In my town this weekend, we have the Black Swamp Arts Festival. It's a place for artists and musicians and culturally different people to gather together in harmony to appreciate the arts and appreciate our differences that make each other beautiful.
Unfortunately, we were a bit hindered. Bowling Green is going through a transitional period. The town is trying to pass an ordinance that would ban discrimination because of sexual orientation and other meaningless things. And, due to this, we got bible thumpers trying to push hellfire and brimstone on people at the festival. They were technically not allowed to preach in the festival perimeter. They could have preached outside the barriers, but they didn't. The festival committee did not approve them. The people preaching were also trying to sue the festival for "impeding their freedom of speech."
Do not get me wrong. I don't mind religious people. But I do mind people screaming at me that I am going to hell because of who I am and what I may or may not believe in. I believe in all paths to god and I am not going to tell you how or what to believe. Just because I don't believe in god does not mean I am going to rot in hell for eternity. I stated my opinion to these evangelists and got back spews of hate.
After having angry debate between a few of the people, getting videotaped, and getting a lot of highfives and thumbs up from bystanders, I only got one thing out of this: I am going to hell. Yeah, okay. I didn't particularly agree with all this anger and hate coming back from them, so I went up to one of the the guys holding up the "Unsanctioned Street Performer" signs, and asked if I could have one. He was more than happy to give me one and I spent a good hour and a half holding up my sign in front of various bible thumpers (one of whom is my classmate.)
We got so much support. Everyone was telling them to shut up and leave and I was getting so many smiles and thumbs up. I had at least ten people say that I was doing a good thing. I felt so accomplished that I was doing some good to counteract all the hate. I just wanted some good to come out of all of this and I was glad I could do my part.
Love always wins.
-jrd
