T.I., Ash Wednesday hardly mix
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Opinion
Rapper - and convicted felon - T.I. will perform for thousands of UA students in Barnhill Arena Wednesday, which, as Ash Wednesday, also marks the beginning of the Lenten season for many Christians.
The irony is evident. Lent - a penitential season that Roman Catholics, Lutherans and other Christians observe leading up to Jesus' death on Good Friday - is a time of relative solemnity and is not usually associated with rowdy concerts, particularly those featuring a rapper who's been convicted of two felonies related to the possession of unregistered firearms.
Admittedly, the UA Headliner Concerts Committee probably didn't have much room to schedule T.I. for a concert, as the rapper heads to jail for a yearlong sentence in March. And, as journalists, we absolutely understand the importance of the separation between "church and state" - in this case, the UA obviously shouldn't have to schedule its events around church services.
But this complete division will create an uncomfortable situation for many students Wednesday. No one wants to miss a free concert - especially when the performer is constantly in the news, featured on late-night talk shows and starring in his own MTV show - but when it comes to choosing between that and an important religious tradition, the decision isn't so easy.
Life as a Christian UA student won't end because T.I. is performing on Ash Wednesday. But in the future, we hope UA officials will remember the traditions and holidays of all religions - not just Christianity - when scheduling university events.
The irony is evident. Lent - a penitential season that Roman Catholics, Lutherans and other Christians observe leading up to Jesus' death on Good Friday - is a time of relative solemnity and is not usually associated with rowdy concerts, particularly those featuring a rapper who's been convicted of two felonies related to the possession of unregistered firearms.
Admittedly, the UA Headliner Concerts Committee probably didn't have much room to schedule T.I. for a concert, as the rapper heads to jail for a yearlong sentence in March. And, as journalists, we absolutely understand the importance of the separation between "church and state" - in this case, the UA obviously shouldn't have to schedule its events around church services.
But this complete division will create an uncomfortable situation for many students Wednesday. No one wants to miss a free concert - especially when the performer is constantly in the news, featured on late-night talk shows and starring in his own MTV show - but when it comes to choosing between that and an important religious tradition, the decision isn't so easy.
Life as a Christian UA student won't end because T.I. is performing on Ash Wednesday. But in the future, we hope UA officials will remember the traditions and holidays of all religions - not just Christianity - when scheduling university events.
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