LSU deletes crosses from fan photo
The Painted Posse wears crosses on their chests -- but not in this photo. (LSU Athletic Dept.)
According to Fox News, LSU officials sent out a photo of the group of fans, the so-called Painted Posse, in a campus e-mail about the Tigers’ victory over South Carolina Oct. 13.
The Painted Posse is a group of Christian students who paint their bodies with LSU school colors and small crosses. The e-mail shows the group at the game, but the crosses had been digitally removed.
“I was a bit surprised, because our pictures get used so frequently, and the cross had never been edited before,” Posse member Cameron Cooke told the website CampusReform.org. “The cross painting is important to me because it represents who I am as a Christ follower. And it reminds me who I need to act like in Death Valley,” he said.
“I knew from the second I was old enough to know that I was going to LSU,” another Posse member, Joel D’Aubin, told NBC33 in Baton Rouge. “And we all have a passion for LSU football and for Christ. Just being able to be that example every single Saturday is an awesome experience.”
School spokesman Herb Vincent told the site the school altered the image to prevent other students from being offended.
“We don’t want to imply we are making any religious or political statements, so we air-brushed it out,” the school said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. “Only one of the students, who didn’t appreciate it, actually contacted us about it. So next time, we’ll just choose a different photo.”
But the statement went on to acknowledge the deletion was a mistake.
“We erred in our judgment and we have communicated our apologies to the group of young men represented in the photo whose school spirit is second to none.”
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294 comments Add your comment
Jesus is a pansy
October 23rd, 2012
9:17 am
Hey Donnan of a New Era: Make all your posts begin with quotes of what everyone says, then respond to the quotes in the next paragraph with an opposing view.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
9:18 am
SBinF………….That is about Telling the world of your good works and being Boastful. It is not about Representing you are a Christian and Sharing the word of GOD.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:18 am
“I’m not referring to the LSU fans, but people like you who feel the need to advertise their religion. It’s more important for us to all know that you’re a Christian, rather than you acting like one.
Christians are commanded to spread the gospel. Not my problem if you don’t like Christians.
Donna Outlaw
October 23rd, 2012
9:18 am
The Administration made this decision, not the fans or anyone in the Athletic Dept and most of the fans are just as upset as anyone else who is sick of only Christians having to be PC.
Mara
October 23rd, 2012
9:18 am
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” – Matthew 6:5
The Bible says to avoid public displays of piety. But if modern christians did that, nobody would know how much better they are than everyone else and what’d be the point? They HAVE to advertise their religion. Because they’re obviously not willing to live it.
SBinF
October 23rd, 2012
9:18 am
“Poor baby, did you get your whittle feewings hurt?”
By the lack of substance in your replies, I can only assume you concede the point. You asked for verses, I provided them. Now you have nothing to say.
Answer man.
October 23rd, 2012
9:19 am
Christians offend me all the time. How about that group of “Christians” who are against anti-bullying? Now that’s offensive. Want to display the cross, fine with me. Just keep your hypocrisy to yourself. Display the Ten Commandments, but don’t live by them. Go for it.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:19 am
” They HAVE to advertise their religion. Because they’re obviously not willing to live it.”
So wearing a cross is wrong? LOLOL!!!! You left wingers are hilarious!
SBinF
October 23rd, 2012
9:20 am
“That is about Telling the world of your good works and being Boastful. It is not about Representing you are a Christian and Sharing the word of GOD.”
No, it’s about publicly professing your faith, and that being more important than you living as Christ would have you. That’s the problem with so many Christians. You’re more concerned with other people seeing how pious you are, rather than living as a Christian. You know, helping the poor, giving up your riches to follow Christ, all of that stuff.
The same people crying about being persecuted would just as well spit on a homeless man as he passes.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:21 am
“By the lack of substance in your replies, I can only assume you concede the point. You asked for verses, I provided them. Now you have nothing to say.
No, I asked for verses that weren’t taken out of context like you did. I posted more than enough verses to back up Jesus telling Christians to spread the gospel.
Not my problem if you have reading comprehension problems.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:22 am
“You’re more concerned with other people seeing how pious you are”
And just HOW were those LSU fans pious?
“You know, helping the poor, giving up your riches to follow Christ, all of that stuff.
And how much money do you give to the poor? Probably nothing.
Lib mantra: Do as I say not as I do.
SBinF
October 23rd, 2012
9:23 am
How were those verses taken out of context? What context is missing? How does wearing a cross spread the gospel? How does complaining about the removal of a cross spread the gospel?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:23 am
“How about that group of “Christians” who are against anti-bullying? ”
Oh boy, this should be fun.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:24 am
“How were those verses taken out of context?
Again, reading comprehension is not your thing. I already explained it in a previous post.
“How does wearing a cross spread the gospel?”
How does it not?
“How does complaining about the removal of a cross spread the gospel?”
