Posted on 09/30/2004 10:49:18 AM PDT by Colofornian
T-shirts proclaiming the message "I cant ... I'm Mormon" are apparently too hot for Brigham Young University, as the college newspaper has yanked all advertisements.
According to the Deseret Morning News, the paper halted the ad campaign after complaints from students, professors and administrators who felt the slogan implied a desire to engage in "objectionable" behavior.
Many thought wearers of the clothing wished they could drink, smoke or have casual sex – but were prevented solely because of their membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SPONSORED LINKS Distance Learning Directory - Online Degrees Bachelor, Master and Post-Grad degrees online from accredited colleges and universities. Business, Education, IT, Healthcare, more. Browse by degree or program. Request info and get started today. www.classesusa.com
Win a $2400 Scholarship Now Register to win a $2,400 scholarship for you or a family member. Simply fill out the 3-step form for additional information from any of our colleges and you will automatically be entered. www.YourDegreeHere.com
One letter to the editor stated: "I can't, I'm Mormon, but if I wasn't, you know I'd be there 'cause it sounds sweet!"
Some reportedly believed the woman modeling the T-shirt in the ad posed in an overly provocative manner.
The objections are surprising to the designer of the shirt, Utah Valley State College student Chad Ramos.
Having grown up in Las Vegas, Ramos says the slogan came in handy whenever he was asked to drink or smoke.
"I found if I told people I didn't drink, they didn't know how to react," he told the News, "but if I said, I can't, I'm Mormon, they said, 'Oh,' and boom, it was over."
Thus, he was shocked by the BYU backlash.
"I didn't identify with it. I couldn't even relate," he said. "Anybody who's lived outside Utah has said this a hundred times."
Cartoon in BYU's college newspaper pokes fun at "offended" students (artist David Lesue/The Daily Universe )
Jim Kelly, general manager of the Newsnet Advisory Board which runs the student newspaper, says he, not the administration of the university, made the decision to remove the commercial.
"We don't frequently pull ads, but in terms of declining to run ads, probably two weeks don't go by that we don't decline ads for the Daily Universe," he told the News. "It is universal among newspapers to exercise the right to refuse ads considered objectionable. We're pleased we have high standards, and we're never apologetic about it."
If the ads are censored, is that an indicator that the shirts should be censored, too? If offered such a t-shirt for free, is the proper response, "I can't...I'm Mormon."
I doubt they'd have any objections if the shirts said, "I won't...I'm Mormon."
Didn't stop Mark Hacking.
or you just point to the tattoo that reads "I can't, I'm Mormon." That is, if you can...
I Can't...I'm John Kerry or is that "I Can" "no, no I can't"
"I can't, I'm an American"
The newspaper is well within it's rights to refuse to run the ad (which can still be run in many other publications). If the shirt said "I won't" or "I don't" instead of "I can't" I doubt there would be any fuss about it.
BYU is a private University funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Students are required to sign onto a code of behavior that includes a dress code. If University officals deem the shirt in violation of the dress code, students will not be allowed to wear it, but I don't know the dress code well enough to say if the shirt would be considered in violation.
or "I've already done it - I'm a liberal"
I like that one.
Mormons don't mess around.
Much better. Too bad they shirt designer didn't think of that.
There are two ways to take it, either as "I am so committed to my faith that I will not lower my standards." or as "I would love to lower my standards but my religion has more control over my life than I do."
I'm not Mormon but I have heard this stated from other Mormons not from Utah. A couple who have gone to Utah for school have found the folks there a lot different from the ones they go to church with, say in Texas.
I think BYU is being a little over sensitive here but they can do what they want.
I totally understood the designer's point. About half of my family is LDS and none of them live in Utah. They do spend a lot of time saying this very thing. Non-Utah LDS have to be a lot more vocal and proactive when it comes to saying no. In Utah, a lot of things are just taken for granted.
True...and I think the latter, derogatory connotation is more inferred than implied. There is no sure-fire defense against the perceptions of the perverted.
I noted from the article that the "I can't...I'm Mormon" slogan started because the creator was tired of explaining why he wouldn't drink alcohol. My answer to such situations was very simple, "None for me, thanks. I've had enough."
Next shirt: "We can't take it... we're Mormon administrators!"
Mitt Romney needs a shirt like that to wear everytime the Democrat-controlled legislature brings a bill to his desk! lol
Are you aware this implies you have already been drinking?
Far more do than one might think.
