Portayal
of Religion at Drag Ball Offensive
To
the Editors:
Although
Drag Ball was nearly two weeks ago, I still find it imperative to
bring up a subject portrayed by Oberlin students during the runway
show.
As most of the student body knows, a skit portraying the Holy Family
was enacted that mocked and degraded Christianity. Many of you may
say that it was done in the spirit of fun and jest. However, there
was an underlying opinion the skit was attempting to portray; that
Christianity has been an institution dominated by a patriarchal
hierarchy that fails to acknowledge women and people of different
sexualities, and sexual lifestyles. However, this issue is clearly
one that cannot be defined so objectively. One can also validly
say that society has caused such pervasive inequality and that God
and the Holy Family did not, for the only message God has offered
has been one of agape, deep love for every living being.
Moreover, Drag Ball is meant to advocate positively the cause for
acceptance of differing sexualities and lifestyles. Was there anything
positive that resulted from this lewd and deeply offensive portrayal
of Christianity? Although the idea of drag and transsexual living
has been persecuted by society, why then must Oberlin respond with
a similar form of persecution? Oberlin has prided itself on acceptance
and understanding of all people. We must honor that tradition by
advocating our ideas in a respectful manner, for if we dont
(as this skit didnt) Oberlin will be practicing a terrible
form of hypocrisy. This skit has had direct offensive implications
on the Christian community at Oberlin. One may not agree with Christianity,
but it certainly is not morally just to insult Christians. Thus,
Oberlin should not seek unethical retribution, only a deeper awareness
and acceptance to the cause it is trying to advocate.
Lorna
Cobb
Double-Degree first-year
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