Page 8 - Phoenix1998-99

Thursday, September 17. 1998 - Page 8 COMMENTARY Quirks, Part II: Highlighter Intolerance Letter to the Editor My highlighters don't get along. They Anne Butler strikes again with an computer. The screen saver had just kicked in. bicker and argue and even have fights. My article about harmony and "Oh wow, man! It's like I'm flying through Just a Little Respect desktop and papers are always covered in dif- tolerance. space, man! Whoa!" ferentcolored streaks from their brawls. While The battle between Pink and Green was Smoking, drinking, and partying: are this does make my homework very colorful, heating up. Green took a swipe at Pink. Pink these not rights that many students exercise my professors don't seem to be too fond of it, muttering or staring into space. He gives a new deftly avoided it by jumping backwards. Un- - whether publicly or personally? In addi- and, as a result, my grades are slipping. meaning to the "high" part of highlighter' I fortunately he collided with the enraptured tion, are nOI words like f***, sh**, and d*** The root problem seems to be that I have should never have left him next to that open Blue, causing Blue to fall off the desk in the four highlighters, and all are a different color. bottle of white-out. path of the vacuum. Blue was sucked into the pronounced by many students, regardless of Having established who they might offend? Green is loud, hotheaded, and downright They're bickering continued until that one vacuum. mean. He always insults the others, and often fateful day: The vacuum made grating and clanking that point, why do a few students still insist (or any other Bib- that engaging in Christian he's the one that starts the fights. He's also "Eh, you stupid pansy!" Green was 'in full sounds as I hurried to tum it off. I pulled the lical religion) activities exceeds the bound- something of a drunkard, sucking up all the form, yelling at Pink, "Why you be insulting plug and retrieved Blue from the vacuum bag aries? Near the beginning of the semester, Itook I keep asking myself if there was some way to prevent his death. Could I have it upon myself, in agreement with members of the Christian Fellowship group, to make stopped the arguing before it led to violence? 200 flyers concerning it school-wide invita- tion to a prayer meeting. The prayer meet- ing, called "See You at the Pole," will prob- spare ink Ikeep in the inkwell. my work?" while the others looked on. Blue's body was ably already have taken place by the time this Yellow is a coward. She hates to fight, but "Well," Pink sniffed, "It is good for some- mangled, the cap dangling. There was no way is always insulted and drawn into a fight by one of your ... limited intelligence." he could mark something again. Pink, Green, article is published. Iput the majority of these flyers on the front desk, along with the other Green. She generally leaves long streaks on "Now, you be insulting me brain? Oh, and Yellow stared in shock at the dead flyers, in Decker. The next day, they were my homework as she tries to run from that bully you're gonna pay for that, pencil-lover!" highlighter in my hand. I glared at them all, all gone. Green. Eventually, he always comers her and Pink grinned smugly, "So like a barbarian and they shrank from my view. One could argue that they do not want beats her up. She just cowers, too afraid to to switch to violence at the first opportunity. "Look where your fighting has gotten you. someone's religion forced upon them. My fight back. Don't you agree Yellow?" He's gone now!" I swept up the stunned high- response would be for that person to simply Pink is very haughty. He thinks himself Yellow was cowering in a corner. She lighters with one hand and threw them in a not take a flyer nor attend the prayer meet- above all the others, and sees it as his duty to looked up fearfully- "DON'T HURT ME!" drawer, along with Blue's carcass. Then I ing. Despite this logical alternative, some- help the "savages." He calls Yellow a fool, Pink sighed. "Ah, poor dumb beast, but at slammed the drawer shut, locking it. Blue an airhead, and Green a barbarian. Pink least she has the wisdom you lack, Green." So that's how I lost Blue. I guess it could has strange tastes in romantic situations, which Green growled, "Now ya call me 'n ani- seem really insignificant, just one little One could argue that prompts much criticism by Green (calling him mal! You're in for it now!" He dropped back highlighter, but I used Blue often and it hurts they do not want a pencil-lover and homo-lighter). Pink is the into a ready pose. now that he's not around. only one who regularly fights back with Green, "Well if!must engage in such a vulgar sport Ikeep asking myself if there was some way someone's religion though mainly his attacks are verbal and pa- in order to satisfy your petty ego, then Iwill to prevent his death. Could I have stopped the tronizing in nature. destroy you." Pink dropped into a fighting arguing before it led to violence? Is a death forced upon them. My Blue, well, he doesn't care about much of stance. worth a stupid dispute over a being's color? response would be for anything. Generally he just sits off by himself Meanwhile, Blue was staring in awe at my Well, is it? that person to simply not take ajlyer nor attend the prayer meeting. one believed that there was justice in basi- cally stripping the believers' rights away by not allowing them to be informed. I am sure that anyone would agree that there is no logic in confiscating a batch of flyers concerning, for example, the joining of a drama club. There is obviously no sense in preventing a drama-oriented student from knowing about the club - simply because one's field of interest is not acting. Enough said. Some do not want Christianity to be dis- cussed or acted upon anywhere near their comfort zone, but it seem~ to be perfectly acceptable to force upon everyone, within ear-range, one's Christ-opposing beliefs and morals (i.e. swearing). These actions are, frankly, double standards and are hypocriti- cal. . To whomever is guilty of these accusa- tions, Istrongly suggest that you think things out more thoroughly before you act. What you did was contrary to what you would agree with if someone violated your own interests. Sarah Hill If you wish to submit a letter to the Editor it must be written in Ctartsworks 4.0 and both a hard copy and the disk must be enclosed. Please leave it in the Phoenix box at the Information desk at least one week before publication.