The Gadfly “To persuade and reproach” - Socrates, The Apology
Vol. XI, Iss. V November 3, 2009
Myth-Busting the Gadfly The Gadfly is perhaps the most misunderstood of all God's creatures. All he wants to do is bite the sleeping horse. All the sleeping horse wants to do is squash the Gadfly. No one knows what to make of the Gadfly. Some say it's too silly. Others say it's too serious. Some say it's filled with nothing but irresponsible and crazy opinions. Others say its far too philosophical or pro-establishment – to quote one reader, too “puffed up and Troublike”! So in this article, I would like to “bust” some myths one by one.
Myth Number One: “It's stupid for the Gadfly to name itself after some annoying bug.” Are you calling Socrates stupid? St. Justin Martyr called Socrates the “first Christian martyr.” Socrates' “gadfly” analogy comes from Plato's Apology, which Dr. Harold says is one of those few books every human being should read before they die. In the Apology, Socrates is on trail before the Athenians, whom he made uncomfortable by prodding them about their lukewarm and unexamined lifestyle. He called himself the “gadfly,” biting the sleep-
ing horse of the city of Athens, and said that if they killed him they would not find another to do what he had done for them. Socrates had to take the hemlock, but today, the Gadfly carries on his tradition at FUS. Myth Number Two: “The Gadfly is made up of a bunch of crazy people who do nothing but vent ridiculous and radical opinions.” False! The Gadfly staff is essentially made up of a few grad students, a couple English majors, and a pre-the. They are all very responsible people – the Continued on page 4
The Third Way Out of the tensions of the Cold War between Capitalism and Communism, the United States Vs. the U.S.S.R., was born a “Third Way.” This Third Way was a recognition of the dangers of both Capitalism and Communism and attempted to blend the two together. The Roman Catholic Church responded to the abuses of the West and the East by encouraging this in what became the Catholic Worker Movement popularized by the likes of Dorthy
Day and Peter Maurin. The answer, as the Church saw it, lied in a Third Way. This Third Way is original “Socialism,” which is not nearly half of what modern Americans claim it to be. This Socialism, rightly understood, is a middle way, a cooperative combination of both Capitalism and Communism. Third Way Socialism, through its opposition of pure Capitalism and Communism avoids the dangerous extremes of both. Early twentieth century French philosopher Emmanuel Mounier
(1905-1950) understood, Socialism as, “The abolition of the proletarian condition; the supersession of the anarchic economy of profit by an economy directed to the fulfillment of the totality of personal needs; the socialization, without state monopoly, of those sectors of industry which otherwise foster economic chaos; the development of cooperative life; the rehabilitation of labour; the promotion, in rejection of all paternalist Continued on page 6
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St. Clare, pray for us!
Staff: Michael J. Ruszala (M.R.) Amanda LaMuro (A.L.) Tony Leccecce (T.L.) Emilyn Haremza (E.H.) Daniel Romeyn Davis (D.D.) Maria Cecilia Rocha (M.C.R.) Copy Editor Caitlin Garrett (C.G.) Layout Editor: Rosalie Doudna (R.D.) Business Manager: Charles Pobee-Mensah (C.P.M.) Editor in Chief: Gillian LaMuro (G.L.)
** Please note that the views held in the individual articles do not necessarily express the views of the whole staff. **
Interested in joining our staff? Email us at notestothegadfly@gmail.com
~Mission Statement~ The Gadfly is an attempt to “bite the sleeping horse” in the spirit of Socrates. It is a student publication whose purpose is to facilitate discussion concerning campus and cultural issues as they pertain to students of Franciscan University. It aims to be a forum for open, well-thought out, and honest discussion towards the end of knowing and loving truth in its most robust sense.
Advisor: Dr. John White Advisor Extraordinaire
Noble Patrons of this Fine EstablishThe times they are a changing. Get involved because America as we know is facing incredible challenges that will affect us… yes, us, the people who will be living here and trying to raise children with strong families in what should be a strong America. Pay attention to this National Health care debate. Form an opinion. Because if you don’t it will just happen to you and it will probably be very expensive or… dare I say it? Life threatening ? The same thing for Green
House gases. Is this greenhouse effect really convincing enough for America to change its energy policy? Immigration! Should we have open borders and people who can swamp our social services? And don’t even get me started on our country’s monetary policy. I am truly humbled by how much debt is on our books. Who will take our money when it may be worth almost nothing? Wake up people…our future is being decided: NOW! Enjoy!
