Spreading the hate… FAIL
Working in downtown Denver has been interesting this week, with the DNC activities going on. It’s kind of weird, but it seems to have made my commute to work easier (maybe because so many people are staying home?) and the commute home a bit longer. So no drastic changes yet in the commute.
The Clintons are staying at the hotel across the street from our office building.
There are a ton of people along the 16th street mall. And for every civilian, there is a cop or private security guard walking amongst them. There are packs of 10-20 cops on bikes/horses that seem to go up and down the street.
The booths… all over. They’ve all got some political purpose… Except maybe the Obama Jama booth that just seemed to want to play Reggae music and chill. One strange one seemed to be preaching the joys of magnetism? There has to be more to these, I just know what I’ve seen while walking to/from the bus station with my iPod music going.
I haven’t been hit up once (which is amazing for 16th street mall! I’m looking at YOU green peace!) yet for saving trees/children/homeless. And I haven’t been hit up for spare change, something to eat, or even caught sight of anyone who would want to beg for such things.
But today, I saw on the corner, surrounded by a pointing/laughing/giggling crowd (and a ton of bicycle cops), a group whose sole purpose seems to be to hate.
But… given any political position that you want to rally for… let alone a position that is deeply rooted in ugly hatred… wouldn’t your message be completely lost if the reaction of the majority of your audience was laughing? Not laughing with you. Laughing AT you.
Yes, I’m talking about pure righteous Christian hate. Is there any other kind of political protest that is rooted in ugly hatred? I really can’t think of any that doesn’t have something to do with Christianity (at least here in the US). And with Christian ugly hatred protests, you know it’s most likely about homosexuality.
There was a man standing on some kind of soap box, attempting to shout things. But they were lost, completely, on everyone watching. Everyone was cracking up, pointing, laughing, and getting out cameras, because the biggest most profound sign in the group said “Homo-sex is a threat to national security”.
Flickr photo found from Just Back’s photo stream, click the photo to view the stream:
So I applaud these protesters, for they have successfully failed at spreading their message. If anything they have just convinced masses of people walking by on the 16th street mall today that they themselves are idiots and should not be listened to.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Certainly an idiot. Not necessarily a Christian. Or it could have been someone who calls himself that. What I know is that God is love. Thiers is a message of hate and there is no palce for that in the kingdom of God. We’re not all idiots. :)
August 27th, 2008 at 8:18 am
First: Beki!!! :)
But yeah, clearly idiots. But, definitely Christians. There was a website advertised with it, and the website clearly stated their belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ.
That doesn’t mean their message is Christian. But they definitely strongly believe their message is Christian. Unfortunately they are using their religion to fuel their hate. Which seems to be a common thing with religion, Christian or not.
In no way did I mean to suggest that all Christians have a “righteous hatred” for homosexuals. It just so happens that if you see an anti-gay sign on the corner of the street, it’s pretty much guaranteed they’re using Christianity to support their hate. But it seems all too common, given how hard it is to get equal rights across the country.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am
You’re totally right. It makes me sad and ashamed that “Christians” (if they can call themselves that) would think that those actions are righteous in any way. It makes me that much more certain that, for my part, I must show an overabundance of love to make up for their message of judgment and hatred.
AND, BTW, HI!!! <3
August 27th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Calling yourself a Christian makes you as much a Christian as calling yourself an elephant makes you an elephant. SO the best way to tell if a person who claims they are a Christian is so is by Jesus’ words Himself. Jhn 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
your statement; “Is there any other kind of political protest that is rooted in ugly hatred? I really can’t think of any that doesn’t have something to do with Christianity (at least here in the US).”
There are political protests groups that truely hate. KKK is only one such group. Yes there are deplorable people out there that like to yell that God hates gays. Well thats not true and its not supported Biblicaly. What is supported is that God loves homosexuals. However God and Christians can both hate the Sin (homosexuality, drunkeness, polygamy, lieing, pornograpghy, etc…) and still love the sinner.
“But it seems all too common, given how hard it is to get equal rights across the country.”
Who does not have equal rights in this country? The LGBT community has all the same rights the heterosexual community has.
What they want are extra/special rights.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:21 am
hehe… KKK uses Christianity to support it’s hate.
But please, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying to be Christian means you hate these things. I’m saying people use Religion (and in the US the most common being Christianity) to support their hatred.
“Who does not have equal rights in this country? The LGBT community has all the same rights the heterosexual community has. What they want are extra/special rights.”
There is so much hurt and pain in those words, I’m sure not intentional. Nothing is extra/special about wanting the same rights/privileges/respect a legal marriage brings you.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Maybe it’s the Libertarian in me…but, I don’t think America has any place in legislating marriage. Who knew a Christian could be a Libertarian?!
I think there is a difference between saying we (all minorities) have equal rights and actually changing people’s hearts and minds to recognize those rights in their day to day lives.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Although some factions of the KKK and various hate groups attempt to argue from the Bible to support their cause, not all factions claim to be Christian.
As far as extra rights I do not only refer to marriage, but transgendered people wanting the right to use either restroom, attempts to label speach against the behavior of homosexuality as hate speach, etc.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Well that’s fine then, that you are actually talking about extra rights. But it now sounds to me like you’re admitting that they do not have equal rights. Which is not what you said:
“Who does not have equal rights in this country? The LGBT community has all the same rights the heterosexual community has.”
I only said equal rights.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’ve been told by some that they don’t see the point or the hate in this one sign. It’s really not funny, the idea it implies, but it’s laughable that these idiots believe it.
And for anyone else who missed the message of this sign, here’s a transcript between Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson (two of the most prominent evil men in this country, why do they have such a loud podium?) shortly after 9/11: http://www.actupny.org/YELL/falwell.html