Ordain Beards

[mormonnewb]

It seems that at least one BYU student is gearing up to protest the restriction on beards.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58458452-78/university-beard-pittson-beards.html.csp

I realize that this isn't exactly the Montgomery bus boycott or Occupy Wall Street, but could this be the start of an era when our young people begin to challenge the status quo? Or am I being overly optimistic?

Do you think this protest bike ride will be well-attended?

Will the university do anything in response to it?

Will it spur other protests to change the honor

code?

How is this Kate Kelly's fault?

[The Nehor]

If you do not want to live the stupid honor code do not go to BYU. If you want to protest find something important to protest about. I have more sympathy for marijuana legalization campaigns. They at least stand for something.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Do you think this protest bike ride will be well-attended?

No it won't be. No on really cares.

Will the university do anything in response to it?

More than likely not.

Will it spur other protests to change the honor
code?

I doubt it will do anything to change the honor code. People have complained about the "no beard" policy for years. I personally see no harm in a beard.

How is this Kate Kelly's fault?

It isn't her fault, she is a "has been".

[Ahab]

I'd just like to understand why some people think it's a good thing to abandon traditions in favor of bad representation.

At one time beards were seen as a good thing, as the article says it was a symbol of virility and power, but then hippies started growing beards and the traditional understanding of what a beard represented changed. As if beards were no longer a sign of virility and power, but of hippie mentality, just because hippies had beards.

Another example is of how gay used to mean happy, and it was a good thing to be gay, but then homosexual men started to call themselves gay and suddenly being gay meant being homosexual. As if society said okay gay doesn't mean happy anymore but homosexual.

Who is running the show here?

It's like somebody is letting good things change.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I'm shaving tonight, but I have a beard going right now.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

I'm shaving tonight, but I have a beard going right now.

I would grow a beard if it didn't drive my skin nuts. I can barely handle it.

[mormonnewb]

If you do not want to live the stupid honor code do not go to BYU. If you want to protest find something important to protest about. I have more sympathy for marijuana legalization campaigns. They at least stand for something.

Baby steps, my good man. Baby steps.

In hindsight, Martin Luther's 95 thesis seemed trivial compared to where the Reformation eventually brought us (ie, the Restoration). Yet, we all owe a debt for his "trivial" protestations about, say, indulgences.

So today, beards. Tomorrow, Diet Coke on campus. Baby steps.

[The Nehor]

Baby steps, my good man. Baby steps.

In hindsight, Martin Luther's 95 thesis seemed trivial compared to where the Reformation eventually brought us (ie, the Restoration). Yet, we all owe a debt for his "trivial" protestations about, say, indulgences.

So today, beards. Tomorrow, Diet Coke on campus. Baby steps.

 

Which will lead to something comparable to the Reformation? Color me skeptical.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Baby steps, my good man. Baby steps.

In hindsight, Martin Luther's 95 thesis seemed trivial compared to where the Reformation eventually brought us (ie, the Restoration). Yet, we all owe a debt for his "trivial" protestations about, say, indulgences.

So today, beards. Tomorrow, Diet Coke on campus. Baby steps.

Sorry but Martin Luther's thesis is in no way comparable in any way, "other than both have an element of change to them", to trying to get beards and diet coke on campus. Both are completely irrelevant in the grand scheme.

[VideoGameJunkie]

Grow a beard at BYU and be the Rosa Parks of BYU.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Grow a beard at BYU and be the Rosa Parks of BYU.

Um no.

[mormonnewb]

Sorry but Martin Luther's thesis is in no way comparable in any way, "other than both have an element of change to them", to trying to get beards and diet coke on campus. Both are completely irrelevant in the grand scheme.

 

It is the "element of change" that is the important thing here -- the idea that we should periodically assess the wisdom of the Church rules, and that it is in the purview of ALL to take part (if not initiate) those conversations.  As I view it, if this mindset were to take hold among young people, it would be a FAR more radical change to Mormonism than Luther's 95 theses.

 

Alas, I do agree with you that this young man will probably end up as a lone beard in the wilderness, but one can dream, can't he?

[Thinking]

So today, beards. Tomorrow, Diet Coke on campus. Baby steps.

 

I was a custodian at the ELWC in the 80's. We custodians get to clean the offices of those who are in charge of things. In the office of the director of student life was a mini fridge full of regular Coke. It's always been there, you just have to know where to look.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

It is the "element of change" that is the important thing here -- the idea that we should periodically assess the wisdom of the Church rules, and that it is in the purview of ALL to take part (if not initiate) those conversations.  As I view it, if this mindset were to take hold among young people, it would be a FAR more radical change to Mormonism than Luther's 95 theses.

