Ignorance issue is more of maturity issue

Brian Wallheimer
Editor in Chief

Over the past few weeks, there have been chalkings around the campus that promote homophobic ideas. I understand the word homophobic is strong, but I believe it is the right word for this situation.

The front page of the Sept. 28 Alestle had a picture of one of the chalkings that read, "Strait Pride." What we left out were other chalkings found around the campus walkways. Another read, "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." One read "Anti Global." Yet another damned homosexuals to hell.

There is no need for these chalkings at SIUE, or anywhere for that matter. People's lifestyles are their decisions. These chalkings show a low level of maturity, and intellect as well.

It is one thing to be proud of being straight, but it is another to judge someone else for not sharing your view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but when your opinion is expressed in a manner that oppresses another person's rights, you have gone too far.

I am a major supporter of the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech, but I cannot support that right when that speech is intended to hurt people. As a child, I learned that if you abuse a privilege, it can be taken away. This is true with the freedom of speech. People in many countries do not have that right and we should value ours. If we misuse what we have, we face consequences.

Freedom of speech is meant to allow people to say what they think without fear of persecution. When we use this freedom to slander others or make hurtful statements, we are misusing our freedom. There is too much hate and unhappiness in the world as it is. We don't need any more.

The chalkings show the ignorance of the people who wrote them. We are in a place of diversity, and no one is forced to be here. We have to accept the people around us whether we like it or not because they have just as much right to be here as anyone else.

If the person or persons who made the chalkings are reading this, I hope you see what you have done. You have made what should be a comfortable environment for all students a hostile place for many. I hope that you can mature and accept people for whom they are. I'm not asking that you like everyone, just that you tolerate all people.

Everyone has a trait that is undesirable to someone else. Just think how you might feel if there were a chalking damning you to hell merely because of the way you look or your lifestyle.