Gay Marriage in Class

[catholicwifeforlife1]

I attend a state college. It’s not the kind of school I want to go to, but Catholic schools are so expensive and I can’t afford it. Yesterday in our public speaking class, we had a discussion about a speech where a young man was talking about how having gay parents didn’t affect his upbringing and thus gay marriage should be legal. We were all expected to say nice things about the video and his delivery lest our grade be docked. It made me extremely frustrated that no one even mentioned in any way that having an opposing view is valid. I tried to mention that many people will not be persuaded by his story because many people believe God made marriage between a man and a woman only. But, I never know if I said enough, or how to act. I have been in a school before where I said something and the faculty accused me of making things up when I reported a teacher for being discriminatory (he made an anti-Catholic joke). It has me so frazzled. Its like we live in a dictatorship where different opinions are enough to get you proverbially stoned. Did I say enough? What should I do?

 

[angel12]

If it’s a public speaking class, you were probably supposed to talk about his delivery, not his subject matter, correct?

 

[Hereiam]

Yesterday in our public speaking class, we had a discussion about a speech where a young man was talking about how having gay parents didn’t affect his upbringing and thus gay marriage should be legal. We were all expected to say nice things about the video and his delivery lest our grade be docked

Do you have reason to question HIS character, and if you do, can you really connect it to the lifestyle of his parents?

Do you not see a difference between the same sex msrriage legality and immorality?

You said his intent was to justify the current secular legailty, not the morality.

 

[catholicwifeforlife1]

I’m not upset with the teacher. I know this is a things now in secular society.

Im annoyed that any mention of God is usually squashed and ridiculed. Futile, I know.

I think pushing God out of our laws is a moral choice just as much as it is a legal one. But, Im not here to debate Gay marriage.

Im just wondering if anyone has had similar experience. Because it is a fact that God had made marriage between a woman and a man and even if laws are made otherwise, they are null in God’s eyes.

 

[catholicwifeforlife1]

Many students were praising his argument about gay marriage. It crossed a line there. I think once you start praising the argument, the discussion is definitely slanted in one direction.

 

[Axsenex]

At least it’s not Duke University.

 

[petra22]

I tried to mention that many people will not be persuaded by his story because many people believe God made marriage between a man and a woman only.

If you brought this up at least God was brought into the discussion. He wasn"t totally left out.

 

[TheLittleLady]

To tell someone that his parents are violating God’s law is not exactly the way to win hearts for Christ.

Next time, in a public speaking class, give your opinion on his style, delivery, posture, even his attire and do not give commentary on his topic. In fact, if I’d blurted out something like that, I’d likely apologize “Look, I was out of line to criticize your parents in that way, please forgive me.”

 

[TheLittleLady]

That is a decision for your professor/instructor to make. Does not give you license to begin bully pulpiting.

 

[Paul71]

It is always much easier to think of what we ideally should have said later, than to think of the exact best words or the exact best point to make in the moment. It sounds to me like you actually did pretty well with what you said. I don’t think you need to second guess yourself, or to try to follow up at this point.

I sympathize with your situation at that college. If you feel that you are getting more good out of your education than bad, and that it’s not damaging your faith or your peace of mind, then stick with it. And remember that you can’t convince everyone, and you can’t say the perfect thing in every situation. In fact, in some situations, there really is no perfect thing to say.

 

[Paul71]

To tell someone that his parents are violating God’s law is not exactly the way to win hearts for Christ.

Next time, in a public speaking class, give your opinion on his style, delivery, posture, even his attire and do not give commentary on his topic. In fact, if I’d blurted out something like that, I’d likely apologize “Look, I was out of line to criticize your parents in that way, please forgive me.”

I had assumed that they watched a video of the speech, and then discussed it. If the person who gave the speech was actually there in the class, then I agree that that changes the approach that one should take.

If it was a video, then that tells me something about the professor and the professor’s agenda. But if it was someone in the class who just happened to select that topic, then that seems less problematic in terms of what the professor is trying to do, and it also means that one needs to use tact so that comments are not misunderstood as personal attacks.

