THE LONG MARCH: PART II

The long march through the institutions over many decades has been a soft revolution. Unlike the American, French, and Bolshevik Revolutions, no blood was shed in the streets or on the battlefields during the long march.  Those who marched shouldered no muskets, propelled no bullets nor dropped any bombs, yet the long march progressed through city after city and one institution after another surrendered unconditionally to its terms. Some fell voluntarily; others surrendered after a long and ruinous struggle. Nonetheless, they fell.

THE SURRENDER OF THE SERVICE

In a time-honored tradition, graduating seniors from high schools and universities gathered with their parents and grandparents on the Sunday before graduation for something called "The Baccalaureate Service." That service is described as "typically held in a church environment that is quiet, reserved and spiritual. The service focuses on prayers for the future, opportunities to give thanks for the accomplishments in education and quiet reflection about the educational journey students have endured. At the service, a religious leader or faculty member associated with the educational institution typically delivers a sermon tied to Scripture readings and prayer is at the forefront of the service."

It is an event for which there is a proper attire: those attending a baccalaureate service should avoid sneakers, flip flops, tank tops, and other casual attire. The tone of the service is more serious than a graduation exercise; there is no cheering; hands do not applaud.

Over the years, because of the long march, some schools have discontinued the service, but it goes on under another name and in a much different place. One school now calls the event "The Senior Celebration" and the celebration will be in the gym.

WHAT THE SURRENDER MEANS

The surrender of the baccalaureate sends a message: the spiritual isn't important. (If it were important, we wouldn't cancel it, rename it, change its intent, and meet in a gym.) Bleachers don't convey a tone of reverence.  More formal attire is out of place in the presence of painted walls that shout, "Go Tigers!" Shot clocks and scoreboards don't encourage a thankful and humble heart.

The long march has sought to promote the message: Christianity is not important. By demanding that message be sent, it has achieved its goal. Yet, it is Christianity that was the foundation of our Western culture, one that saw the value of education.

When the students saw their parents and grandparents dressed in their Sunday best to go to the baccalaureate, it communicated a message: "What we're going to participate in is important to us and has been important to our family for generations." When ushers handed the attendees a program and the families noticed the various speakers who had spent a great deal of time preparing for the occasion, all that combined to say, "Christianity is important for us to gather in this special way."

The long march continues with the cancellation of baccalaureate services, one after the other.

TBC