Mr. Gallagher,

I currently attend Goshen College, and I would like to offer a couple specific responses to a man named Michael who responded to your interview with Bill Born.

As a student of Goshen College, I feel that many times, the general public misinterprets a lot of our beliefs, and writes us off as a completely liberal, hippy college. It is hard for us to overcome that stereotype, because when you step on campus, you see hundreds of people.

Unfortunately, visitors remember the one person that expresses themselves in ways that stand out immediately. You see the man wearing a skirt. I have never done so, I don't see the point, and I am part of the at least 97% majority of men on campus in both respects.

What you don't see is what you don't realize you're taking for granted. You don't see the group of friends walking to dinner together talking about classes. You don't see the pickup game of basketball. You don't see these things, because they are what society deems normal. And surprisingly enough, people here at Goshen are normal. No, we're not all gay. No, we're not all Muslim (an accusation I heard about from a friend working on the switchboard soon after this interview).

I would also like to respond specifically to a couple of Michael's arguments. First of all, as far as I am aware, Goshen has never taken the stance that we do not support the U.S. Government. I agree that that would be incredibly hypocritical if we accepted government funding if that was our stance. Not singing the national anthem is not our way of denouncing our government. I can't speak for the Mennonite Church, but I think that the reason Mennonites do not sing the national anthem or the pledge of allegiance is that they feel that those actions are the equivalent of raising our country to, or above, the level of God. One of the foundations of the Anabaptist faith is the separation of church and state, so they feel that these practices are a violation of some of those ideals. I wouldn’t say that I feel that way exactly, but I just want to explain what some others think. And again, I do not speak for the Mennonite Church. This is simply how I understand these aspects of the Church’s ideology.

I realize that this begs the question, “Why do you fly the flag or read the Constitution?” I get the impression that these are things that feel less forced upon the “disapproving” individuals. It is hard for me to explain this exactly, but there is a difference between saying, “There will be a reading of the Constitution today at 10:00. Feel free to come and listen” and, “Would everyone please rise for the national anthem?” In the former case, it is offering the opportunity. In the latter, it is a request. Again these policies are meant to cater to everyone, including the more religiously conservative among us.

Finally, I would like to address an issue that Michael posits that has always bothered me. I have a problem with religious arguments that include accusations that the other side “picks and chooses” to form their doctrines. In all honesty, who in the Christian faith doesn’t? I feel that you would be hard pressed to find anyone who subscribes to every rule in The Holy Bible. In my opinion, it is full of contradictions. I don’t think that is anything against it. However, I think that those who use the Bible to justify things like the death penalty and war are guiltier of these accusations. Personally, I do not take every word in the Bible literally. I believe that it is an extremely important book to all flavors of Christianity, not to mention Judaism.

Many of the conflicts are between the Old Testament and the teachings of Christ. For instance, I think there are major conflicts between the stories of war of the Old Testament and Jesus’ words: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” With this instance as an example, I usually try to live according to the ideals of Christ in place of the words of the Old Testament when there are conflicts. Before I get too personal, I would just like to say that I feel like everyone picks and chooses. Everyone. I don’t think this warrants a discussion of who picks and chooses more, but I think it should be acknowledged that no Christian can obey every rule in the Bible. So no religious discussion should involve this issue.

Now, while I think it is important that you and your viewers are aware of these positions I am putting forward, I want it to be known that I do not speak on behalf of Goshen College. At most, I give my interpretations of why I think Goshen has enacted certain policies. I felt like Bill did not answer all of your questions fully, and I think that is unfair to you, your viewers, Goshen’s students, its faculty, and its supporters. I would request that if by any small chance, you do use any of my statements, you mention that I am not an official representative of Goshen College, an expert on the Mennonite faith, nor do I necessarily hold the view held by the majority of those associated with the college.