When I was out earlier this afternoon, I unfortunately found myself walking in the opposite direction of those March for Life idiots. Not just any idiots, either. Teenage idiots. Hundreds of them. Apparently, several of the area's religious schools decided to bus in students so that they could participate, as opposed to, I dunno...teaching them. (The result being that not only does little Johnny think evolution is a sham, but he won't be able to add, either. He'll go far.)
Anyway, I'm making my way through the crowd, occasionally having to throw a shoulder block into some kid who isn't looking where he's going, and I find myself thinking the most horrible things. Things like, "Man, it sure would be funny if a bunch of them slipped on some ice and broke something." Or, "God, please set all these people on fire."
At one point, a really fat boy was unable to squeeze through two concrete barriers. I laughed out loud.
Eventually, I started wondering where all this anger and violence and cruelty was coming from. Am I really so close minded, that I can't express any tolerance whatsoever for those who disagree with me? Especially on an issue like abortion, where there is no clear right or wrong? I am really that kind of person?
Then I asked myself, if it were a pro-choice march, would I feel any differently? And I realized I wouldn't. At all. I'd want to see God set those people on fire just as much as the pro-lifers.
And that's when it hit me: I don't hate pro-life protesters. I hate all protesters. Even the ones I passionately agree with.
It was a real weight off my shoulders.
Anyway, I'm making my way through the crowd, occasionally having to throw a shoulder block into some kid who isn't looking where he's going, and I find myself thinking the most horrible things. Things like, "Man, it sure would be funny if a bunch of them slipped on some ice and broke something." Or, "God, please set all these people on fire."
At one point, a really fat boy was unable to squeeze through two concrete barriers. I laughed out loud.
Eventually, I started wondering where all this anger and violence and cruelty was coming from. Am I really so close minded, that I can't express any tolerance whatsoever for those who disagree with me? Especially on an issue like abortion, where there is no clear right or wrong? I am really that kind of person?
Then I asked myself, if it were a pro-choice march, would I feel any differently? And I realized I wouldn't. At all. I'd want to see God set those people on fire just as much as the pro-lifers.
And that's when it hit me: I don't hate pro-life protesters. I hate all protesters. Even the ones I passionately agree with.
It was a real weight off my shoulders.
9 comments:
here's a comforting thought: those teenagers CAN'T VOTE. so phew, the "religious right" can only hope to parade the brainwashed young to support their cases anymore. good on ya, god nuts.
I saw this group of pro-life teens on the Metro on my way home, three girls and a boy, all about 16. The hilarious thing was that the boy was so totally, obviously, madly gay, even if he didn't know it yet. He'll have an interesting rebellion. Either that or we'll be reading about his very own page scandal in ten years.
I wrote about the kids too, perhaps a little more harshly than all of you. They were all just so smug, weren't they?
One thing I do miss about D.C. is hating protesters. Out here in San Francisco it's too easy to burn out.
In the immortal words of Mitch Hedberg, "I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it."
I left DC after living there and in Old Town for about 14 years all told.
Your post made me miss the protesters. Just a little. Here in NYC a protester is someone who bitches about going to Jersey or Inwood.
Another thing I miss about DC: It's a well-established fact that the right side of the escalator is for standing and the left side for walking. That way, you feel justified about elbowing tourists. Here, no one seems to understand this escalator lane division.
Well, thanks to the WaPo I now understand why MY metro car was packed with plush, giggling teenagers and frocked 'n' collared priests. Nothing spells H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y like a bunch of virgins trying to dictate reproductive health policy... Guess it's just another day on Brownback Mountain.
I saw the same group Princess Sparkle Pony did. Blue line.
Anyhow, yeah, big homo. And the way the girls were throwing themselves at him, they may have a few adventures at planned parenthood in their near future.
Religious sexual education, eat your heart out.
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
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