The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 5, Ed. 1, Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Page: 3 of 6
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OPINIONRELIGION
Piercing Crescent Moons
ByAMsinfirtl
Opinions Editor
A piece perfect for
our Halloween issue is a
discussion on whether or
not vampires exist. Anyone
who knows me knows that
I believe in vampires and I
guess that it would he best
to explain this view.
First it is impor-
tant to note that practi-
cally every nation has a
myth of vampiric crea-
tures. One that is popular
today is "el chupacabra" of
Mexico and other Hispanic
countries that most people
know as the "goat-bloodsucker."
The Assyrians
and Babylonians believed
in vampire-like creatures
known as "ekimmu." Then
there are the "asasabonsam"
of Ghana the "chiang-shih"
of China the "vrykolakas"
of Greece and many more.
The myths of vampires are
old and worldwide. There
are probably more stories
to support the existence of
vampires than to support
the flood story of Noah.
One thing that you
could state as an argument
against this is the rarity of
people actually seeing vam-
pires. However to use that
as the basis of something's
existence would mean that
souls air a god or gods
spirits demons and more
must not exist because you
cannot sec them. The senses
cannot be used to prove
everything.
So if vampires exist
where did they come from?
That is an excellent
question but of course I
do not know the answer. I
do however have a favor-
ite theory which I adopted
from Anne Rice's Queen of
the Damned. In this novel
Akasha a queen in Egypt
becomes one with the spirit
Amel who has a taste for
blood. I think that out of all
the vampire creation stories
that I have read this one
makes the most sense. One
mortal body plus the immor-
tal spirit of the body's occu-
pant plus another immortal
spirit gives us the first vam-
pire. Then first vampire's
blood and victim's blood
plus the victim produce a
vampiric offspring.
Although these are
equations that I can agree
with maybe you cannot. If
you do not like this theory
you can do some of your
own research.
If you would like
broaden your knowledge on
vampires I suggest read-
ing Vampires: The Occult
Truth by Konstantinos and
Anne Rice's Tlie Vampire
Chronicles. You could
also watch Underworld:
Evolution or Dracula star-
ring Bela Lugosi.
Whether or not you
may wrap a scarf around
your neck for protec-
tion I wish you a Happy
Halloween.
Crystal Looks at Death
Controuersy
By Dr Ronnie Prevost
FncuIty.Cohimnist
Controversy always seems to find me
without me even looking for it. It just hap-
pens. Even one of my high school class-
mates observed at the 20h anniversary of
our graduation (and that was 20 years ago!)
"Ronnie you never looked at things the same
way everyone else did!" Now given the fact
that we moved to a small town in southern
Mississippi in 1960 that has always seemed
like a compliment.
Living and going to high school in the
segregated South during the civil rights era
was well interesting. The culture was a real
dichotomy. Maybe it was just a paradox. Ixt
me explain. One could say that Hazlehurst
Mississippi was on the buckle of the Bible
Belt. Population: approximately 3000. It is
the geographical center of Copiah County
home of the world's largest open gravel pit
and the former tomato capital of the world.
Downtown or what little there was had
a church on every corner - literally. The
courthouse was in the middle with the ubiq-
uitous monument to Confederate Veterans
on the lawn.
This small town had two public high
schools; Hazlehurst High was for the whites
while Parrish High was for the blacks. There
were white and "colored" water fountains
and rest rooms. Most stores in town had
stickers on their doors identifying them as
supporters of the white "Citizens' Council"
an upper-crust more classy and less violent
form of the Ku Klux Klan. Most whites saw
blacks as less than human or certainly not at
the level of whites. For anyone who differed
they painted with any number of epithets:
"n-" lover liberal agitator etc.
Now here comes the paradox I men-
tioned above. They were church-going folk
even more than Abilenians today. Seriously.
Furthermore they loved me at least most
of them did. When my eye problems with
glaucoma began which eventually caused
one eye to be removed those people encour-
aged supported and prayed for me. As
much as I detested their opinions related to
race and civil rights I will always appreci-
ate their care.