That question makes zero sense.
Call LSU
October 23rd, 2012
9:24 am
Call LSU to voice your displeasure. It will do so much more than blogging about it here. The number to call is 225-578-1863. That is the number for Herb Vincent, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Senior Associate Athletic Director. Please remember this wasn’t necessarily Mr. Vincent’s idea, so you are voicing your displeasure to the university as a whole for doing this. You will likely leave a message, so just make it short and sweet, and professional. If you drone on, start ranting or shouting, it will have much more of a negative consequence. Simply letting Mr. Vincent know that LSU has offended countless Christians with this air-brushing will get the message across. Many quick messages rather than a few rants will make much more of an impact. And to those saying “keep it at church”, it’s a cross on your chest. They aren’t preaching. Countless other groups do the exact same thing. Do you complain about pink ribbons for breast cancer? Of course not. This is the same thing.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:25 am
“The same people crying about being persecuted would just as well spit on a homeless man as he passes.”
And you have what to back that up? Looks like you’re a judgmental Pharisee to me.
SBinF
October 23rd, 2012
9:26 am
Well let’s agree to disagree DONNA. Sadly you’re proving every terrible stereotype about Christians true.
OldGrunt
October 23rd, 2012
9:26 am
Perhaps the ‘enlightened leaderless’ at LSU should remember the type of organizations who came to their aid, time after time after disasters such as Katrina. Not sure that LSU would be a top choice for a child or grandchild to attend with this lack of values being embraced. Guess they are attempting to develop US apologists — for saving FREEDOM and RELIGIOUS FREEDOM for millions throughout the world.
SBinF
October 23rd, 2012
9:27 am
While you’re on the internet complaining about a cross, there are folks out there really doing God’s work.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:27 am
“Well let’s agree to disagree DONNA. Sadly you’re proving every terrible stereotype about Christians true.
Whatever you say, ma’am.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:27 am
“While you’re on the internet complaining about a cross, there are folks out there really doing God’s work.”
Hypocrisy, thy name is SBinF.
Bamagirl
October 23rd, 2012
9:33 am
Hey , Tigerdumb,
Freedom of SPEECH? Here’s an option – don’t use the photo. By the way, the photo is property of the photographer, so if LSU bought it or if it’s an LSU photographer the editor could have decided NOT to use it. Don’t tamper with the image.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
9:37 am
SBinF…..talking on the NET about GOD and professing your Love of Christ isn’t doing GOD’s Work?
Devil's Advocate
October 23rd, 2012
9:38 am
Further proof that people who are purported to be “experienced” and “qualified” make stupid decisions all the time. If it weren’t for bad decisions there wouldn’t be so much competition in the world.
Air brushing out a cross suggests that LSU must also air brush out any other symbol or appearance that suggests a person’s religious affiliation. I’m interested if any official LSU photos exist showing students with any religious appearance.
I don’t understand how some on this blog feel that by leaving the crosses in the photo LSU would have been marketing a particular religion. Does that mean LSU is marketing young white men who paint themselves since that’s what’s in the photo? That’s discrimination!
TheSteve
October 23rd, 2012
9:38 am
Dear DONNAN, from one Christian to another (or maybe you’re just pretending), please stop. Stop arguing, stop with the political drivel, calling people names, heck… just stop posting. You are making every Christian look bad.
RGB
October 23rd, 2012
9:40 am
So maybe the geniuses at LSU should talk to the New Orleans Saints to admonish them about the use of the fleur-de-lis on their uniforms and about being called the “Saints” which as every Christian knows refers to one being a believer in Christ.
From Wikipedia: The name “Saints” is an allusion to November 1 being All Saints Day in the Catholic faith, New Orleans’ large Catholic population, and the spiritual When the Saints Go Marching In, which is strongly associated with New Orleans.
The senseless censoring of Christian symbols and references does not square with the founding principles of America and the people who do it should be ashamed and will ultimately sow what they reap.
slobberknocker
October 23rd, 2012
9:40 am
LSU, “STATE” university, (aka government) what else do you need to know!
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
9:41 am
The 1st amendment weeps for the way it has been butchered in this thread. NO ONE is saying the students cannot wear a cross to a football game. I am speculating but what appears to be fairly obvious about the situation is LSU feels that showing a picture of students wearing the cross could be considered a violation of freedom from religion since LSU is a public entity.
The Christian reaction to events such as this is embarrassing. How are you possibly furthering the gospel of Jesus by whining about this? You are wearing a piece of metal around your neck that looks like what Jesus was hung from. Well done, thy good and faithful servant. :sigh:
Tolerant in Atlanta
October 23rd, 2012
9:42 am
Okay, I am Jewish and if football fans want to wear crosses it doesn’t bother me a bit.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
9:43 am
I guess LSU should stop the FCA from being on campus. I guess LSU should stop the FCA from having members of both teams getting together at the 50 yardline having a Prayer after the game. LSU should stop players from kneeling in pray when a Player is hurt on the field too.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
9:44 am
The Saints are a private entity. Your point is irrelevant to this discussion.
