From the Pubs of Dublin in Both Punk and Indie and Energy in the Crowd
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page 4 Manitou Messenger December 4,1998 OPINIONS CROSSWORDS Fugazi: Think Jesus Rally had drafted and posted expression and a spirit of inquiry, Student Columnist Travis Cross some sort of explanation of what yet when a group of students they hoped to accomplish through chooses to exercise that freedom by Imagine attending a college of the resemble an evangelical camp or the event, students might have been chalking messages on the sidewalks, church. All students are required to rally experience. Such events arc we vandalize their messages as if to rarely "feel good" Christianity. able to understand the intentions of about it... take religion classes. Although the organizers before passing block their voices. We talk about attendance is optional, on-campus Instead, there is a lot of praise and judgement either way. tolerance and acceptance of people chapel and church services are held celebration of one's personal being full, First Ave. was packed. with religious beliefs different than Rainer Fronz six days a week. Prospective relationship with Jesus Christ — and So the organizers of the Jesus People of all walks of life were in ours, and we celebrate those who Contributing Writer students receive a beautiful brochure a lot of intense examination of how Rally could have done more to let the crowd; punks, indie kids, worship different gods in different entitled "A Community of Faith," the well one's life reflects one's stated the campus know about the purpose When 1 was a young teen, thirty-somethings, gutter punks, of the event. But dozens of other traditions as enriching our campus college mission celebrates an beliefs. However, students with maturing through the trials and they were all there. After the environment, yet when a group of education "rooted in the Christian little or no background in this kind organizations hold vaguely-defined students chooses to talk about Jesus tribulations of Junior High and opening act finished, the crowd Gospel," and the college president of worship had no idea what all of events, and the student reaction is in unfamiliar terms, our tolerance dealing with things such as immediately began to buzz with talks about the school's place as the the signs and chalked sidewalks nowhere near as heated. Regardless and acceptance falls victim to our puberty and zits, I was searching anticipation. Finally, the screen number one religious liberal arts were about, and many of them of how well the event was apprehension and offense. for my musical identity. All of my rose and Ian and his crew came institution in the nation. naturally reacted negatively to promoted, the way in which our community reacted to the rally The general student reaction to friends were into Public Enemy or out to a mass of cheers. Fugazi, in Sounds like the perfect something they didn't understand. provides plenty of food for thought, the Jesus Rally provides an excellent Anthrax. Granted, both of these keeping with their political environment for a group of students The Promise Keepers is an especially when considering what it impetus for our community to bands are amazing in their own values, announced a protest to organize some sort of Christian organization which holds several means to be a college of the church. discuss what it really means to be a right, I on the other hand was against bombing the people of celebration of their own, doesn't it? large rallies across the country to college of the church. We must So why did so many students at this encourage Christian men to live When GLOW sponsors a scries of looking from something a little Iraq. After the announcement decide whether the discussion of college of the church react so their lives in a certain way. The events focusing on National Coming different. they broke out in a wall of issues of faith enriches our negatively to the recent Jesus Rally? Promise Keepers have something of Out Week, we talk about how During my freshman year of intensity and feeling. You can education, both inside and outside Perhaps a large number of students a mission statement — seven exciting it is the see such diversity high school (1989 - 1990), I was always tell a great band by the the classroom. We must decide simply didn't understand what the promises which they encourage their celebrated here on campus. When paging through an issue of way the audience is captivated by the Forum for Inter-religious whether we can respect the free rally was supposed to represent. participants to make regarding their Thrasher magazine while trying to the music and the lyrics. From Dialogue brings in a non-Christian expression of religious beliefs on our Some students who are more lives and their families — which launch my career as a professional the get go, the songs flowed into speaker, we talk about how campus, even if beliefs are expressed accustomed to a more distant Cod plays a prominent role in all of the skateboarder. I happened to be one another, each building on the wonderful it is to have people of in ways to which we are took issue with the idea of a rally in organization's publicity. Despite reading the music scction when I other. The sweat began to pour these promises, there remains different faiths with us. Yet when a unaccustomed. which the immediacy of Christ noticed a small write-up about a off the band and the crowd as played a central role. Others widespread confusion and group of students decides to sponsor All of the chapel services, religion band that was loud, musically Fugazi ripped through an hour- perceived the omnipresent publicity misinformation about the Promise an event celebrating Jesus Christ, the classes, and glossy brochures in the tight, and had solid political and-a-half long set, playing songs as an attempt by one group of Keepers, but the existence of a such very namesake of the Christian world can't make St. Olaf a college beliefs. This band had started off of every album. As they students to shove their beliefs down a mission statement allows Gospel in which our education is of the church. Only through our seemed to be winding down, the the collective throat of St. Olaf responsible people to learn the goals supposed to be rooted, we react with attitude towards religious their own recording label, refused crowd shouted for more — and College. Still others complained that and ideals of the organization before misunderstanding and hostility, expression, exploration, and to promote themselves, and only the rally was going to be a bunch of offering either support or criticism. criticizing the beliefs of the examination can we truly live up to played all ages shows for six they got more. organizers who we don't even know our stated mission of an education dollars. Right away I was "feel good" Christianity. Groups here at St. Olaf could Finally, as the show came to a and taking offense at seeing Jesus' rooted in the Christian gospel. intrigued by the thought that such Having grown up in an benefit from creating and then close, the band came out for one name plastered all over campus. a band even existed. Having been evangelical church, I naturally communicating some sort of mission last song. Everyone knew it had We talk about the freedom of subject to MTV and mainstream assumed that the Jesus Rally would statement. If the planners of the to be the classic Fugazi anthem, radio, 1 was unaware that a band and as the bass line dropped the like this could even be a crowd and I began to sing, "I am a possibility. The band I was patient boy ...", Waiting Room. reading about was Fugazi; a band The song everyone wanted to that is one of the most respected hear fed on the mass of power From the pubs of Dublin in both punk and indie and energy in the crowd. (independent recorders) circles. Jeremy Swanson are from a blink-and-then-you-miss- than the U.S. and a comparison overseas if they can. An interim or Needless to say, the only way to International Columnist it town and in their eyes Northfield between St. Olaf and other foreign more off campus may give you the I had the honorable pleasure of really appreciate a Fugazi show is is a massive metropolis. But many colleges goes without mention here. breathing room you need or give seeing Fugazi play on what many to be there yourself. However,if In the safety of sitting in a corner other students arc left with an But could the desire to drink be the you a shock so you can see the people have said could be their pub over 4,000 miles away from the you just want to to simulate what unrequited desire for more than St. sole impetus for students to study worlds that exist outside of the tiny Hill, I can now answer the question last tour. Fugazi has just released it is like, all you have to do is sit Olaf has to offer and they each dig abroad? academic circle at St. Olaf. that has so long stung my conscience their most eclectic album yet this in your room, crank up your their cscape routes. Anyone who answered 'yes' to I stayed in Northfield for the and resolve the issue that the St. Olaf past summer, End Hits, on stereo and the heat, and think They arc the ones who smuggle that question should now be labelled summer and by the time I left in administration has continually Discord Rccords.