On October 27, 2021, Samford was forced to postpone Jon Meacham’s talk on The Soul of America due to a concern of Jon Meacham being in support of abortion and Planned Parenthood. The concern labeled Jon Meacham as being against Christian values for his political beliefs, rather than acknowledging that Jon Meacham was coming to speak on his book, not his past remarks on abortion.

Those who thoroughly enjoyed Meacham’s book were crushed to see his talk had been postponed, and angered by the fact that a concern of the few led to the entire generalization of what the students of Samford believe.

Instead of taking the opportunity as one to embrace being uncomfortable and ask questions, the concerned Samford students decided to completely shut the talk down. If a Muslim speaker had been selected to come to Samford and speak, would there be the same reaction? As a Christian school, aren’t we called to at least spark conversations about beliefs we do not agree with, rather than completely ignore them? Being uncomfortable and disagreeing with beliefs should not be a deciding factor on whether or not we should have conversations. For a faith claiming to be so accepting, why are there those who refuse to even acknowledge a speaker we may not wholeheartedly agree with?

Jon Meacham’s book does not even go into the concept of abortion, and yet, his talk is being treated as though his intention was to come to Samford and rally support for Planned Parenthood.

It is this petition’s intention for Samford to reconsider postponing Jon Meacham’s talk on his book, as the act of ostracizing someone for his beliefs is the very thing that the Pharisees did to Jesus. It is not a reflection of God’s love to all.

The motto of Samford is “for God, for LEARNING, for all.” Why are we so against learning anything from a speaker who shares outside beliefs different from ours?

John 12:47 - If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.