RGB
October 23rd, 2012
9:44 am
gatag
You invented “freedom FROM religion” out of whole cloth. There is no such provision in our founding documents.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
9:45 am
If a player prays on the field, that is his right. LSU isn’t endorsing the prayer, which would be a violation of the 1st amendment. I never knew the 1st amendment was so difficult to understand.
RGB
October 23rd, 2012
9:46 am
The Superdome was funded in part with public money.
And if you advocate censorship of public events, public or private does not matter.
Spend the rest of the day reading the Constitution.
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
9:47 am
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
I may have paraphrased but that first line you read is considered freedom from religion. The 2nd part is freedom of religion.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
9:47 am
Is it OK for LSU to airbrush all the Cheerleaders to have HUGE breasts?
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
9:48 am
What is the Superdome endorsing again?
JLC
October 23rd, 2012
9:48 am
I admire the affected LSU students for taking steps to be positive role models & share their faith so prominently. No one should be able to take that away from them–LSU shouldn’t have used the picture if it didn’t want to “offend” anybody, plain and simple. My opinion on this spans all religions, although I do think Christians have been particularly targeted in the government & media over the past 15 years or so. The purpose of the religious freedom clause of the First Amendment was to keep the government out of religion, and not necessarily the other way around. This type of restraint on religious expression is unacceptable.
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
9:50 am
gatag…it was written to say there would be no STATE RELIGION. They didn’t want to see what happened in England with the King & Queen creating a National Religion.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
October 23rd, 2012
9:52 am
“Dear DONNAN, from one Christian to another (or maybe you’re just pretending), please stop. Stop arguing, stop with the political drivel, calling people names, heck… just stop posting. You are making every Christian look bad.”
I didn’t call any specific person a name, Steve. And no, I can freely post. Thanks
gatag
October 23rd, 2012
9:52 am
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
It’s not a difficult paragraph to understand.
MUSTANG100
October 23rd, 2012
9:53 am
That airbrusher has a bright future at Playboy!
WOw
October 23rd, 2012
9:54 am
PK…well said.
I’m a liberal and that was going to far. Everyone should have religious freedom.
Devil's Advocate
October 23rd, 2012
9:54 am
gatag,
“from” and “of” mean the same thing right?
As a public university, LSU should be showing pictures of as many students as possible. If they admitted the students they should be proud to display them for who they really are…just saying.
I wonder if LSU has any media displaying members of the football team kneeling in prayer at any point after a game. Or are there any photos of a player pointing to the heavens after scoring a touchdown (not that there’s been that many in 2012)?
Cliff
October 23rd, 2012
9:54 am
“You invented “freedom FROM religion” out of whole cloth. There is no such provision in our founding documents.”
I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not. The first words of the first amendment are “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” and the US Supreme Court has said that applies to the states as well. The result is freedom from government sponsored religion (unless you’re using the phrase to mean something else). I’m not saying LSU was sponsoring/sanctioning/pushing religion or that “freedom from religion” necessarily comes into play in this discussion, but there definitely is freedom from religion in the US Constitution (as amended).
RGB
October 23rd, 2012
9:54 am
You can copy and paste to a high standard, but you have absolutely no idea what “Congress shall make now law…” means.
I would explain, but you are locked in to an anti-religious “belief” system that a blog entry won’t penetrate. Try reading the Federalist Papers. Did you know that 29 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence held seminary degrees? Do you think their intent was to protect citizens FROM religion? Or could be that they didn’t want a state-prescribed religion?
How sad the state of our country.
Phenix Jacket
October 23rd, 2012
9:55 am
Luke 12:9 “But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.”
5150 UOAD`
October 23rd, 2012
9:56 am
gatag for you it apparently is VERY DIFFICULT to UNDERSTAND.
Devil's Advocate
October 23rd, 2012
9:58 am
gatag,
That paragraph says nothing about “freedom from religion”. That paragraph said there will be no state sponsored religion and there will be no restrictions place against any particular religion. That means it’s an “of” situation not a “from” situation.
What the paragraph does clearly state is “or abridging the freedom of speech”. Isn’t wearing a symbol a form of free speech? If clicking Like on Facebook is considered a form of speech, surely wearing something with meaning does too. By removing the symbol from the photo are they not censoring free speech and misrepresenting the men in the photograph?
The right decision would have been to not use the photograph at all if there was a problem with it. Place blame in the appropriate place please.
RGB
October 23rd, 2012
9:59 am
I’ll conclude with this:
1 John 2: 23
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.” (NIV)
If you advocate Photoshopping a symbol of Christ from football photographs, there is more than a good chance that He will return the favor.
Enjoy this beautiful day.