 

Alas, I do agree with you that this young man will probably end up as a lone beard in the wilderness, but one can dream, can't he?

You are advocating for change for change's sake. That is not a very good reason.

 

I think that the policy should be explained first why it is there. From there we can show the problems with having it. What is that reason for it. If the reason is "just because they think beards look gross" I am not sure any amount of protesting is going to work. But if it is because of the hippie movement I think some ground could be made there.

[Thinking]

Sorry but Martin Luther's thesis is in no way comparable in any way, "other than both have an element of change to them", to trying to get beards and diet coke on campus. Both are completely irrelevant in the grand scheme.

 

Yet BYU continues to make a big deal out of irrelevant things.

[The Nehor]

It is the "element of change" that is the important thing here -- the idea that we should periodically assess the wisdom of the Church rules, and that it is in the purview of ALL to take part (if not initiate) those conversations.  As I view it, if this mindset were to take hold among young people, it would be a FAR more radical change to Mormonism than Luther's 95 theses.

 

Alas, I do agree with you that this young man will probably end up as a lone beard in the wilderness, but one can dream, can't he?

But it is not in the purview of all and is not intended to be. Why would God want the opinion of the unwashed masses?

[Ahab]

You are advocating for change for change's sake. That is not a very good reason.

I think that the policy should be explained first why it is there. From there we can show the problems with having it. What is that reason for it. If the reason is "just because they think beards look gross" I am not sure any amount of protesting is going to work. But if it is because of the hippie movement I think some ground could be made there.

It's there because people now associate beards with hippies, the radical rebels of society back in the 60's, and BYU faculty doesn't want their students to be associated with hippies or radical rebels of society.

Before beards were associated with hippies they were associated with more respectable people, and if more respectful people with beards don't want to be associated with hippies then they need to start some kind of respectful revolution so that beards will be associated with more respectful people again.

I think a baseball team tried that recently, but the Duck Dynasty guys kinda mucked that all up.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Ahab

[The Nehor]

Yet BYU continues to make a big deal out of irrelevant things.

Yeah, so shun the school and let the weirdos who agree with those things go there.

[mormonnewb]

But it is not in the purview of all and is not intended to be. Why would God want the opinion of the unwashed masses?

He tends to like to work through the unwashed masses. As I've been told, He used a semi-literate 14-yo country bumpkin to restore the Gospel. If that is true, He certainly can use a college student to restore the beard.

[AndyDnom]

http://bringbackthebeard.blogspot.com/

 

it looks like he has a website that is very respectful in tone. And it's a lot less pretentious

[mormonnewb]

It's there because people now associate beards with hippies, the radical rebels of society back in the 60's, and BYU faculty doesn't want their students to be associated with hippies or radical rebels of society.

Before beards were associated with hippies they were associated with more respectable people, and if more respectful people with beards don't want to be associated with hippies then they need to start some kind of respectful revolution so that beards will be associated with more respectful people again.

I think a baseball team tried that recently, but the Duck Dynasty guys kinda mucked that all up.

Who CURRENTLY associates beards with hippies? Are there still any hippies in the 21st century?

To me, that would be like BYU banning red dinner jackets because they don't want to associate themselves with the red coats of the British soldiers from the Revolutionary War.

If we are going to give sway to stereotypes, they should at least be those relevant to THIS century.

[Brian 2.0]

It's there because people now associate beards with hippies, the radical rebels of society back in the 60's, and BYU faculty doesn't want their students to be associated with hippies or radical rebels of society.

Before beards were associated with hippies they were associated with more respectable people

People NOW associate beards with hippies?!? Now?

We outgrew that long ago as a culture. Maybe if you have some long scraggly beard down to your navel, but a standard beard is no way an indicator of hippie culture today. Unless maybe you live in Provo.

[Ahab]

People NOW associate beards with hippies?!? Now?

We outgrew that long ago as a culture. Maybe if you have some long scraggly beard down to your navel, but a standard beard is no way an indicator of hippie culture today. Unless maybe you live in Provo.

What did you think was the reason? Because they just didn't like the way beards look?

[Brian 2.0]

Look at all these dirty hippies:

 

 

 

 

... bunch of dirty hippies.  Let's take the beard back!!!!

[Brian 2.0]

What did you think was the reason? Because they just didn't like the way beards look?

 

 

That WAS the reason it was implemented...  but the reason for the ban in the first place is no longer around... so why should it still be in place?   That's the question.

Edited September 26, 2014 by Brian 2.0