Pro-Life or Pro-Embryo? Fasting. Going to an extra Mass. Praying (yet another) Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. Praying outside abortion clinics. Going to D.C. in the rain and cold to march against abortion. Sound familiar? As a student on this campus, I’m aware of the attitudes towards the pro-life fight and just between you and me I’m a big proponent of this movement. In my sociology class the other week the topic of abortion came up, as does just about anything else under the sun, and my fellow sociologists-to-be brought up a good point: is pro-life limited to simply fighting abortion? It seems that while we on campus are doing an excellent job remembering the unborn and
fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, we seem to have placed those who made it out alive on the back burner. Granted, abortion is an exceptionally important issue, and I cannot push for a pro-life nation hard enough, but there are other issues that are just as tragic as abortion. I can’t help but begin to notice and feel that while we know there are other issues, we don’t quite realize it. Pro-life entails protecting life, or as John Paul II said in Evangelium Vitae, “the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end.” He doesn’t say as soon as they are born we can simply dismiss them and move on. We are called to pro Continued on page 5
St. Martha, pray for us!
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My Conversion to Becoming a Republican Since high school, party politics has always been a hidden interest of mine. Having gone to a very liberal high school, I always felt lucky to have some background in the ways of the extreme Left. Oddities, such as learning the Soviet National Anthem, were among things that many of my peers would do, just to for the heck of it. So, coming to Franciscan was a complete 180 (or π) from what I was used to. PRO-LIFE I had never considered my self a Democrat. I felt that my high school background and my Catholic faith had always pointed me to the political category of Independent. There was, however, one thing I knew for sure: I could never, ever, call my self a Republican. The word, "Republican," would make my stomach turn. I knew party politics was wrong and I felt that the Republican Party lived up to the phrase, “Dance with the one’s who brung ya’” more then any other party. I saw it as the party of old white men who drank scotch and made decisions based on dollar signs rather than on a sound political philosophy. As of matter of fact, I had always thought their “philosophy” was absurd. Growing up in California I saw the need for high taxes, hand outs for the poor, gun control, extreme environmental laws, and immigration amnesty as necessary artifacts of life. I recall being very frustrated when I would hear people on campus equate the Catholic faith and the Republican Party as being one of
the same. I saw these people as ignorant and unable to see past the self-interest that came as a product of their ignorance. Many things made me look down upon my peers, such as seeing people dressing up in camouflage, talking about guns, using the word "illegal" in reference to all Hispanics, and using the word “socialist” to attack any idea they weren’t in agreement with. Then one day things changed. Barack Obama became president and I desperately didn’t want that. During the 2008 elections, I received a lot of heat from my peers about my decision to vote in California. PRO-LIFE I was told that my vote here in Ohio was "worth more" because of its swing state status; this was something that infuriated me. I felt I had an obligation to vote at home because that is my home. PRO-LIFE I also felt that I had to vote for the person whom I felt would do the best job. My decision was to write in a candidate. So, for the 2008 presidential election I wrote in the name of Larry Koether, the father of Jacob Koether. Later that year, I started to experience several things that I had never experienced before: the first was sweet tea, then visiting the south, followed by shooting an array of guns, buying cowboy boots, and finally spending a large amount of time away from California. At this point, I knew my political view had changed. I realized I Continued on page 6
Like what you read? Frustrated? Email us your responses:
NOTESTO THEGADFLY @GMAIL.COM
Professor Quotes of the Week:
When I think shoes, I think stilettos. - Dr. Sunyoger
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St. Radegunde, pray for us!