 

[catholicwifeforlife1]

It was a video, and no I was not bullying anyone. Yikes, not an answer I expected on a Catholic forum

 

[Clementine14]

Yesterday in our public speaking class, we had a discussion about a speech where a young man was talking about how having gay parents didn’t affect his upbringing and thus gay marriage should be legal. We were all expected to say nice things about the video and his delivery lest our grade be docked. It made me extremely frustrated that no one even mentioned in any way that having an opposing view is valid

What was the actual assignment? Did the professor say “you need to say nice things about this video, or you will be marked down”, or was it more like “You are required to critique this young man’s public speaking skills”?

I attended a secular graduate school after going to a private Catholic college, so I understand that the environment is different and sometimes can be intimidating and difficult to adjust to. You probably feel “outnumbered” sometimes, in terms of people who believe what you do. It is hard. But it is also the real world.

However, I can’t imagine a professor requiring students to “say something nice or else”. Some professors do seem to have agendas, but it seems like the assignment was more to comment on the delivery of his speech rather than the content. I don’t think it was wrong to point out that his speech wasn’t necessarily persuasive (after all, it’s not a really well-supported argument…) but you will need to decide which battles are worth fighting and which are worth letting go. “I thought he did a great job of engaging his audience” could have been a nice thing to say without getting into the rest of it.

 

[catholicwifeforlife1]

You are right, It was a Video. We were asked to comment on it. We weren’t given much direction as to how, though besides commenting on the argument. Most of my classmates were praising Gay rights. And since I had to comment to get a grade I tried to say something that defended christian beliefs on the matter. I didn’t bully anyone though! I was very respectful.

 

[catholicwifeforlife1]

The professor wanted us to comment on the persuasiveness of his arguments as well, though his directions were otherwise vague.

 

[Clementine14]

The professor wanted us to comment on the persuasiveness of his arguments as well, though his directions were otherwise vague.

So, then, he didn’t say that if you didn’t say something nice you would be marked down?

 

[TheLittleLady]

Sigh, I did not say you were a bully.

I used the phrase “bully pulpit”.

Now, posting the explanation of a “bully pulpit”:

A bully pulpit is a conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. This term was coined by United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to his office as a “bully pulpit”, by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt used the word bully as an adjective meaning “superb” or “wonderful”, a more common usage at that time.

Bully pulpit - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TechieGuy]

The professor wanted us to comment on the persuasiveness of his arguments as well, though his directions were otherwise vague.

We were asked to comment on it. We weren’t given much direction as to how, though besides commenting on the argument.

Sounds like a reasonable teaching method for a public speaking class…

I tried to mention that many people will not be persuaded by his story because many people believe God made marriage between a man and a woman only.

That’s a reasonable comment to make about the persuasiveness of the speaker, well done…

We were all expected to say nice things about the video and his delivery lest our grade be docked.

I missed the part where the professor said you were expected to say nice things about the video - it sounded like the professor was asking for general comments about the argument and the delivery.

Its like we live in a dictatorship where different opinions are enough to get you proverbially stoned.

I’m not sure I see anything about the incident you’ve described that was as dramatic as you seem to indicate here.

Did I say enough?

Yeah, you did fine - the instructor asked for comments about the persuasiveness of the argument and you gave a response that was relevant to the subject.

What should I do?

Relax and don’t worry so much, maybe…

 

[Arkansan]

We were all expected to say nice things about the video and his delivery lest our grade be docked.

If this is true (and consistent with the policies of the university, not a one-off incident), you should consider contacting a group like the ACLJ. Public universities are not allowed to engage in viewpoint is discrimination.

 

[catholicwifeforlife1]

So let me get this straight if I say nothing to defend family values I am not sinning? I was always taught to say something whenever the truth lacked representation. I always thought It was a sin to say nothing.

And, when I said I had to say “nice things” I was editorializing. I honestly didn’t mean to mislead anyone with that phrase. And, yes I get impassioned about things. Please don’t hold that against me. I didn’t realize other Catholics don’t see this the same way I do. But, thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, because now I know!
I’m sorry for this incredibly awkward thread.