The Please Reconcile website contains a wealth of information about BJU's interracial dating ban scandal.
Most recently, PR posted a 1986 interview of Dean of Men Tony Miller regarding the interracial dating ban Rules. From the interview, a couple of facts become clear.
First, "Mr. Miller’s words clarify that the interracial dating policy was codified in the 1970s (not the 1950s) due primarily to the admittance of African-Americans (not Asians)." This contradicts the oft repeated story that the interracial dating ban was spawned in the '50's as the result of an Asian/Caucasian romance.
Secondly, Tony Miller was well aware of Bob Jones III's misstatements in the Larry King Live interview. Dean Miller never stood up and corrected the errors. In keeping silent, he became a partaker in Bob Jones III's deception. I wonder how many students Tony Miller expelled from BJU for not reporting the known wrongdoing of another student. Evidently, Dean of Men Tony Miller held the students over which he exercised authority to a higher standard than that to which he held himself. What could be more hypocritical?
THE "BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE" OF THE SEPARATION OF THE RACES
Please Reconcile also has a June 25, 2008 post titled The Biblical Principle of the Separation of the Races.
This well-written, well-documented article comes to an inescapable conclusion regarding Bob Jones III's statements in the Larry King Live interview about the present state of BJU's ideological view of interracial marriage:
"The more one reads the interview, the less one can be sure that anything has changed on the ideological level. Thus, though people may say, “The policy has changed, so why do you hound the school for mere words,” we suggest that good, healing words are precisely what are needed at this point."
It is time for all BJU graduates to take a stand and join the Please Reconcile group by signing the Petition regarding this unresolved debacle.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Since this was posted, Please Reconcile has unfortunately deleted from their site the history of BJU and the Joneses regarding their behavior regarding the interracial debacle. Apparently, Jon Henry of the Please Reconcile site, promised that if BJU would make some sort of statement or apology he would delete from the site the details of BJU's and the Joneses' handling of the matter. I believe that promise was ill-advised.
I do not believe it ever serves the truth to whitewash the past. This interracial dating/marriage controversy - more publicly than any other - revealed how the Joneses, BJU, and their staff operate. The facts and details that were revealed about the Joneses and BJU and some of the TEACHING AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF at BJU, demonstrated a level of dishonesty and gutlessness that remains unrebuked. And, some of these unrepentant people - opportunistic heretics and sychophants, really - still teach and influence students at BJU.
The underlying problems that allowed BJU and the Joneses to lead an entire religious sect and sub-culture to accept the Joneses interracial foolishness as "Bible policy," remains undisturbed. The Please Reconcile group never insisted on addressing the matter of personal responsibility for sin in this matter. In fact, with respect to judgment and righteousness and restitution, there seem to be a host of things left undone.
Yet, BJU, the Joneses, and those who aided and abetted them in this matter, seem to have been let off scot free.
But, my guess is that Dr. Stephen Jones' statement, empty as it is, satisfied many gullible people who couldn't wait to congratulate themselves on how this new statement on interracial relations.
I do want to write about this when I have some time.
mark fitzhenry
you have alot of time to waste - try getting a job
Posted by: Stew Leonard | February 18, 2009 at 07:49 PM
"This site is funny. You have alot of time to waste - try getting a job like the rest of us"
Editor: Ben Franklin once said, "A man will occassionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on."
Most independent fundamentalist BJU-types strike me as blind followers of the blind.
BTW, "Stew," I can't remember the date of my last post. And, not all of us aspire to be an 'employee' like you.
mark fitzhenry
Posted by: Stew Leonard | February 18, 2009 at 07:53 PM