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type responsible enough to actually devote the time and energy to regularly write articles about campus issues without even being paid to do so. Three are in FUSA, one is an RA, another works three jobs while going to school. The Gadfly staff are very active in campus life, are committed to the faith, and bring some experience with them to talk about. Myth Number Three: “The Gadfly isn't worth the paper it's printed on.” Well, first of all I want to establish the value of the paper the Gadfly is printed on. Unlike some publications, the Gadfly is printed in an easy to read and portable format – you can just grab a copy, and slip it into your folder, and go. Quality paper is used in the printing of the Gadfly – no scraps! Secondly, professors and faculty seem to think the content in the Gadfly is also worthwhile. Next time you go see your professor for advising, you'll be likely to see a copy of the Gadfly sitting on their desk. In fact, a number of professors have commented positively on various Gadfly articles, friars have positively quoted them in
homilies and ministry, and RA's and RD's have used them in Res Life programs. In fact, at least one professor even used an article as material in class. If you break down tuition, classes are about $25 each – so clearly Gadfly articles can be worth a lot more than the paper they're written on! Myth Number Four: “There have been some silly articles in the Gadfly, so all Gadfly articles are therefore outlandish and not worth your while.” Oh! Oh! Logical fallacy of overgeneralization! That's why the We find ourselves in aLook, uniquethe Gadfly is here to bite! laboratory here at Franciscan Gadfly is one of the few venues University—a and available for realmicrocosm campus discusmagnification of the Christian sion on whatever you want to talk confrontation secular culture about. It's not with overly restrictive or specialized. It's a place for the insights of the classroom to meet and enlighten campus life. That's what it means for me – the Gadfly makes me think and apply what I study and experience to real life and real readers. In fact, I see my articles as an organic whole aimed at growing into a more fully adequate Catholic worldview. Myth Number Five: “The Gadfly is nothing but baseless and whiny opinions.” Actually
many writers base their analysis on Catholic principles or at least common experience. There are definitely some people on staff with philosophy background, and they know that simply venting opinions doesn't get you very far. My own articles have largely been an application of principles from St. Thomas, Pope Benedict, and the teachings of Vatican II. C.P.M. likewise roots much of his argument in Christian sources. “Ask Emmie”... well, Emmie doesn't need sources because she's Emmie! But don't be prejudiced – actually read the Gadfly. Several years ago, yours truly used to belong to a Facebook group called “Students concerned about the Gadfly,” until realizing that the Gadfly is made up of people who can and do change and grow. I joined the Gadfly just over a year ago and it's been great. Maybe you should look into it too. In conclusion, don't be led astray by the mass of unreflected public opinion. Read the Gadfly for yourself!
~M.J.R.
The Classics?! “Seeming not won, yet won she was at length In such wars women use but half their strength.” Sestiad II, Hero and Leander, Christopher Marlowe
St. John, pray for us!
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Pop Culture Seminar Quote:
Dr. Edward Morbius: “Guilty! Guilty! My evil self
is at that door, and I have no power to stop it!” - Forbidden Planet (1956)
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tect life; age, race, location, occupation, political preferences or hair color don’t free us from this! So yes to getting rid of abortion, but remember to say yes to the homeless, the elderly, those in prison and the poor. Another aspect of pro-life that some do not fully recognize is what we take in. I remember growing up my mother curbing what I listened to and watched, saying repeatedly “you are what you take in”. Well, being the wise 11year-old I was, I did as I was told, but kinda shrugged it off, thinking it was just a momthing. However, when I hit junior high and went to a dance, I was disgusted to the music I was hearing: what’s this with a window? and they did what with a wall? Needless to say, I was and am not a proponent of rap music. How can something that is degrading to women be pro-life? Imagine my surprise when I heard it at the first formal I attended here. We have to be careful what we take in ladies and gents: the
music we listen to, the movies we watch, the way we dressthey all affect our image as Christians. These things begin to seep in to our heads and we begin accepting them as norms. Remember, John Paul II says it in EV “whatever violates the integrity of the human person…” is opposed to life. I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine discussing the government’s role in this ordeal. He’s an advocate of the Church dealing with these social issues rather than the government getting involved. Despite my socialist tendencies, I am going to agree with him on this one (although it’d be great if there was a law against abortion and euthanasia). The Church is responsible for the homeless, the poor, the elderly and dying, and those in prison and not the government? Well if you agree, then great!! And you know what is even better-the fact that you are the Church and no, I don’t mean the physical building where Fr. Dan says Mass. We are called to be pro-life in the
broadest sense and that my friend isn’t a burden; it’s a beautiful gift. This doesn’t mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that I want us all to become Puritans! It is impossible or at least very hard to try and defend life on all sides in big ways, so I urge you to find your calling to a special area; for some its praying outside the abortion clinic; for some its collecting coats for the homeless in Steubenville; for others still its visiting those who have no one else. Remember: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love” says Mother Teresa. Pursue your calling, but just remember that even the smallest things contribute to the pro-life movement. This means not forgetting those outside the womb as well as inside. - C.G.
