Cheshire

I hate to see this display of hatred in my hometown, but it looks like the Westboro Baptists are coming to Ames on July 24th and protesting at Iowa State University on the corner of West Lincoln and University…right by Jack Trice Stadium. I know I have some readers who go to ISU and will be equally disheartened.

I know of one anti-protest being planned, and undoubtedly there will be more. From the facebook invite:

If we can get enough people behind this I would love to see a rally against the hate that the Westboro Baptist Church is going to try to preach here in Ames. Let’s show them that their message of hate is not accepted here in Ames, in Iowa, in America, or in this world!

According to their website’s schedule they are going to rally here in Ames on July 24th so come support humanity by rallying against them.

Here is the Westboro Baptist Church website if you are not sure what they are about: www.godhatesfags.com

It would be amazing to see a large group of people show up and show these people that hate is not the answer. Please no violence or illegal actions. The more level headed we remain the stronger our message can be.

So invite every single person you know, parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, everyone to show up, bring signs, American flags, wear t-shirts, sing, do whatever you want to show these guys that hate is not the way.

I think this is the right attitude to have. I’m not normally a big fan of anti-protests…especially for groups like the Westboro Baptists who are pretty much universally despised. It gives them undue attention, and there’s always the possibility for things to get out of control because of heated emotions and a mob mentality. On the other hand, some think we need to show them that a lot of people in Iowa…especially at Iowa State…see their views as reprehensible and unacceptable.

There’s something that I’d like to point out in the post, though, and I’ve put it in bold. This is meant to be a PEACEFUL, RATIONAL counter-demonstration. Violence only mars the message and dampers the credibility of the message you want to send.

It’s important to remember that these are people. Nothing more and certainly nothing less. As fucked up as they are, they’re human beings. Viewing them as such puts you far above them.

If you’re wondering exactly what they’re protesting…here’s what they wrote on their site:

Iowa State University – We’re back to tell you God H8s You! SW corner of W. Lincoln Way & University Blvd What’s up ISU? Long time, no see. While we are in the area to picket Marshalltown, we thought we’d stop by and say “God Hates You”; “You’re Going To Hell” and “God Hates Fags” Iowa says “It’s Okay To Be Gay”, and was the first to begin giving $ to little perverts for no other reason than they brag about being little perverts. God Hates Iowa, and all who live there are cursed. Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. 29 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. 30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? 31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. 32 And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day. Obama’s gonna destroy your State with his “economic program” and then you are going to eat you little babies – you heard it here FIRST. AMEN!

I’m not exactly sure what they’re saying here. Is it because there are scholarships given to LGBT students, because ISU has a Gay-Straight Alliance? Iowa’s recent gay marriage supreme court ruling? This badly written and horribly punctuated diatribe is completely meaningless and borderline illegible.

They’re obviously unbalanced and they weren’t invited at anyone at ISU, unlike Tom Short. They have little acceptance, even in the far-right community. If anything, this visit will only set their efforts back (a little bit), but it’s a chance to show support for the LGBT community.

So with a bit of trepidation, and with some mixed feelings…I’ll stop by if I can make it.

Oh…and if anyone has a boom-box and a Rick Astely CD: Please stop by. I’m not a fan of the Heckler’s Veto because it infringes on the individual’s right to free speech…and I think that even unpopular views have every right to be espoused.

Still, though…I think it would be funny to see this happen to the Westboro Baptists.