Beware Bush and Bob Jones
Letter to the Editor
Considering the current media blitz covering Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush's visit to Bob Jones University in South Carolina, I find it shocking that members of the Notre Dame community are not more vocal in expressing their outrage. While Bush may not share the same views taught at BJU, it is appalling that Bush would choose an institution rooted in bigotry to kick off his South Carolina campaign.
In order to combat negative media concerning their views against inter-racial dating and Catholicism, Bob Jones University has posted an article "The Truth About Bob Jones University" on its Website. Using Bible passages, the "Truth" states that the basis for the Catholic faith is fundamentally wrong and implies that today's Catholics are stuck in pre-Reformation thinking. Its founder, Bob Jones Sr. has even referred to the Pope as the "Whore of Babylon." Yet, the university denies that it hates Catholics. The manner in which Bob Jones University hides behind the Bible is very similar to the way many hate-espousing organizations like the Ku Klux Klan misuse scripture in order to justify their actions. While BJU may attempt to spin-doctor its message, people need to look at the hard facts behind it.
Perhaps my anger at the Bush campaign is unnecessary, after all Bush was trying to appeal to the "religious right" that holds so much clout in the Republican Party. Was he just making the politically smart move? There are many other ways to appeal to religious conservatives, besides appearing at a University that portrays the "right" in such a negative manner. By appearing at BJU, Bush was making its message legitimate on a national level while he alienated Catholic voters. Bush needed extremist votes to win the primary, and he campaigned for those votes in an anti-Catholic arena. His recent "apology" to American Catholics is nothing more than an attempt to save his reputation. Do you think he regrets winning all of those "religious right" votes that boosted his South Carolina victory?
All Americans, not just Catholic-Americans, should choose another candidate besides George W. Bush. People need to open their eyes to the fact that anti-Catholic sentiment still exists in America. Consider Bush's appearance at BJU and the House of Representatives' recent rejection of Father Timothy O'Brien as House chaplain as a wake-up call that there is still a great deal of misunderstanding about Catholicism in the U.S. Catholic universities should serve as a rallying point for Americans to stop people like Bush, who would rather sell us out for votes than fight against bigotry. We need to join together to endorse candidates who favor tolerance and understanding. We need to fight against politicians who prostitute themselves in order to win any vote, even if the vote belongs to a bigot. American politics is in a sad state if candidates like Bush choose to offend Catholics in order to make the "politically strategic" move.
Jim Kwiatt
Senior, Off-Campus
March 2, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Thursday, March 9, 2000
