Wednesday night, the Bernie Sanders campaign announced that he will be giving a speech in September to an unexpected venue: Liberty University, the evangelical university founded by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell. In a statement, Sanders explained that the invitation came from the school itself and he views it as a way to talk to an audience whose views on many issues may differ from his:
"Liberty University was kind enough to invite me to address a convocation and I decided to accept. It goes without saying that my views on many issues — women’s rights, gay rights, education and many other issues — are very different from the opinions of some in the Liberty University community. I think it is important, however, to see if we can reach consensus regarding the grotesque level of income and wealth inequality in our country, about the collapse of the middle class, about the high level of childhood poverty, about climate change and other issues. It is very easy for a candidate to speak to people who hold the same views. It’s harder but important to reach out to others who look at the world differently. I look forward to meeting with the students and faculty of Liberty University."
I'm sure a number of you remember that Liberty is where Ted Cruz launched his presidential campaign not just because he shares their ideology but perhaps also because it was the one place where the audience was not allowed to leave until he was finished.
As we have seen from recent news reports Sanders certainly does not require that the doors be locked in order to keep his audiences engaged. (Though it does help when the "Black Lives Matter" folks don't interrupt him.)
In the Salon article it points out that Sanders is not the only prominent liberal to speak at Liberty as Ted Kennedy also spoke there in 1983.
However one has to admit it still takes a lot of guts to wander into the lion's den of Jerry Falwell's design and stand in front of an audience whose every lesson is ideological opposed to your own, and attempt to find common ground.
Just another way in which Bernie Sanders impresses us all.
Update: Well this is interesting.
1983 they had Ted Kennedy speak? Yeah, every thirty years or so they invite a token. /sarcasm
ReplyDeleteI'll bet the students will be polite (or else!) and they will go on their on accord, out of curiosity.
ReplyDeleteYesterday's debacle in Seattle spurred me to contribute more to the Bernie campaign.
You can rest assured that the debacle in Seattle is being funded by someone who is scared of the Bernie Buzz going on.
DeleteAgreed! But from which side?
DeleteIt is mandatory at Liberty U to attend convocation.
DeleteKudos to Bernie! This is what needs to happen in American politics. Instead of candidates just speaking to those of the same party they should open conversations with the "other side". He impresses me so much.
ReplyDeleteAlso, regarding the Black Lives Matter protesters, the group said that the two that interrupted Sander's appearance were not part of the BLM group were independents using the BLM name. Really poor behavior on their part, whoever they are, and giving a black eye to BLM in the process. Sanders won't have a problem with black activists at Liberty U., I doubt there are more than a handful of blacks that attend, it's a really, really white school.
Kudos no doubt.
Delete" keep your friends close and your enemies closer"
Godfather movie
A positively mature and intelligent move on Bernie's part. I am impressed as well.
Here's a thought.
ReplyDeleteLiberty University is supposed to be an evangelical Christian stronghold. What would happen if Bernie delivered a message in this vein:
-- A budget is a moral document. After all, the Bible tells us, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
-- Where was Jesus' heart? With the rich and powerful, or, with the poor and downtrodden?
-- If you are followers of Jesus, where should your hearts be: With the rich and powerful, or, with the hourly-wage workers at WalMart with no medical insurance?
-- And who should be favored by local, state, and federal budgets and policies? The rich and powerful, or, the people whom Jesus favored?
Put 'em on the spot and watch 'em squirm.
Nah, there is no place for Jesus in Fundamentalist Xianism. That's why they don't need a conscience or Free Will. They can do what they like and say Satan made them do it and everything is always forgiven.
DeleteJesus is nothing more than a handy buzzword to those creeps.
That's exactly the kind of speech I hope he gives! And he might want to mention that a certain political party has hijacked Christianity for their own very unChristian purposes.
Deleteoh wow!!! That would be epic !!
DeleteI find it interesting that no one here is giving Liberty University or it's president credit for inviting someone of an opposing viewpoint. Is this because it doesn't accord with the notion that evangelicals are narrow-minded?
ReplyDeleteAs for students not being able to leave the auditorium while Mr. Sanders speaks, I assume this policy is something the students themselves support - a way to assure that the speaker is not treated rudely. Students at LU are legal adults and if they didn't agree with the policies and mindset of LU they wouldn't be attending there. They aren't little children being forced by Mom and Dad to sit in the living room while someone is visiting.