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compromises, of the worker to full personality; the priority of labour over capital; the abolition of class distinctions founded upon the division of labour or of wealth; (and) the priority of personal responsibility over the anonymous organization.” (Personalism 1950, Pg. 104). When one looks at this description of Socialism, he sees that it is not the “redistribution of wealth,” nor the dominance of state industry that Americans, fear so much. Rather, as Mounier rightly understood, this Socialism is the blending of Capitalism and Communism in order to achieve a just workeroriented economic system. I understand that Americans are engrained, by birth, with this rigid fear and hatred of al-
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agreed more with the Republican Party than I did with the Democrats. PRO-LIFE I realized I liked rednecks. However, I didn’t have the nerve to admit to my self that I was conservative because that word still left a bad taste in my mouth. Then, one day I was set free. I was given the gift of true liberation; I was able to profess myself as a Republican. It occurred on household retreat. My brothers told me how the states they were from didn’t have firework laws, how everyone spoke English,
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!
leged “Socialism.” However, this automatic rejection, I believe, is no more than an injustice to true academic honesty and integrity. There is no movement closer to, or more influenced by Catholic Social Teaching, than this Third Way Socialism. In America we are far too often told that Socialism is the same as Communism and as such is evil. This American “enlightenment” leads us to a full-bodied embracing of “Free market Capitalism.” However, as even a basic insight displays, Capitalism cannot work without two things: 1) the exploitation of the worker, and 2) a stiff reliance on man’s greed. Both of these side affects, or values, of Capitalism must be understood as undeniable evils. Following, any such economic system built upon these pillars must itself
also be evil, or at least gravely mistaken. I do not claim to know the “right” answer to the divide between Capitalism and Communism; however, I always value an open mind. After looking into this issue you, the reader, may remain a firm Capitalist or Communist - that’s fine, that’s your free opinion. However, I ask you to consider the effects of both Capitalism and Communism, and after that, to look into what we call this Third Way.
and how poor people were encouraged to find jobs. It got something in me going. The next morning, as we were cleaning up, I picked up a pile of trash, threw it out into the woods, and yelled, “Republican!" At that point I got all fired up and started littering all over the place, taking my rightful place as user of the land. On the drive home I would shift into neutral, push the accelerator, and yell, “Republican!” I knew the more gas I burned, the more the oil companies profits would increase. The adrenaline in me was
so fired up that I wanted to burn tires and let the smoke rise to our Republican leaders. I wanted to go up the poor people and say, “I can’t believe my tax dollars are going to you! Ladle your own damn soup and get a job!” Becoming a Republican was so liberating, I knew that I could defend LIFE and have a right over the land God gave us. Thank you George W. Bush, I now drive a Ford.
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-Jacob Mendoza
St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!
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Dear Emmie, Dear Emmie, I am dating a guy and we've only been together for about a month. But he keeps wanting to talk about marriage and kids and even NFP! NFP, Emmie! I like this guy, but do we have to talk about all this stuff now? I don't even know how he feels about Hawaiian pizza, but I know he wants to have five kids by 35. Help!
Dear Too Much Too Soon, Ok this might be tough, but RUN - don’t walk - RUN from this man immediately. What does your gut tell you? Does your gut tell you that this relationship is a good idea? I don’t think it does, or you wouldn’t be writing me. This guy doesn’t want you, he wants a relationship. He wants a mold YOU can fit into. He want a girlfriend, we wants a wife, but he doesn’t want you. For him, any girl will do. Relationships take time. You don’t even know what kind of pizza he likes, but he wants to talk about the possibility of marriage with you! Sounds like he wants you to invest a lot emotionally, but he’s not willing to do the same. And let me give you a little tip, if this guy really thought you might be his future wife he’d
be smart enough to keep his mouth shut for the first month terrified he might screw it up! Don’t date somebody who is interested in the social label, date somebody who is interested in you. And here’s a wild tip the next time a man has been dating you for only a month and he wants to discuss your future plans with you Uterus - RUN!
