The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 67, No. 11, Ed. 1, Friday, November 16, 1979 Page: 3 of 23
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Readers express thanks and urge spirit of unity
Concert explanation
To the Editor:
Someone suggested in a recent letter that
the administration should be more straight-
forward with its reasons for refusing to allow
performances like B.J. Thomas and Dogwood
to appear on the ACU campus. I have an ex-
planation which I think plausible...
The reason that immediately suggests itself
is that the administration is acting out of
doctrinal prejudice that the administration
will not allow such performances on campus
because it believes them to be contrary to the
will of God since they involve instrumental
religious music. But I don't believe this is so.
In fact in the case of Dogwood just a year
ago the administration originally gave its
approval to an on-campus concert... It was
only after individual administrators recieved
several protests by students who did believe
such concerts were wrong that they decided
in the interest of keeping peace to rescind
their approval.
It is one of the responsibilities of a school
administration to "keep peace in the family"
especially in the case of a private religious
institution. In today's world where the
snowballing effects of sin and alienation
promote a widening of the "generation gap"
this is not a simple task and conservatism is
nearly always the safest and best road to
follow.
But this is not to say that those who wish to
Elton comes back solo
for 'U.S.S.A.' tour
By L MARK CUBSTEAD
Optimist Staff
There comes a time in everyone's life when
they get to fulfill a lifelongdream. One of mine
came true last weekend in Dallas. I was
among 5000 fans who witnessed the return of
Elton John.
Because of Elton's statements about never
touring again and the breakup of one of the
hottest bands in rock I had given up on ever
seeing this legend perform. But just when his
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popularity was ebbing because of the
mediocrity of his last few albums (including a
disgusting disco album) Elton has returned to
show America that he hasn't changed at all.
This tour is memorable for several reasons.
On this tour oddly named "Back In The
U.S.S.A." Elton is performing alone. This is a
switch from when Elton was at his height
(circa 75-'76) when he and Davey Johnstone
Dee Murray Nigel Olson and Ray Cooper
were one of the hottest contracts going.
During the second half of the show Elton is
accompanied by his percussionist Cooper.
Also this time around Elton is performing
in smaller concert halls which adds intimacy
to arena type settings. The concert I atttehded
was at Moody Coliseum on the Southern
Methodist University campus.
Finally and most importantly Elton is
host Christian concerts on campus do not have
a legitimate grievance. In a very real way
this campus is the students' campus and the
religious scruples of some should not interfere
you
with the freedom of others. But I believe there
is a general misunderstanding as to who that
grievance is with.
It is not with the administration. In
proceeding cautiously the administration is
only doing its job. It is not even with our
brothers. The real grievance is with the spirit
at work among us causing some to fear.
But it is not the only spirit; there is another:
a spirit of pride of smug superiority; a spirit
that credits itself for what God has revealed; a
spirit that will sacrifice Christian freedom
only because it can console itself with the
thought that the brother it is helping is
"weaker. "
This is the real strife. The issue is not one of
refusals or abusals (sic) of freedom but of
brotherly love and mutual submission. We are
not brothers because of what we believe but
because of who we believe in.
In our zeal for "truth" or "freedom" let us
not sacrifice "the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace..."
Jere Guin
High School Day praise
To the Editor:
I would like to express my thanks to all of
the many people who helped pull off one of the
largest High School Day visitation programs
in the United States.
Last Saturday more than 3000 high school
students and sponsors were on our. campus'.
The ACU community is to be commended for
all of its help and participation during our
program.
A special thanks goes to the following
groups and individuals:
President Stevens; CSO; our faculty staff
and administration: Jerry Mullins; Gary
McCaleb; Paul Faulkner; Ron Holifield; Wes
Phillips; the Campus Center workers; the
Bookstore; Norris Reagle; Joe Booth; the
Tech crew ; the Student Foundation ; ... . ... :
The A Cappella Chorus. andMUtoniJRullen;
the Choralaires ..and Gary. Mabjy.f.Jhe Big
Pqrple and -Charles. Trayler;-the Pep' 'Band
and Barry Smoot; the Jazz Ensemble and
Dave Pennock; Jazmine; the social clubs who
gave tours; Ted Starnes and the student
representatives from the theater division; the
missions department;
Jeff Warr; the man in charge of the night
crew in Moody Coliseum; John Swayne;
KACU radio station; the ACU television
station; the motor pool; the grounds depart-
ment; Word Processing; Gary Rose; the
Computer Center; the Library staff; our dorm
directors;
Ben Zickefoose and the Flying Cats; the
ACU cheerleaders; the ACU freshman
cheerleaders; Cindy Stocking and the Op-
timist; the cafeteria quartet; our cafeteria
workers; Dr. (Dwain) Hart; -Clark PAts.;
Jennifer Dacy ; Jay Jennings ;Irvin Hiler;
.The Students' .Association; den -Finland)
All College Night; Coach Bob Strader and the
Wildcat football team; and most of all to our
students who provided housing and spent time
with these high school students making them
feel welcome on our campus.
Thanks again for making this day possible.
Paul David Fulham
Associate director of
Admissions and Placement
Thanksgiving requires deep soul-searching
ByBOBNUTT
Optimist Staff
"When upon life's billows you are tempest
tossed When you are discouraged thinking all
is lost. Count your many blessings name them
one by one And it will surprise you what the
Lord has done."
Since this is the time of
the year when we are
"supposed" to be thankful
I thought I'd try to put the
words of this song into
practice by making a list
of some of the many
blessings the Lord has
given me. This is a
somewhat feeble but soul-searching attempt.
1. That there is a God who is taking care of
everything and He loves me.
2. Even though He had given the human race
so much He knew we couldn't make it. So He
gave us a second chance and He sent us His
son.
3. So Jesus gave up His place with the
Father and came to earth to experience a life
just like mine. Sure the culture was different
but people were the same. He laughed; he
cried; he hurt. He experienced far more than I
ever will so I could experience far more than I
ever deserve.
4. Not only did he come to experience and
understand my life but He came so I wouldn't
have to be afraid of death. Because through
His death mine has meaning. Instead of it
being the end of my life;itis .beginning:-
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5. 1 can think. I'm made in God's image and
don't have to live like a puppet. I have a
choice and I have a chance.
6. People! He knew I wouldn't be able to
make it by myself. So God began with giving
me to a family; not just biologically- but
mentally too. He gave me parents and a
brother who try to be tuned in to what the Lord
wants for them. -And my parents saw that
plan He had me in' mind for them. Arid they
gave me all the love and learning and material
blessings He had given them.
7. Friends! The excitement of having a new
friend or the commitment of an old one can
fill a great void in. our lives that so many
people have'never had filled. To have someone
to laugh or cry or hurt with' is really com-
forting. To be able to not say anything' yet be '
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 67, No. 11, Ed. 1, Friday, November 16, 1979, newspaper, November 16, 1979; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91979/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.