Posted on 02/26/2002 3:54:43 AM PST by Diago
Despite my knowledge of ND's sorry state, I was still considering them for law school. Why do they have to make it even harder for me?
Unless geographical considerations are important, check out Gonzaga's Law School (Spokane, WA). The campus is little changed from when I was there over 25 years ago. The facilities have greatly improved, and the law school is highly rated, according to what I have read.
This letter was right on target, but this statement is a curious one. I can't imagine why devout Catholic parents would spend a fortune to have their child "educated" at a secular school like Notre Dame. For the price of an undergraduate degree at Notre Dame, you could pay for an undergraduate degree at most state schools plus 75% of an Ivy League graduate degree.
When I spent the four best years of my life there almost 30 years ago, I noticed one thing--when the sky turned the grayest, the Golden Dome shone the brightest. Those of us who love ND so strive through our comments and our contacts on campus to make ND the best it can be. That is why the "monologues" incident is so disturbing. We want ND to be the best, and the "monologues" detracts from that.
Among the best four years of my life was spent at that great Jesuit institution, Gonzaga University. During my 25th reunion last year, my wife fell in love with the place, and now she wants to send our kids there (hopefully on scholarship!). She could sense that I was 'back home', as I regaled her with the wonderful experiences, both academic and personal, that I enjoyed.
I wish you luck in your attempts to 'right the ship' at Notre Dame. Fortunately, the leadership at Gonzaga, led by Fr. Bob Spitzer, S.J. (GU President) has my alma mater headed on the right course.
Although ND may have greater visibility, I'll put the quality of Gonzaga's students and alumni up against ANY school in the nation.
You're going to have to do better than that! The Vagina Monologues are NOT playing on Gonzaga's campus!
I expected more class from an ND grad.
Clearly we're not going to find common ground here and I'm not going to respond in kind to your personal attacks.
All the best,
Dennis Moore
Learn about the Jesuit missions in Paraguay, the political structure of the Italian city states, the thought of Sir Thomas More, the writings of R.J. Rushdoony, the thought of Orestes Brownson, the monastical foundations of SS. Benedict and Columba, the legal theorists of the medieval Byzantine Empire, the Hanseatic and Schmalkaldic Leagues, the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the new German economy of Wilhelm Roepke, the social institutions of the Maryland colony, etc.
Religious thinkers, and religious thinkers practically alone, were the champions of liberty from the time of Samuel down to this day.
Socialism was an invention of godless men who rejected the concept of a perfect heavenly society and set out to create an earthly version. Who were the prominent socialists? Lenin, Trotsky, Mao, Stalin, Fourier, Bakunin, Kun, Pol Pot, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, Guevara, Marx, Engels, Luxemburg, Gramsci, Keynes, Hitler, Mussolini? Atheists all, not a believer among them.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY UNDER FIRE FOR BANNING PORNOGRAPHIC FEMINIST PLAYSPOKANE, Wash., March 1, 2002 (LSN.ca) - While various "Catholic" universities in the US have allowed the play, Gonzaga University, a Jesuit institution, has banned "The Vagina Monologues". Rev. Robert Spitzer, president of the university, explained his decision to ban the production from the university at a public debate this week.
Fr. Spitzer pointed out that one scene involved a lesbian sexual affair between a 16-year-old and an older woman, which was referred to as a "good rape." He noted that the scene was obviously contrary to the "Catholic and Christian view of marriage." Decisions on allowing certain speakers and productions on campus, "speaks volumes about who we are, what are mission is, what we believe," said Fr. Spitzer.
The play, written by Eve Ensler, consists of monologues delivered by several different women, including discussion of orgasms, pelvic exams, sexual abuse, sexual fantasies and childbirth. AP reports that it is being staged all over the country as a fund-raiser for "V-Day", a nonprofit organization that claims to want to stop violence against women.
See the AP coverage:
http://www.king5.com/localnews/NW_022702WABplaybanned.4e96289.html
http://www.tribnet.com/frame.asp?/news/religion/0227b213.html
If anyone would like to hear more from Fr. Spitzer, I strongly recommend his latest book, Healing the Culture. At our Reunion Weekend last year, Fr. Bob gave us a 1 1/2 hour lecture that summarized this book. It was awesome. Throughout this riveting lecture, this thought kept running through my head: Yes! This is my school! This is why I came to Gonzaga!
