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Electronic Insurgent

As Tim mentioned earlier there’s been a bit of a brouhaha over the latest issue of the Student Insurgent, the University of Oregon’s student-run Marxist/Anarchist publication.

In their latest issue, the Insurgent Collective decided to print a number of depictions of Jesus in various poses. As a headline on page 11 of the issue makes clear, their purpose in printing the comics was to confront Christians. And as Collective individual “Jessica” says on page 16, “I have to say it is really fun to offend people.”

Regardless of content, people and organizations should not be censored for speech that’s considered “offensive” or “hateful.” Indeed, we support the publication and round denunciation of ideas and opinions which are bigoted or inappropriate. The best way to counter the free expression of bad ideas is with the free expression of good ideas.

Of course, the Insurgent collective does not necessarily agree with us. Last year, Collective individual Pira Kelly was one of the loudest supporters of the effort to defund the Oregon Commentator. She passed out pink armbands symbolizing the fight against free speech before our budget hearing. What a difference a year makes!

Anyway, we’ve put the Insurgent issue in question up in .pdf form since we have no ideological qualms about technology. Please note that it is not our opinion and does not reflect this author’s own views or beliefs. Also, since the format of their magazine was too wide for our scanner we’ve had to splice each page together. If a member of the Collective would like to put a better copy on the web, I know that I for one would appreciate it.

Insurgent 17.4

UPDATE: I notice that we’ve been getting a significant bit of traffic thanks to links from Hot Air and a few other blogs. For those of you who are new: thanks for visiting. You may have noticed that the Student Insurgent mentioned our own publication of the Muhammed cartoons as one of their justifications for printing the anti-Christian drawings. I encourage you to read the issue in question and decide for yourself if the Commentator’s presentation and editorial are comparable in tone and substance to the Insurgent’s. As always, I believe that context is everything.

UPDATE: You can find an archive of our blog’s coverage of the Insurgent (including more recent tidbits) here.

  1. Niedermeyer says:

    “We could even have productive intercourse about organized religion. What do you say?”

    I swear I overheard that one at Taylors once…

  2. Bryan says:

    Will somebody please think about the children? (WERTYILKJHGFDS)

  3. Don E says:

    I respect the right of free speech that our fathers had the foresight to guarantee us in our constitution. To that end, I also respect the right of those who administer the Commentator. What I think has happened here is that you are no longer being true to the intention of the paper or any public forum–to promote the exchange of ideas, perhaps leading to the enhancement of human relations. Instead you are creating a mockery of free speech.

    I read most of what was in here, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry, not only for the lack of productive exchange, but for the mean-spirited comments (I try not to judge the individual himself). Let’s not be hurtful, but have respect for one another. What will we remember as our biggest contribution to mankind? Does anyone think that they are here on earth just to take up space, then die (LIABATYDSFI)? Let’s start with our opinions on the war; let’s have an open discussion about the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. How about gaming tips or favorite hunting spots? We could even have productive intercourse about organized religion. What do you say?

  4. Sharon says:

    From what I understand, this paper is supported by the University, financially and otherwise.

    Oregon just lost the support of another alumus.

  5. Farmer says:

    fair enough i will move on.

  6. Timothy says:

    Frankly, the one true religion is Flying Spagetti Monsterism. I have been touched by his noodly appendage, and that is the only path to salvation.

  7. Library says:

    I think what Miles means is more along the lines of “A Theological discussion? On a satire journal’s website? Can we just not go there”.

  8. Farmer says:

    Miles, theological discussions is not something to be afraid of. 85 % of the American population believes there is a God. If most of us believe in that truth then most of us should be willing to discuss it. It is my understanding that the stain you have was not caused by theology, but the good news is it can be removed by it.

    Isaiah 1:18
    18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
    says the LORD.
    “Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
    though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.

  9. Miles Rost says:

    Whoa…I think I stepped into a theological discussion.

    Anyone got stain remover?

  10. Farmer says:

    It would have been nice if Judas changed his and wrote a gospel, but it contradicts earlier scripture. Instead we see he betrayed Jesus to the high priests for 30 pieces of silver and went and hung himself.
    Read how Judas died in Matthew 27 and Paul agrees about his death in Acts 1:18-19. They both talked of it as if it were common knowledge. Scripture authenticates itself by prophecy you can read Zechariah 11:12-13.
    Just like the high priests that paid for the betrayal of Christ. Societies have been trying to destroy Christianity since its inception. The fact that false gospels were written is no surprise. The fact that they were so quickly embraced by those who despise Christianity is not a shock either.

  11. Olly says:

    Let me guess

  12. Farmer says:

    No, I was not referring to the King James Version. We have much more modern translations, translated from original the manuscripts.
    From the first century on, Christians recognized 20 books as indisputably reliable and authoritative, including the four gospels, Acts, 13 letters of Paul, 1 Peter and 1 John. We have more than 5000 original language manuscripts containing part or all of the New Testament from the beginning of second century on, with few substantial variations. There

  13. Niedermeyer says:

    “Try reading your uncensored english bible you don

  14. Timothy says:

    Oh, no, actually, you’re quite polite.

    I’m just sick to death of this topic.

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