War Liberal

What is your point here? You, folks at BSC, and I wish this had not happened. Is BSC somehow responsible for the burned churches? Is BSC doing the wrong thing by choosing to worship at the churches?

The dean of the chapel says BSC is doing this to "join them in our sorrow over their loss." Is that a bad idea? Should BSC do less?

Seems that if you are going to go to all the trouble to find a place to unload your snark, you should find a worthy target.

He's just calling out an empty gesture meant as a public relations move for what it is.

On one hand "college officials stress that the pledge of help is related to BSC's ongoing community outreach, not a sense of guilt." On the other, they admit that "[t]his will be the first exposure for some to rural Baptist churches." They don't feel responsible, but they clearly wouldn't be there if their own students weren't involved. It's damage control, not some high-minded altruism. Mac's snark is warranted.

I believe that BSC is assuming undue guilt in this whole matter. They may have sustained a PR hit (by association), but I think people realize it's not the school's fault. Having said that, talk like:

"This will be as much a cross-cultural experience for some of our students as going to Calcutta...This will teach them respect and how much they can learn from people who are self-sufficient and who live their lives with dignity."

is incredibly condescending and says alot about the speaker's assumptions. I mean really. "Self-sufficient"?

JoeyT, I am sorry that you are so cynical as to assign a motive that you cannot know to the response by BSC. I agree with Susan that they are responding above and beyond what is necessary, but what is wrong with that?

I have been moved to respond with compassion to situations where I had NO connection (and perhaps you have, also). Why wouldn't someone (like BSC people) be even more likely to respond with compassion to a situation where they DID have a connection, even though they do not have responsibility?

I have seen someone try to help a bad situation caused by a brother or even a teammate. BSC is a small community, and I don't see much difference.

One good thing that will come out of this is to keep the story in the news. The church members who want to rebuild will likely need some assistance, and there are plenty of people in Alabama who will be glad to give time and money as long as they remember the need is there.

I still think the perpetrators should be required to make restitution by helping to rebuild the churches (as part of a prison work-release program). Doing that might help them understand how much damage they have done, not just to property but to people.

See, I think they should spend fifty years in beautiful Talladega Federal Prison. But that's just me.

Oh, Mac, I totally agree. I was serious about that "part of a prison work-release program" comment. I just think helping to rebuild the churches might result in some actual rehabilitation.