Saint Ross Condemns Sorority Hussies, Others
Package compiled by Connect2Mason Director Grace Kendall & Broadside Editor-in-Chief Nicole Ocran. Photos by Broadside Photography Editor Courtney Erland.
While preachers at the Free Speech Zone are not uncommon at George Mason University, the first of this semester evoked a strong student reaction.
A tall black man wearing suspenders and carrying a Bible and a large jug of water identifying himself only as “Saint Ross” was using the Free Speech Zone today to preach his Christian ideals to the masses of George Mason.
He pursued a number of controversial subjects, including homosexuality, the war in Iraq and the roles of women in society. Many students crowded around to observe the spectacle and provoke a reaction from the speaker.
“He’s a pretty snazzy dresser for someone who hates all things materialistic,” said junior English major Zach Lewis. “It’s like junk food. It’s not healthy at all, but you can’t help but keep watching. He just wanted to create a scene. If he really wanted to talk to people about religion and spirituality, he wouldn’t be so—he just wants a reaction.”
Many students were heavily opposed to the speaker’s extremist Christian views.
“That is not what Christianity is about, you don’t stand around and put people down,” said sophomore Sarah Nagle, a business major. “That’s not what Jesus would do.”
The responsive crowd that fluctuated between 50 to 125 people during the lunch hours held four Mason police on the scene, keeping an eye on the them as they pressed closer around the speaker.
“He’s a blind believer with a closed mind without any intention of listening to anyone’s point of view,” said sophomore Phil Marcella, a philosophy major. “He’s blindly faithful. No religion should pick apart the people standing around them.”
Saint Ross announced to the crowd at one point that he would be back throughout the week.
- If you have any photos or videos from the gathering, or would like to share your opinions, e-mail cmasondirector@gmail.com or visit us in SUB I room 204.
Sophomore Phil Marcella's sign reads, "What religious representative stands around insulting people they try to 'save?' This man is unintelligent and uninformed."
Good Job
I don't care what this man claimed, he is not religious. He goes around to public places saying things to get a rise out of people because he wants the attention. This article just feeds his yearn for attention.
Doing no good
I am someone who thinks open air evangelism is a good thing, preaching and going into the world, and teach all nations, but it can be done so very poorly.
All he did was attack people and then back it up with sporadically quoted Bible verses. He said some ridiculous things that did not help anything, like Bernie Mac went to Hell, that were meant to anger people rather than open them to the Word.
I was definately in agreement with that one protestor who stepped right up to him, and shouted out a question about whether anyone had in any way felt enouraged to convert because of his rhetoric. He better improve his act if he is going to show up again.
Thank you
The protestor you are referring to is me. I'm actually hoping somebody recorded what happened before he was escorted off to the side for a quick chat with the police.
As for "Saint" Ross and his behaviour... He lost when he stooped down to the level of pointing at me and saying "You look like Harry Potter."
A few things about that:
1: I haven't been called Harry Potter since Sophomore year of High School by some mindless parasite hoping to receive from me some form of reaction to feed on
2: He said he'd not insulted anyone or judged a single man in the crowd.
3: What was he trying to say when he pointed at me and cast such a pathetic blow?
4: What SAINT would do such a foolish and hateful thing? (Hateful doesn't mean it -did- anything)
Speaking of Saints, who's ever heard of somebody who is ONLY a Saint to non-Christians? If you're a Saint you're a Saint. If you're Brother Ross you are Brother Ross to all. You do not hold yourself higher than any other man.
HEY!
Hello lovely C2M Director.
Please include some quotes about what he said. Others were asking for this request as well. We people in class can't turn the audio up while professors are talking, and we wanna know what Saint Ross said. JK about the professors part.
But in all seriousness..
I would include a bulleted list of some of the top 3 most interesting things Saint Ross said.