One story I read said that they often invite people on the left to speak but nobody accepts.
DeleteReally? My nephews were told they were going to an evangelical white college. Period. Or they could pay for college themselves. None of them was independent enough to do it. These are kids 18-21. At an evangelical school. They do what they are told.
DeleteChristian Universities like Liberty are extremely restrictive about what is allowed to be discussed or taught in their classes. Believe me, they and the vast majority of their students are just as narrow minded as ever. Inviting Sanders to speak may be part of some kind of Christian charity or philosophy (love thy enemies). But, mainly it's to hold Sanders up as an example of everything scary and wrong that lies outside the walls of evangelical Christianity.
DeleteA a nurse educator, for shits and giggles I looked at their nursing curriculum: nursing with a biblical mindset????
DeleteDo you have a link for that 9:34AM. I would like to read it if you do and so would many others who have serious doubts as the validity of the protestors at the Sander's rally.
ReplyDeleteI'm not 9:34 but here is more. Sorry for the long link.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/beingliberal.org/photos/a.180479986274.135777.177486166274/10153143685956275/?type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story
I read a tweet explaining that the two rude females were from another organization and the spokesperson for BLM Seattle confirmed they weren't with their organization, now I can't find it! I'll keep looking and post it here if I run across it again.
DeleteSuffice it to say, these two rude cretins did no favors to the BLM movement. They're behavior was atrocious and it makes me feel bad for the bette- behaved members of this group because they lost a lot of support due to the actions of these two unhinged idiots.
https://twitter.com/lhfang
DeleteLee Fang explains a bit about the confusion on his twitter. Apparently there are three Facebook accounts for BLM Seattle, the third of which these women just started a few days ago. Seems like they are coat-tailing on the BLM movement, using Black Lives Matter in the gmails, etc, but aren't really part of the official Seattle BLM, just a few rogue trouble makers. Here is the group that they are allied with:
https://outsideagitators206.org/who-we-are/
Portion of item #1 of their "4 Points of Unity":
"...any movement to end anti-Black racism must be led by Black people."
Why they were in Bernie's face makes no sense as last I checked he's a white guy and according to item #1 of their manifesto is automatically exempted from helping to end their struggle due to the color of his skin.
Just angry reactionary people wanting to get their face and names in the news and going about it in all the wrong ways.
Thank you 11:03AM. The problem with loosely organized groups like BLMis that some usurper can come in and do immense damage for their own ego, like what happened with Sanders yesterday. Lots of little cooks in the kitchen. BLM had better get a handle on who is who and what is what before their movement blows up.
DeleteRead this Tweet and the comments that follow: https://twitter.com/brianmwise/status/630200903253897220
Delete12:04pm
DeleteThey issued that tweet to Bernie Sanders yet they have allowed negative comments to run amok on their own Facebook without issuing a statement naming the two protesters as rogue activists. The comments are scathing and this truly has hurt their movement that's why I don't understand why their PR is not all over this screaming from the media rooftops that these two insurgents were not related to BLM Seattle.
Oh well, I guess if they don't care then why should I, I just feel bad for Bernie Sanders.
Kajo ~ my favorite, so far, from your link:
Delete"Cynthia Burt @cjbdexter 19h19 hours ago
@brianmwise Not a Bernie supporter but something doesnt smell right. As Jon S said, if you smell something, say something. It's just off."
Those were, indeed, the last words Jon spoke on The Daily Show: If you smell something, say something.
Attendance at the weekly convocation is mandatory for all students at Liberty. I am 99% certain students are not permitted to leave until the convocation is over. I know two people who have children that attend there. So, cut Cruz some slack because the university mandates attendance:)
ReplyDeleteSanders certainly is aware and respectful of differences in beliefs before going there.
For what this is worth, a dad referred to god speaking to him in a manner I and others would state we had a gut instinct or intuition to do or check on something. I realized people are raised or trained to credit God instead of their conscience, critical thinking, emotions and judgment.
http://www.liberty.edu/spiritualprograms/index.cfm?PID=32826
ReplyDeleteConvocation at Liberty U
Senator Sander's message transcends location and audience.
ReplyDeleteThe pressure isn't on Sen. Sanders, it's on the students at Liberty who are going to be exposed to it.
I think they'll be happy to go and see Bernie. He's not a "Demonrat" so they won't have to Hate him, and after being forced to attend Ted Cruz's little shindig they might enjoy exercising some *real* liberty.
