Letters to the Editor

A Calvin moment
I was standing on the cement walkway outside the entrance to the American Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, feeling a combination of irritation and embarrassment. I was obviously under the control of two uniformed security officers who bristled with the accoutrements of their trade: lapel radios, nightsticks, sheeny boots and insignias of rank. I had friends waiting for me, held up by my unnecessary and selfish act of taking a picture of the Embassy entrance way. Under the equatorial sun, clothed in a jacket and tie, I was beginning to sweat.

My colleague, Pastor Wyatt George, leads a small organization he calls the Tent Maker Project. It extends micro loans to church members of the Presbyterian Church of Uganda in the Kampala region. Twenty-five years ago when he was the organizing pastor of a small Presbyterian Church in America congregation in Carbondale, Ill., I was one of two elders. We have kept in touch during years since, so my recent retirement from university teaching allowed me the leisure to provide him a helping hand on this trip, my first to Uganda.

Our business this morning was to touch base with the Embassy, laying the groundwork to obtain visas for a couple of people on the Uganda side of the project to visit the United States. When we sought entrance to the Embassy, after a long trip through the unbelievable traffic clogging the market areas of the city, we were informed that the posted time for American citizens to see staff was between 1:30 and 3:30 PM. Because it was a little after 10 in the morning, we would be required to return later. Miffed by the bureaucratise, I discussed our options with Pastor George. Then I reached into my bag, took out a small camera and snapped a shot of the Embassy entrance way.

That provoked action by those in uniform. Men with guns came to the ready. They were on me like the flesh flies on scraps around a Uganda meat market. "Did you take a picture? How many pictures did you take? Why are you taking pictures? Turn camera over to me. Let me see your passport." I responded, replied, groveled and then complained. After all, it is my Embassy, isn't it? I am an American citizen. There was no posted notice, "no pictures allowed." With my documents and camera in hand, the security folks consulted together in the local language, exchanged messages on their radios and maintained an officious control over my movements.

I was told to wait. The matter was too serious for a determination by those in uniform. Someone from inside the Embassy would have to resolve the matter. My camera and passport disappeared with someone. We waited in the narrowing shade as the sun rose higher, shuffling back and forth with no place to sit.

A tall, sandy haired mazunga (white person) appeared, smiling and extending my passport back to me. "When were you at Calvin?" were his first words. I wasn't really surprised, but broke into laughter, because his identity tag was evident, revealing in large block letters a name as distinctively Dutch—DeJong—as mine. So we exchanged short versions of our lives, particularly the happenings since our Calvin days. I introduced him to my colleague and we talked about what brought us to Uganda. Then we played Dutch bingo about mutual friends at Calvin, and what faculty friends of mine he had studied with as a political science major during the early 1980s.

We broke up our kletz. People were waiting for Pastor George and me to get back to other matters. Now enjoying the obvious approval of the Embassy's security chief, I not only received my camera back, I took another picture revealing the Embassy's sign. Then we two alums, half a world away from our origins, wished each other well and took our leave from one another. We were both pleased to have shared a pleasurable and secure moment granted by our loving, sovereign God.

Jack Van Der Slik '58
Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

Feike from Doon, not Pella
I can see not editing someone's faulty memory, but Feike Feikema was from Doon, Iowa, not from Pella (Spring, 2002). Feike must be squirming in his grave on the hill west of Doon.

Mike Vanden Bosch '57
Sioux Center, Iowa

Trophy hunting does damage
I've been loving "class notes" lately with so many stories and photos about Calvin alumni. Most recently "Big Game Hunter" (Spring 2002) caught my eye and I wanted to address something noted in this article. Mr. Edewaard is quoted as saying "Sport hunting has never depleted a species yet." I think the American bison would beg to differ. I agree that hunting has an important place in our role in the environment. Trophy hunting (referred to in the article as "sport hunting") however, has done far more damage than good over the years.

Tom Medema '87
Yosemite, Calif.

It is such a disappointment that we "Christians" continue to support and glorify the killing of animals for "sport" or any other reason.