That weekend was my wife's first real exposure to Jesuit thinking, although she's a cradle Catholic. Within a span of 48 hours, her attitude changed from being a somewhat reluctant visitor to wanting our kids to follow in Dad's footsteps.
All I've got to do now is to figure out a way to pay for approximately $400,000 in tuition, books, lab fees, etc.! Piece of cake! I've got at least 3 more years before the first one heads off to college!
I sent my email to mr moore, let him know how I feel about his liberal attitude.
Feb. 13, 2002`The Vagina Monologues' violate Notre Dame
Sean Dudley freshman
A few years ago, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art displayed a painting of the Blessed Virgin with elephant dung thrown and smeared all over it. When the art museum received widespread criticism for showing such a tasteless and horrifically offensive piece, the museum spokesmen defended it in the name of "art."
"The Vagina Monologues" is very likely the most offensive play in modern theater. Describing in graphic detail women's most private body parts and encouraging females of all ages to get to know their vaginas by masturbating often and engaging in lesbian sexual encounters, this production flies like elephant dung in the face of all that the most chaste, most holy Virgin stands for at the top of the Golden Dome and in our hearts. That such a play should be allowed on Our Lady's campus makes me want to vomit, weep, scream and pull my hair out all at once. Why have we allowed — and even welcomed — this vile desecration of our school, our faith and Our Lady?
"Any theater is nonetheless the highest form of art," some might claim. Or, regarding any art form, "How can you censor true, heartfelt expression, no matter what the content?" Give me a break. The University buys into that? What if a student were to write and direct a play in which the actors have oral sex on stage in front of everyone in the audience? Or what if someone were to erect a new statue of Mary for the Grotto, except this time with elephant feces smeared all over it? Or what if someone were to take a bunch of pictures of vaginas and make an artsy collage to display at the Snite? Would you put it up? "The Vagina Monologues" is not art; it is desensitizing, morally repugnant trash.
How about the argument that this play should be allowed because it promotes greater understanding and appreciation of women? After all, it is being put on as part of the celebration of V-Day (Vagina Day) — a day to demonstrate against violence toward women. There are a few serious problems with this argument. One, the desensitization that occurs when such absolute immodesty is displayed and applauded can only decrease the modesty and reverence men should show all women. Rapes are proven to increase in frequency when men lose all respect for women and their bodies. Two, Vagina Day is proudly sponsored by and donates proceeds to Planned Parenthood, an organization that fights for the right to destroy innocent female life. If V-Day is about ending violence against women, what about the roughly 2,300 women killed every day by abortions in the U.S.? Three, the play itself applauds the molestation of a 13-year-old girl by a 24-year-old woman, justifying the violent sexual invasion because of its lesbian nature.
By allowing "The Vagina Monologues" to be performed at Notre Dame, we are throwing dung in the face of our Virgin Mother, supporting abortion and stripping modesty from everyone involved. (One scene has a chorus of actors repeatedly yelling in unison, "Cunt, cunt, cunt, cunt.") Most newspapers probably wouldn't allow that word to be printed. So why are we allowing it to be shouted from a stage in DeBartolo Hall?
In the name of our Virgin Mother, Notre Dame, I beg the administration to disallow the production of this foul play immediately. In G.K. Chesterton's book, "The Ball and the Cross," a Catholic Scotsman breaks a store window and challenges a blaspheming atheist to a mortal duel, all because the atheist wrote an article tying Mary to ancient pagan goddesses. "The Vagina Monologues" openly flips the bird at modesty, chastity and virginity, and in fact at all women who consider their private parts private. What is Notre Dame's administration willing to do to defend the honor of the Blessed Virgin and all her daughters? Roll over and die in the face of modernistic calls for "open-mindedness" and "academic freedom?" Or stand up and stop this travesty?
I urge all students to write letters to Provost Nathan Hatch calling for an immediate cessation of this production. I also invite everyone to join us as we pray the Rosary at 9 a.m. and at 5 p.m. every day outside Washington Hall, asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin to defeat this horrendous attack on modesty.
Sean Dudley
freshman
Carroll Hall
So alumni money should now go where? to Christendom College, Franciscan University of Steubenville, or Ave Maria University ... works for me.
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