Those people of paradox were prison-
ers of their culture without an excuse. They
grew up in and with that way of looking at
things. They could see it no other way. Mine
was one of the last segregated classes of
Hazlehurst High School. The ensuing years
of forced integration brought some changes
although not enough. Far too many whites
fled in fear to their newly-created-just-for-this-purpose
"Christian" (read "Racist" or at
The OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES would like to
invite you to a BBQ luncheon showcasing graduate school
opportunities at Hardin-Simmons University.
least "Whites Only") academies.
From a perspective of 40 years hence
we could shake our heads and wonder how
that could have been. How could such a
Christian society have been so obviously
wrong? Should they not have been able to
see beyond their culture and be a more pro-
phetic voice for change? Well some were
but most were not.
What we should do is remember the
injunction (my students look it up it could
be on your next exam) of Jesus in Matthew
7:1-5. You know the one about the "log"
in our eyes and not judging. How has our
culture even here in Abilene the Lone Star
buckle of the Bible Belt blinded us to what
are clear biblical teachings? How do we vio-
late God's commands? How have we become
prisoners of our culture?
Here are just a few questions and
issues for us to consider regarding our cul-
ture and day:
Why are some so bound and deter-
mined to have the Ten Commandments
posted on governmental buildings and
other places when they cannot recite them
and obey only the more convenient ones? It
seems to me that God cares more that we
obey the Ten Commandments than whether
we post them anywhere.
Why is it that many around us want
to create God in our image? God is not red-white-and-blue.
God loves the whole world
not just the United States (see John 3:16).
God loves Osama bin Laden as much as God
loves you (and God does). Deal with it.
Why is it that although Jesus com-
manded us to love our enemies and pray for
(not just about and certainly not against)
our persecutors (Matthew 5:43-45) we
never do that- not even in our churches?
Why is it that in so many worship ser-
vices we see people "raising holy hands" to
God in worship but they have never dirtied
them while serving others? According to
Amos 5:21-24 and Matthew 25:31-46 the
greatest acts of worship are serving others
and seeking justice.
Controversy just seems to happen.
Jesus was controversial when confronting
the evils of His well-meaning culture. Of
course they killed Him for it. But Pie rose
again. Join with Jesus. Dare to be contro-
versial by questioning your culture and your
life in the light of God's commands. Like
Jesus said "For whoever wishes to save his
life will lose it; but whoever loses his life
for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:25
NASB).
Did you known A
graduate
degree can
open the door
to profession
of your choice!
(ha II Ife? 11 coii
U s& II Zr- m i ll-lll
Ha
When: Nov. 122007
Where: JB Multi-purpose Room
Please RSVP by Nov. 8th at
670-1298 if you plan to attend
Time: 1 2:00 -1 2:50 PM
PACT: If you are an
HSU student and
attend graduate
school the
semester after
your graduation
your tuition
rate as an
undergraduate wBI
remain the same
for your graduate
worlcltwll not
Increase as long as
you remain a kill
time graduate
student
(t hrs. or more)
ly Crystal Km
Editor-in-Chief
The only loved one I
have ever lost has been my
great-grandmother when
I was seven. I do not recall
much. All I remember is
having all the family mem-
bers congregate some trav-
elling from different coun-
tries forming an unusually
sizable group - my dad is
one of eight children to give
you a better picture - being
made to wear hot scratchy
black pants and a thin white
cotton t-shirt and whin-
ing as my mom forced me
to eat porridge before the
long trek at the back of the
funeral procession.
I do not remember
much necessarily. I remem-
ber all the young kids watch-
ing an old Batman movie in
front of a television placed
out on the porch even
laughing and playing little
kid games not realizing the
severity of the situation. It
was more of a festive occa-
sion as with an extended
family as large as ours we
did not exactly get together
all at once very often. As
such it was a rare opportu-
nity for a seven-year-old lit-
tle girl to see all her cousins
aunties and uncles.
