"Crisp Steps Back, Explains Purpose"

"Crisp Steps Back, Explains Purpose"

In this response column to critical letters written to the Technician against Crisp's writing, Crisp attempts to defend himself and his point of view as a columnist. He writes that his purpose isn't to inflame hatred or to offend people, but to get them to think about critical issues involving NCSU's student population from a conservative, and Biblical, point of view. He rejects the idea that a Biblical point of view means simply "love thy neighbor," and argues that his Christianity compels him to judge and seek justice for what he perceives as society's ills. Finally, he angrily denounces his critics as part of a small, but vocal minority and insists that he personally receives much more praise from people on campus than appears in the newspaper. He argues that a "silent majority" of NCSU's campus actually agrees with him and urges them to write to the Technician in his support. It may partly be because of this column that his most inflammatory column criticizing the BAC rally at UNC Chapel Hill received much more support from letter writers. However, the increased response to his writing may also be due to the burning of the Technician in the Brickyard on September 25.

Steven Crisp

Steven Crisp, "Crisp Steps Back: Explains Purpose," The Technician vol. LXXIV no. 9 (September 4, 1992): 6.

1992-09-04

Cheryl Dong

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Time out.

Let’s regroup and I’ll tell you what this column is about

This is a column about the things in our society. By society I refer specifically to the N.C. State community. I could very easily devote the space allotted to me on state, national, or international issues, but my community is NCSU. Granted, we are all members of these larger groups, but again my focus is with this university and its aspects.

Second, this column is about things that occur within this narrowly defined community. I am concerned with the issues and the actions of others that impact our immediate academic and social environment. To this end, I will focus only on those topics that concern the student population, either directly or peripherally.

Third, this column will focus on the things that I find wrong with the community. Not that I intend to take a purely negative attitude, mind you. I just live by the adage that insists that problems can be solved only when problems have been identified. To this end, I will attempt to define what I feel are the problems.

As most of have already determined, the political and ethical positions that I espouse are those of the right. This position is not to be confused with those of the Republican Party, either. Though I frequently agree with the accepted Republican platform, there are many times when my opinions diverge greatly

My code of ethics stem from a biblical standard of morals. There are those who will say that previous statements that I have made cannot reflect biblical principals of love and acceptance. On the surface, this may seem true. But the biblical test of what is proper goes beyond “Love your neighbor as you would yourself.” It also includes a strong sense of justice. Part of the judicial aspect of biblical instruction is the intolerance of those things that are wrong.

Finally, if you disagree with my position, by all means write. More important, write if you agree. There is power not in numbers but the appearance of numbers. A minor percentage of misguided individuals can have a detrimental effect on the majority if that majority does not drown them. Written responses indicate an almost-universal dislike to my positions. Yet these responses always come from the very small core of miscreants whose false ideals of ethics I have piqued. After each column, far more people have personally approached me in agreement. Your agreement will not be heard unless you write.

And no, my goal is not to force you into accepting my positions. My goal is to get you to think. And by thinking, acting. And by acting, restoring this university to the world-class institution it once was.

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