Did Officials Go Too Far By Removing Crosses from Photo of LSU Football Fans?
School officials reportedly said the crosses were digitally removed from the photo to avoid the possibility of offending students of other religions.
According to Fox News, Lousiana State University officials sent out a photo of a group of football fans, known as the Painted Posse, in a campus email after the Tigers victory over South Carolina on Oct. 13. But before doing so, the school digitally removed small crosses that the students had painted on their bodies.
The Painted Posse is a group of Christian students, who often paint their bodies in the LSU school colors - and small crosses. The students are reported to be passionate about their Christianity - and LSU football. The students said they were surprised because they had often been photographed, but the crosses had never been removed before. A school spokesman, reportedly said the school altered the photo to prevent other students from being offended. He said the school did not want to imply it was making any religious statements.
The school has said only one of the Christian students objected to the crosses being air-brushed out. To avoid the problem in the future, however, a different photo would be chosen. They school is reported to have apologize to the group of Christian students though.
So is this another example of political correctness run amok? Or was the school right to remove any reference to any specific religion?
A
1:22 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
How about the rights of Christians? or are we the only group that isnt allowed rights???
Sharon Swanepoel
5:53 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
I'm sorry I had to remove a comment because of offensive language. We welcome the discussion, but request that you please refer to our terms of use with regard to obscene and offensive language and personal attacks.
Craig Reed
10:02 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The university should use the photo as-is or choose another altogether. Photoshopping an image to change the facts is the same as lying. What's next? Fat people erased? People of color erased? Disabled people erased? Seven million Jews erased? You can't claim to be an institution of free thought and expression if you erase evidence of thought and expression that doesn't fit your ideal. LSU gets a grade of 'F" on this life test.
christine
8:36 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Craig- perfect reply.
Sharon Swanepoel
8:47 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
I did wonder what the reaction would be if any other particular religious symbols were erased - say a Jewish Yarmulke or a Muslim Hijab head scarf. We are supposed to be tolerant of other people's religions. Tolerance means "the ability to endure something even if you don't necessarily agree with it." It would be different if crosses had been photoshopped in and that wasn't necessarily the students particular belief. But doing it the other way seems the height of intolerance, but that is just my opinion.
Elizabeth
11:12 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Valid points well made, Craig and Sharon!
Bonnie
8:28 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
I agree with your excellent points.
mudcat
12:56 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
This country is going down the crapper due to all of this political correctness B.S.
Bonnie
8:05 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Couldn't agree more - Christians need to take a firm stand for our rights are being ignored, too.
Bonnie
8:52 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
This is from another Bonnie:
Yes, they went too far.
Holly
10:57 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Why is it that we cannot offend others but, it's okay to offend us? Stand up for what you believe, do NOT apologize for practicing a religion of love, and protect your GOD given rights, just as those, who do not believe in anything, protect theirs.
Jeffrey Allen
1:57 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Me personally, I think they should have left the crosses and removed those hideous LSU colors and replaced them with Red & Black...
Joking...I personally think that removing the crosses leads to argue about needless controversy...No they shouldn't have done it and it makes them look kind of silly (whoever "them" is), but what purpose does getting all outraged about it do? None. Manufactured indignity does not forward the principals of Christ...I think it distracts from them.
There's a opportunity here to "turn the other cheek" that is getting missed. Besides, now that there has been a controversy, more people have seen those students express their faith than would have ever had this not occured...Should they (and others) choose to handle this with dignity and minus the outrage, then I think that would speak well of Christians as a whole and deny naysayers a talking point. There are bigger fish to fry, hungrier people to feed and better deeds to be done than wasting time and effort fretting over what amounts to nothing. That's how I see it.
Holly
2:43 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
In theory and principal, you're right Jeffrey, unfortunately, Christians have been quiet too long, that's why we're considered "The Silent Majority" and 'weak'. We are not weak and should not be silent. By talking about this, we make sure that things like this are not ignored and our rights and freedoms are not compromised; isn't that why you love this country? Isn't it those freedoms that are supposed to protect your right to practice your religion freely? Then why protect others while allowing yourself or someone else to be treated poorly?
Debra Evans
2:16 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Yes, they went too far. Christians seem to be the only group this happens to. We need to start standing strong for Christ.
Holly
2:45 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Yes, if we expect Jesus to plead for us in front of our father.
Bonnie
4:36 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
In response to Holly and Jeff. The entire incident might have gone relatively unnoticed If people hadn't complained about the removal of the crosses. Removing the crosses was just the beginning. It seems to me that it was the objection to it that raised awareness.