We sat around dented
metal tables rocking on red
plastic stools with some legs
shorter than others eating
peanuts and throwing the
shells at one another. We
grimaced and made faces
when great-aunts pinched
our cheeks in affection
exclaiming at how much
we had grown and telling
us that the last time they
saw us we were still in dia-
pers. We shuffled our feet
and passed notes during
long reminisces by elderly
women who had known
my great-grandmother far
better that any of us did
reminding ourselves that
after the memorial service
we could drink cold sodas
and play.
We stood awkwardly
next to a pine-stained cof-
fin staring wide-eyed at the
black-and-white portrait of
the woman who had birthed
our grandmother that stood
on the shiny surface of the
coffin tentatively glancing
if we were feeling brave at
the color-drained shadow
of a person on whose lap we
used to sit.
No I do notremember
much of the funeral nor do I
even remember much about
my great-grandmother. I
wish I did.
I do know she was
a woman who loved my
grandmother my parents
and me. I know she was a
woman who contributed
much to my being here and
I honor that. I honor the
person she was and I honor
her memory though little of
my own. I wish I remember
more.
Like I said I have
never before lost a loved one
other than my great-grandmother
and even though I
did not know her very well
I know it hurt It pains me
to imagine the pain and loss
felt when others lose friends
and family members to rea-
sons known and unknown. I
cannot empathize I can only
imagine and even then I
know it cannot come close.
One day I will experi-
ence the loss that many oth-
ers have felt. I know that day
cannot come far enough.
However inevitable that
moment will arrive for right
now I choose to focus on the
presence of loved ones in
my life so that when that
time comes at least I will
remember as much of them
as I can. I will not regret a
wasting moment.
There is no knowing
death. There is knowing life
and I will know it live it
and learn it to the fullest.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 a
'Pray continually;"
VERSE OF THE WEEK
ByTaylirUBrake
Religion Editor
t is simple yet so profound. Why is it that we forget to talk to our Lord and
Savoir continually? Do we forget or just not care? What is your definition of a
relationship? Time? I think that time would be a key in this particular relationship
ind being college students we find ourselves doing everything except what is
-nost important. 1 challenge you this week to spend that time that normally would
je spent doing something else less important and just simply pray. And do it
:ontinually.
Lunch with the BSM - Last Wednesday of this Semester
By: Taylor LaBrake
If you have missed lunch with the Baptist Student Ministry this semester
it is okay. The last lunch is scheduled for October 31st. These lunches arc held
bvery Wednesday for about the first ten weeks of the school semester.
The food is sponsored by local churches and each church takes this time
o share with the students about their church. If you are still looking for a church
home here in Abilene this would be a great event for you to attend. If you are a
'poor college student" it would also be a great time for you to get a free meal!
There is no charge for attending. Since it started according to John Hunt
Head of the BSM it has been an "on againoff again" event. It has also been an
dea that BSM's around the state have participated in.
This semester there have been around two-hundred students at each
noon lunch that the BSM has held thus far. If you are looking for a free meal
information about churches around Abilene and people to get to know this event
is one that you should attend. For additional information about this event or any
Dthers that the BSM hosts you can e-mail John Hunt atjhunthsutx.edu.
ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
i Entcrnnse Rcnt-A-Car (htrovAvww.cntcrnnsc.com) will be on-campus on ihursdav
November l1 to interview students for the following position:
Job Title:
Location:
Requirements:
Management Trainee
Various
Juniorsenior level.
Open to all majors.
Interested students can schedule an interview through HSU Career Connection
(detailed instructions below or by contacting the Office of Career Services.
To schedule an interview:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Login to Career Connection (https:mnv.myinterfose.comhsutxstudcnt)
Click on the 'Schedules menu at the top of the page and select 'Qualified
Schedules' (please note: your profile qualifications must match the interview
requirements in order to bo able to view the position)
Click on the job title 'Management Trainee' in the schedule list.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the interview date 1 112007'
Select an interview time and click 'Sign-up' (Please note: You must have a
resume uploaded into Career Connection in order to schedule an interview.)
If you have any questions or need any assistance please contact the Office of Career Services.
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The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 96, No. 5, Ed. 1, Tuesday, October 30, 2007, newspaper, October 30, 2007; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth104737/m1/3/: accessed May 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.