Jesus Christ. Most people however, find it very difficult to find a balance between their spiritual life, and the rest of their life. People who seem to have an overexaggerated spiritual life are usually using the spiritual side of their life to fill a void they have in the rest of it, and this isn’t healthy. So I would tread very carefully with this girl, there’s obviously more going on than you think. It’s really important to be supportive of other people’s beliefs, but if it makes you uncomfortable and is effecting the relationship, there’s obviously a problem here. But don’t take it personally, I’m sure she really does care about you. You’re going to have to talk with her about how you feel but be sure to remain very sensitive to her feelings. It sounds like her problem isn’t with you, but with herself.
Dear Emmie, I really like my girlfriend and I totally respect all of her beliefs, but sometimes she is really a nun. She does not like me to listen to rap music or rock music. She wants me to go to daily Mass with her at 6 and yells at me if I don't. She wants me to join her brother household. She yells at me for using "bad" language. She wants me to grow out my hair. She says we can't hold hands, let alone kiss, and she frowns on hugs. Does she even like Emmie me? I think I am a pretty good boyfriend, I just don't understand why she has to be so weird about these Is your love life suffering? Do you have questions about romance things. that stumps even your most savvy Tired of the Sister Act and experienced friends? Then, please, for your own good, conDear Tired of the Sister Act, Spirituality is about balance. In tact Emmie at fact, the most balanced human ever eharemza001@student.franciscan. to walk the face of the earth was edu
Coming soon: A debate between the Editor of the Gadfly and Sterling White, “Humorist” for the Troubadour.
Only the Brave Will Survive!
j|Çx? j|à tÇw jtzzxÜç That Damned Elusive Style Aren’t men feeling left out? I mean, at this campus, women’s dress is such a huge deal – we have modest fashion shows and articles about high heels and what they mean for womanhood – but what about men? Poor guys, walking around, having no idea how to dress or what to wear to accentuate their masculinity, and we women are too wrapped up in our own outfits to lend a helping hand. Some men may try to infer guidelines for dress from the article about high heels published last week. In this case, I expect many men to be roaming about campus in sports coats, dress shoes and ties. If more women compliment you because you are wearing it, that means you should wear it all the time, right? Wrong! Confused? Read on. Don’t dress according to what gets you complimented or treated like you’re special, but dress according to the guidelines of true masculinity. Men and women, you may be shocked when you realize what it means to dress like a man. I’ll admit, I was shocked when I first realized it too. But hopefully you will follow my logical approach to men’s dress and soon be in agreement that there is only one way that a man should dress to fulfill his manliness.
Captain Li Shang sets down this definition of masculinity: “You must be swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon.” Masculinity, then, is something ingrained in nature. We can see it all around us, in rivers and typhoons and fires and even on the moon! So, let’s look around us a little more and see what nature has to say about men. Look at the animal kingdom. Have you ever noticed that the male animal is always more striking than the female? Peacocks, robins, ducks, geese—but more than birds—lions, moose (moosen?), stags, all much better looking than their female counterparts. In the words of Frank Wildhorn, in his representation of The Scarlet Pimpernel, “Someone has to strike a pose and bear the weight of welltailored clothes… Each species has a sex that’s fated to be highly decorated, that is why the Lord created men.” That’s right, men. You’re officially on the hook, so to speak. God created you to to stand out amongst the human race, to “uphold the banner of beauty!”
Dark sports coats and patterned ties are nice and clean cut, to be sure, but do they really bring beauty to the world? I think not. Here are the guidelines, although it is up to personal taste to interpret them from theoretical ideas into actual clothing: Colors. I mean Bright-with-a-capital-B colors. High collars. Ruffles at the neck. Embroidery on the lapels. Pantaloons. Vests. Shortwaisted coats with long tails. Shiny buttons. Top hats. Walking sticks. Well-polished shoes or boots, buckles optional. Men, don’t be intimidated by these standards, but be grateful that the Lord has created you to bring beauty to the world. Look to the men of The Scarlet Pimpernel or any Jane Austen novel for inspiration. A man should not be scared to accept his role as head of the household or of the family, and this means setting an example in purity, love, and stylishness. Although in the outside world, many women try to usurp the role of fashionista for themselves, it is God’s gift to man to be both fashionable and dashing, daring and unique, bold and beautiful, swift, strong, and mysterious. -Jessica Kelley
notestothegadfly@gmail.com