LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Received April 21, 2011, from Debby Hanoka, English junior. The UP did not alter the contents of this letter.

“Rudeness Among Men Handing Out New Testament Bibles On Campus”

Dear Editor,

I’m writing to you regarding the well-dressed men, who do not appear to be part of any student organization, club, or campus ministry, handing out New Testament Bibles to passersby in the Breezeway.  When I was accosted by one of these men offering me a Bible, I politely refused by saying, “No, thank you, I’m Jewish.”  The man, in all his religious fervor, replied, “This was written by Jewish men!”

Normally, I don’t have a problem with religion on campus.  Nor do I have a problem with various campus religious clubs/organizations having their tables set up in the Breezeway.  I have the freedom to look or not look at said literature without it being pushed on me.  But when someone who may not even belong on campus in the first place has the audacity to push on me something I had turned down — politely — that’s where I draw the line.  What part of “No, thank you, I’m Jewish” doesn’t this man understand?

I consider my faith to be a very personal and private part of my life.  At the same time, the last thing I want to do is to stop someone else from sharing his or her faith if he or she desires to do so.  But that man trying to “sell” me something I’d already politely turned down was just rude and insensitive.

Sincerely,

Debby Hanoka