DeleteMark my words, Bernie will be showing up at his next engagement surrounded by Law enforcement. It's frightening to see that these people could have such close access to him! He really does need to beef up his security, even though he isn't fond of traveling with armed guards, I think this little incident proves that it is a necessity.
ReplyDeleteOh, for God's sake, give Bernie some credit, fool. Nobody wanted to hurt him.
DeleteYeah. "These people" always messing things up for nice white folk.
DeletePer the update: well that makes perfect sense. Make BLM look like the thugs the GOP wants to think all blacks are, PLUS keep Sanders from addressing another huge crowd, which ticked some of them off. Great work, Reince. Your tricks and lies and awful plans will not work this time. The people are taking back their country and their Congress in 2016.
ReplyDeleteWell, check their FACEBOOK, they are really acting like thugs, and people hate them already.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/BLMSeattle
I seriously doubt that these two women were GOP operatives. According to their website they're not too fond of white people so I don't think they'd do the bidding of a bunch of rich white guys.
DeleteThis is a fake BLM Seattle Facebook that was started by the protesters only 3 days ago. Notice the name Marissa Johnson, she's one of the protesters posing as a Black Lives Matter Seattle person but really is allied with this hate group:
Deletehttps://outsideagitators206.org/who-we-are/
Here's the link to the real BLM Seattle Facebook, and yet they are getting really beat up over the actions of the two imposters.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Lives-Matter-Seattle/1537733223161214
I'm not surprised at all. Democratic candidates are always willing to speak/listen to anyone. Unlike GOP candidates that try and just talk to those with the same ideas.
ReplyDeleteBlack Lives Matter..... The Dems Tea Party of 2016. Lol.
ReplyDeleteWatch it happen.
When cops begin executing teabaggers in the street you will have a point.
DeleteGo get a job, you useless leech.
Lol 4:30.... a liberal telling me to get a job....
DeleteTell that to Baltimore and Ferguson instead, you'll do the whole damn nation a favor. I of course, have always had a job.
Love these leeches always claiming they have a job while yet again proving that they have nothing better to do than troll IM.
DeleteLoser.
Hahahaa 7:29.
DeleteTypical liberal. Got nothing but bullshit.
An still stuck on the "troll" word I see. That make you feel like a big internet hero? Using the troll word. Huh? Does it you big macho internet stud?
You a big "troll" fighter on the internets are you? Just like your troll fighting cousins at C4P?
trol troll troll troll troll troll troll lol. Moron.
Bernie -- POTUS must be able spell correctly. Apparently.
ReplyDeleteYou're that disgusting previous poster.
DeleteYou'll be voting for Presidentess Palin, won't you?
Here's some more information. I think this may be credible. It was a possible Palin supporter disrupting a Bernie event?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.democraticunderground.com/10027060303#post9
""I had a Sarah Palin button on backpack" Who is BLMS's Marissa "Johnson" Jenae?"
What seems to be as screencap of the facebook with the quote.
Someone on the Democratic Underground says
" She's a fundy."
Screencaps:
https://twitter.com/timallik
Well well
DeleteIs this person a theology student at Seattle Pacifc University?
http://spu.edu/academics/school-of-theology/undergraduate-programs/student-stories/marissa-johnson
It's a small world. The pastor of Wasilla Bible Church
(The Palin family's "church") Larry Kroon is a graduate of graduate of Seattle Pacific University.
We know a family who's kid attends LU online because she got a scholarship, she intends to take her core courses, then switch to a public university to get her degree. As far as I can tell, she hasn't had to attend the convocation at all, but I've seen some of her coursework, and it leaves a lot to be desired. I don't understand her logic, she could attend community college for free, then transfer out. What's mandatory is daily prayer and an essay on religious dogma. And, of course, christian theology classes sprinkled with a liberal dose of bible readings and written essays.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of allowing opposing views and open discussions are a great idea, If he gets one to open their eyes to critical thinking and social issues, it's worth it. If they have to "toe the line" and do as they're told, then what's the point?
28 THOUSAND in Portland tonight.
ReplyDeleteOne of the women who interrupted Sanders is a devotee of Sarah Palin. You may want to look into this. It's important to recognize that black people have diverse ideology and agenda and often co-opt the movements of others. There too many assumptions that all black people walk in lock step.
ReplyDelete