The Art of Communiculture Fall 1998

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We have seen the redefinition of "believer" in our time. Not so long ago, the word stood for those who, because they believed in Christ, were willing to be considered foolish in the eyes of this world's wise.

A true believer may possess understanding, but she must be willing to be misunderstood. Philosophers and poets have always known this. Wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To be great is to be misunderstood."

History has made heroes of such believers: Paul understood Gentiles, but was forever being misunderstood; Francis of Assisi's understanding of nature and poverty was labeled wacky; and John Wesley's strangely warmed heart continues to send chills through intellectual Christians.

Then, there is Reggie White.

If we believe Emerson, Reggie's professional football accomplishments don't equal greatness. After all, Reggie's quarterback-sack statistics and his Super Bowl ring are easily understood as impressive.

On the other hand, if Paul, Francis, and Wesley were misunderstood Christian fools, then Reggie White, the Green Bay Packer defensive end, is an incomprehensible idiot.

"Reggie, once again you've talked out of your ass," said one writer on a Reggie-White-is-a-biggot (sic!) Internet post. "You have no idea what the truth is, (sic) if you weren't being such a racist homophobic hipocrit (sic), maybe people would take you seriously!!!"

This person's emotional reaction must mean they take Reggie lightly. The writer continued: "Do us all a favor and retire!! God is only in your head, (sic) any educated person nows (sic) that something can not exist without matter to sustain it, (sic) go back to school moron, (sic) learn the truth!!!"

White's now-famous March 13 speech to the Wisconsin legislature apparently was so uneducated that hosts ...

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