Protesting for the Right to Protest

A protest was organized yesterday at the Department of Justice yesterday by representatives of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission. The purpose was to protest the passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. What many of the angry Pastors who were part of the gathering were stating was that the Act would make their sermons against the evils of gay marriage and gay lifestyles a crime and so they were spewing that same rhetoric outside the Department of Justice in order to get arrested and prove that the new act was meant to stifle Christian beliefs and values. Unfortunately for the organizers they apparently didn't really read the details of the Act before beginning their protest.

Police failed to intercede during the protest simply because there's no part of the Act that specifically forbids making such speeches (despite the fact that they are often filled with hateful words). What would have made it an arrestable offense would have been if the Pastors and other speakers had actually stood up and called for the gathered flock to begin murdering or lynching any and all gay citizens that they could lay their hands on. That's because the only speech that is a violation of the law under the Hate Crimes Prevention Act are speeches that "plan or prepare for an act of physical violence" or in order to "incite an imminent act of physical violence". So standing on the steps of the Department of Justice and stating that gays will burn in Hell isn't necessarily a pleasant thing but it isn't an act of violence per se. Perhaps it would be God's way of punishing people (if God chooses to do so) but it isn't in people's hands so it isn't a violation of the Act.

But what many of the gathered Pastors and followers wanted to prove (had they actually been arrested) is that there is a growing conspiracy against Christianity in this country. Many followers will tell you how they steadfastly believe that the values and traditions spread from their religion are being stifled unless it is so commercialized that it loses it's religious significance. Don't understand what that means? Well ask the average kid what Christmas is all about (and no, I don't include Linus Van Pelt in that group of kids to be questioned) and they'll more than likely tell you it's about presents. What very few will tell you is that it's to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Sad as it is, many people will cringe to say such a thing now out of fear of offending someone who may not share the same beliefs.

I personally think it's important to know what we celebrate and why but the protests that ring out because of perceptions of religious 'intolerance' or bias are a bit strange in my estimation. I can recall that when a Hindu temple was being built close to the University of Maryland there was a protest from some of the nearby Churches and homeowners because they felt that they would have to contend with traffic after Hindu holidays. I grant you that there can be crowds at Hindu temples after such holiday functions but is it any different than the traffic tie-ups that occur around the area when Sunday services end every weekend? There are some days where travelling down local roads can be as painful as getting stuck behind a school bus when you're late for work and the bus is only at the start of making rounds to pick up students all along your route. At that time, counter protests of religious intolerance by non-Christians are quickly listened to while Christians often end up getting the short end of the stick.

Why? It isn't because the protests are against the religious beliefs of either party but rather because of perceived double standards. I mean if it's okay for churches to tie up traffic on Sundays can't other denominations tie up traffic on their holy days? The desire for equality for all religions is what drives many decisions and because Christianity already enjoys many freedoms in this country (it is after all a Christian country according to many pundits) the desire to stifle others is seen as being driven by intolerance and hence the desire to allow many things that Christians want to protest.

Now I have always believed that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. I may not necessarily always agree with those beliefs but the great thing about this country is that you have the right to believe what you want. In this case facts are being distorted. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed to prevent acts of violence of the sort that were perpetrated against the two people who the Act is named for, Matthew Shepard (a gay man from Laramie, Wyoming who was tortured and killed for being gay) and James Byrd, Jr. (who was chained to the back of a pickup truck and dragged to death). In both their cases the killers were filled with hate from having read and heard bigoted statements against gays and African-Americans. What the source of those statements was was not as important as being able to prevent such speeches from happening. Stating someone will go to Hell for their sins isn't a crime but encouraging your flock to help make it happen sooner rather than later is what is the true crime and to me it flies in the face of religion. Any religion. Maybe those protesting the bill should realize that before standing before the halls of Justice and demanding their right to freedom of speech.