"I can't....I'm an aethist"
"I can't...I'm too liberal"
"I can't...I voted for Gore"
"I can't...the AFL-CIO hasn't told me how yet"
"I can't...My guru says it ruins my karma"
"I can't...my chakras aren't balanced"
"I can't...It makes me look like a liberal."
"I can't...under the protect of the Fifth Amendment"
"I can't...its not a legally controlling authority."
"I can't....Hillary won't let me"
It implies no such thing. One may infer as much, but that's their gig.
As it goes, I have had enough. I've seen enough lives wrecked by alcoholism and addiction...but I don't go preachy on that count unless someone makes a deal about my not drinking.
Or the famous John Kerry answer:
"I can't...but I could!"
I attended BYU for four years and worked at the school paper. Students there are just too sensitive for their own good. When I was at BYU, an ad in the school paper for a one piece swimming suit caused some to write to the paper to complain about the immodesty of the ad. I live in Nevada too, and agree with the shirt's designer...I use that phrase all the time, not because I want to drink, etc., but because it is a simple way to explain why I won't drink, etc. Everyone understands. Perhaps the offended students at BYU should spend their energies on some real problems. Some BYU students need a little Prozac.
Well if one MIGHT infer from that comment then it is one that could imply it.
If I could understand what you just wrote here, I might agree with it.
Silly politics. The shirts are fine.
I know, I'm female.
It doesn't make sense. They mean "I won't". Of course they can.
Speaking of not understanding, can someone explain that "bunny with a pancake on it's head" thing?
Ping
How about?
"I can't take a second wife...or third...or fourth... I'm Mormon."
Or, for the Charlotte Prebyterian-USA youth group volunteer just found guilty & sentenced to 5 years for disseminating child porn: "I can't...I'm just a (Pres) bit detained."
Or, for somebody dressed up as John D. Lee as a Halloween spoof: "I can't (massacre settlers)...I'm a Mormon bishop."
"I'm Catholic, but oh, what the hell..."
If you want a really over-the-top example of being oversensivite, I have a story for you.
When I was at the University of Waterloo (early 90s) there was a HUGE blow up over a poster used to promote some sports related awards show/dinner/whatever. The poster showed two basketball players, a guy and a girl. The guy was standing up with a ball under his arm at his side, the girl was in front of him and to the side a bit, she was crouched down (like at the bottom of a deep knee bend) and a ball was on the floor in front of her. Both of them faced the camera, but the SHADOW of the girl's head fell on the crotch of the guy spaking a feminatzi crusade over it's supposed oral-sex/female servitude message. The University retreated and withdrew the poster if I recall correctly.
A picture of Jesus? Is it a photo?
May we see?
Please????
Amen
Is this a double negative? Who does their PR?
Actually, if that's the picture I think it is, you "out" yourself to anyone knowledgeble enough to identify the picture.
I've surprised more than a few people by asking them if they are LDS and then they ask me how I knew. It's always that picture. And you probably know which one I mean.
I think 90%+ of the LDS homes have at least 1 copy of it and more than a few hang them in their office. But I've never seen that particular picture displayed by anyone who wasn't LDS.
Of course, you may have one of the (many) other pictures of Christ displayed. As far as I know, none of them are so strongly identified with a particular church.
Yes.
It's just a visual non-sequitir used as a flippant response to someone else's nonsensical ramblings. It has the added benefit of something cute doing something odd.
Yep. People often confuse "can't" for "won't." Sort of like the way Leftists confuse freedom of speech (which they demand) with freedom of thought (which they abhor).
"/snip The LDS church is very conscious of their image and try to keep a low profile. snip."
That low profile thing might work a bit better if they'd stop sending out missionaries all over the world ; - )
We "can", but we "won't"! :-)
Mormons are the weirdest western religion.
Hey, ya gotta love any religion that rips off old Masonic rituals and calls 'em their own. Me, I love it.
If you want the weirdest western religion, try Unitarian Universalist. Hell, those folks are so unsure of everything that bigots have resorted to burning large Question Marks in their yards.
I suspected as much, but I wasn't sure whether there might be some interesting history behind it. Thanks. :)
The history is largely unknown on the images. There simply appears to be some guy out there with a very tame bunny who will allow any and all manner of breakfast foods to be placed on its head. I've seen that same bunny in different poses with waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and croissants. My bunny wouldn't put up with that nonsense for a minute. And lemme tell you, there's nothing meaner in this world than a ticked-off bunny.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.