The acceptance of killing "as a pastime" is acceptance and support of violence. In a world filled with hatred and violence, we as Christians are called to be set apart, yet we find great pleasure in stalking, torturing and killing God's creation. Worse yet, we teach our children to kill. Some like to justify their killing by calling themselves "conservationists" or "humanitarians. God gave creation an innate ability to take care of itself. It wasn't until man stepped in to control nature (for selfish gain) that the natural balance was destroyed.

It has been the opinion of man for centuries, that animals were put on earth "for" us to use and abuse as we please. The Bible clearly indicates God had a different plan. His compassion extends way beyond human life. The Bible speaks in several places of all creation worshipping the heavens.

The idea of killing animals for food and sport did not come into existence until after the fall of man. Genesis makes it clear that God's intent was for animals and people to exist side by side in harmony. Jesus message is one of love, compassion, non-violence and stewardship of God's creation. The violence involved in "bagging" an animal can never be mistaken for a "Christ-like" act.

Erin R. Oldford ex'85
Fenton, Mich.

'Coop' reflections
Thank you so much for the article on "Coop" (Spring 2002). I remember him as a wonderful professor with energy to burn and a compassionate chaplain with his door always open. I am so glad that you included his remembrances of his parents.

I first knew of them when I was a student in the early 80s. I remember being touched by the love that they had for each other as expressed by his father's constant care and companionship with his wife. Even then I thought, what a wonderful testimony of God's love for us. Dale Cooper was, and I assume still is, a wonderful example of how God would like to see us live on this earth. I only have one question for Dale: Do you still flip your tie over your shoulder when you speak? God bless you and keep you.

Mark Afman '83
Denver, Colo.

Reencountering 'The Game'
As I was watching "The Game" on the big screen, I was thinking about all of the games I enjoyed as a student. To the best of my memory, I did not miss a home basketball game during my four years as a Calvin student. My best memory of a Calvin-Hope game, however, was just last year at the Calvin Fieldhouse.

It was Christmas 2000 when I opened the usual tie box. But to my surprise, the box contained a plane ticket to Grand Rapids and a ticket to "The Game." My wife and children had come up with this great idea. I attended the game with my son, Jamie, then a Calvin senior, and some of his friends. I had a great seat in the middle of the student body section. (I had to tell a little fib to the student usher to assure her that I was a Calvin student.) The only problem was this new concept of standing for the whole game—maybe in my college days…. But who cared, it was great to be back in the middle of the action enjoying a great game.

This year my daughter, Becca, a Calvin freshman, waited in line early in the morning to get tickets to the Calvin-Hope game at the Civic Center. Later I learned she also attended the game at the Fieldhouse. I thanked her for being in my place, cheering on the team.

Thank you very much for all your hard work in making it possible for alumni all over the country to enjoy watching Calvin basketball (via the satellite game). Because of that, I can relive the memories of being there in person.

Phil Wierenga '76
Boynton Beach, Fla.

Hearts and minds in the making?
I was intrigued by the article "Mindful Marketing" in the Spring edition of Spark. It's funny that what has been used often—Calvin, rather than Calvin College—is now being purposefully pushed. I am happy to hear that the new promotional materials continue to promote Calvin as an institution which explores seriously the integration of faith into all areas of life. I am sad to read McWhertor's comments in the Chimes that Calvin is, bottom line, an institution of education. That was not my experience at Calvin and I believe not the experience of many alumni. To be certain Calvin was, and I believe still is, an institution which challenges the mind and helps to develop it. However, to make Calvin's slogan "Minds In The Making" seems very reductionistic. That may not mean much in a community such as Western Michigan where Calvin is well known. It means a lot out here on the frontier where Calvin is thought of as Hobbes' sidekick.

I agree with Schultze that the Heart and Hand symbol should at least be a source of thinking in terms of the new slogan.

Marketing is important when perception is sometimes the only way to attract attention. That's why "Minds In The Making" doesn't do it for me. Why not "Minds and Hearts in The Making?" This more closely resembles my experience at Calvin and my ideal for what Calvin should be.

Rob Louis '81
Ocoee, Fla.

Harry Potter reading list
Thanks to Cheryl Van Til for suggesting Richard Abanes' book, Harry Potter and the Bible. Might I in return suggest that anyone who reads that book read J.K. Rowling's book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It might be equally as enlightening.

Stephen Essenburg '86
Grand Rapids, Mich.