BJUnity

Hello, Doctor Bob

 

I feel like it’s Groundhog’s Day because here we go again.

In May 2005, I published an article in several papers nationwide. My hope was that with a change in leadership, Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC would improve in its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students, faculty and staff. Sadly, not only have my hopes been dashed in that regard but it also seems that Dr. Bob Jones III hasn’t gone anywhere. On the contrary although he is officially the chancellor, he appears to be running the show at 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd. as much as ever. With that in mind, I’m republishing this piece here. It’s time for the homophobia to end.

Please join us by signing the petition to demand an apology for BJU’s homophobia.

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Good-bye, Dr. Bob

Through faith and hope, I have overcome my affliction, but it wasn’t my homosexuality. By RICH MERRITT – May. 13, 2005

Editors note: Dr. Bob Jones III retired as president of Bob Jones University on May 7, 2005. This is an open letter addressing his tenure in office.

DEAR DR. BOB:

In 1980, you told the Associated Press, “It would not be a bad idea to bring the swift justice today that was brought in Israel’s day against murder and rape and homosexuality. I guarantee it would solve the problem post-haste if homosexuals were stoned, if murderers were immediately killed, as the Bible commands.”

At the time of these remarks, you and other fundamentalist ministers had gone to the White House to deliver petitions to President Carter. Your efforts were rewarded: The Civil Rights Act has never been extended to cover sexual orientation.

Now, you are retiring after 35 years as president of Bob Jones University, the school in Greenville, S.C., founded in 1927 by your grandfather. I was a student at your various schools for 14 years of your 35-year administration.

As a seventh grader, I was required to attend daily chapel services with the 5,000-member student body and faculty. In this overwhelming forum, I regularly heard similar condemnations, such as the stoning to death of homosexuals.

In the early 1980s, your late father, the chancellor of BJU, preached about a new and deadly disease afflicting only homosexuals. This ominous disease was proof, he said, that God does not tolerate wickedness. This was the first time I heard about AIDS.

In the best of circumstances, adolescence is an extremely tough part of life. For teenagers struggling with their sexual identity and other quandaries of differentness, the difficulties of these years are monumental. At your self-proclaimed Fortress of Fundamentalism, a young gay person is in hell on earth.

When presented with the idea that we are gay by birth and not by choice, fundamentalists typically respond that through faith and prayer, any gay man or lesbian can grow in Christ while seeking His help in overcoming his or her affliction.

Indeed, through faith, hope and experience, I have made tremendous growth, both spiritually and personally, as I’ve overcome my affliction.

My affliction however, is not my homosexuality; rather, my affliction has been the tormented shackles of fundamentalist bigotry.

In the 20 years since you handed me my Bob Jones Academy high school diploma, I’ve slowly and painfully learned how to combat the self-hatred I learned in your schools. I’ve reprogrammed my mind away from the contempt for other sinners that you and your institution instilled in me.

The main difference between us is that your belief system requires you to reject all other belief systems, especially ones practiced by those you define as pagan. My liberal belief system requires that I maintain respect for opinions, traditions and practices of all other faiths, even those held by people who wish that I be stoned to death.

No one on my side is saying that we should stone all fundamentalists. In fact, although I don’t agree with what you believe anymore, as a Marine, I was willing to give my life to protect your right to hold extremist beliefs, your right to spew your incendiary vitriol.

After the November 2004 elections, you delivered a letter to President Bush in which you wrote, “Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe liberals nothing. In your re-election, God has graciously granted America a reprieve from the agenda of paganism.” Quite the contrary, Dr. Jones. The only hope for America is if people like you and I begin to live and work in harmony. I realized long ago that you and the fundamentalist crowd arent going away.

Still, there arent enough stones in Greenville, S.C., to wipe out us liberals. Even if there were, families of all sorts will continue to give birth to gay sons and lesbian daughters.

(Editorial assistance by B. Andrew Plant; Photograph by Robin Henson; article originally published in 2005 The Southern Voice | A Window Media Publication)