose Christians in America getting “oppressed” (which is not happening) with a story of Christians actually getting oppressed in Egypt (which is happening). It really puts into perspective precisely how protected religious groups, including Christians, are in America, and how thankful we should be that our views are actually not under systematic assault from the government, media, or population.
Ashley, work on your Google-fu. CNN covered Egyptian Christians getting tortured on February 28th, 2013. It took me a single search attempt to uncover this article.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-934992
Also work on your tone–from the first sentence, you come off as a petulant child, and I know you can write better than that.
But finally, I find it ironic that you juxtapose Christians in America getting "oppressed" (which is not happening) with a story of Christians actually getting oppressed in Egypt (which is happening). It really puts into perspective precisely how protected religious groups, including Christians, are in America, and how thankful we should be that our views are actually not under systematic assault from the government, media, or population.
As I just responded above, the specific instance I was looking at took place on March 26th and searches for that event led to what I wrote in the article. Glad to hear the February instance was covered.
I respect your opinion that you believe Christians are not being persecuted in America. I hope you have a lovely day.
I’m sorry to break this to you, but you’re full of it.
First up, our nation wasn’t ‘one nation, under god’ until the 50’s, 1950’s, not 1850’s. We started as a non-theocracy, and we try to stay that way.
People are tortured and killed all over the world every day. Do you know what other big news stories happened around that day? Our Secretary of State made an unscheduled stop in Afghanistan, there were 8 suicide bombers in response. The UN pulled half their staff out of Syria. We signed a new a defensive pact with South Korea. SCOTUS was debating DOMA and gay marriage. Petraeus apologized for his ‘stupidity’. We got our first woman head of the Secret Service… So maybe there were other more important stories in the world. There are thousands of violent deaths every day in the world, what makes these tortures more important?
1 day earlier, on the 25th, 32 Muslims were killed by Buddhists militants in Burma. Another 10,000 were displaced, mosques were destroyed and homes were burned. When is the last time we had a christian church burned, that wasn’t due to racial issues, here in the USA? When was the last time a Christian had their house burned, or kicked out of town because they were a Christian? Did you know about what happened in Burma? Do you even care because they aren’t Christians? Where is your outrage that that was even less reported than the Christians in Egypt?
You’re not being oppressed, you have it so good here, you don’t even understand what it is to be oppressed. You’re like a young child that is told it can’t eat all the Halloween candy in one night. It’s pretty laughable to say that the 78% majority is being oppressed. You probably don’t know this, but there are 7 states where there are laws on the books that ban me from serving in public office because I’m an Atheist. How many states ban you from serving?
I’m sorry to break this to you, but you’re full of it.
First up, our nation wasn’t ‘one nation, under god’ until the 50’s, 1950’s, not 1850’s. We started as a non-theocracy, and we try to stay that way.
People are tortured and killed all over the world every day. Do you know what other big news stories happened around that day? Our Secretary of State made an unscheduled stop in Afghanistan, there were 8 suicide bombers in response. The UN pulled half their staff out of Syria. We signed a new a defensive pact with South Korea. SCOTUS was debating DOMA and gay marriage. Petraeus apologized for his ‘stupidity’. We got our first woman head of the Secret Service… So maybe there were other more important stories in the world. There are thousands of violent deaths every day in the world, what makes these tortures more important?
1 day earlier, on the 25th, 32 Muslims were killed by Buddhists militants in Burma. Another 10,000 were displaced, mosques were destroyed and homes were burned. When is the last time we had a christian church burned, that wasn’t due to racial issues, here in the USA? When was the last time a Christian had their house burned, or kicked out of town because they were a Christian? Did you know about what happened in Burma? Do you even care because they aren’t Christians? Where is your outrage that that was even less reported than the Christians in Egypt?
You’re not being oppressed, you have it so good here, you don’t even understand what it is to be oppressed. You’re like a young child that is told it can’t eat all the Halloween candy in one night. It’s pretty laughable to say that the 78% majority is being oppressed. You probably don’t know this, but there are 7 states where there are laws on the books that ban me from serving in public office because I’m an Atheist. How many states ban you from serving?