Cross posted at OC Progressive
At least that's what it said in Westboro Baptist Church's press release when they announced they would be protesting the High School's production of "Rent".
WBC to picket the fag play Rent, a lying, maudlin piece of propaganda about the alleged struggles of AIDS-infected fags in DOOMED aMERICA!
Friday, April 24, 2009, 6:30 - 7:00 pm
Corona del Mar High School, Newport Beach, California.
In religious protest and warning to the living, to wit:
THANK GOD FOR AIDS!
God is not mocked - you are reaping what you have sown. (Ho. 8:7) AIDS is His judgment upon you! Check it: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." (Ro. 1:27.)
Those who enable fag filth by such projects as Rent are also worthy of death (hell). (Ro. 1:32.)
God Hates Fags and Fag-Enablers; Ergo, God Hates Corona del Mar High School
I would like to make this more about the fact that our community came out in full force to demonstrate that we would not tolerate hate speech of any kind. WBC had three protesters, the community rallied 300 plus counter protesters.
More than 300 students and supporters clogged the sidewalks outside Corona del Mar High School and shouted down three Westboro Baptist Church members who flew from Kansas to protest the school’s spring production of the musical "Rent" on Friday afternoon.
Waving signs that read "love conquers hate" and "God loves you," students sang bits of the song "Seasons of Love" from "Rent" and cheered as passing motorists honked and pumped their fists in support.
"We had to do something to stand up for ourselves — we couldn’t just sit back and do nothing, because they were coming to our school," said Emily Morris, 17, a senior at Corona del Mar.
Daily Pilot
This is the same high school that caught some flack for at first not allowing the production to take place and they are being sued by the ACLU. But with pressure from the community, it went through and it's obvious that the "church" is attempting to take advantage of some free publicity. The upside, a community that was pegged for being homophobic has come out to support the students, the school and their right to put on a production of "Rent". A toned down version of the original musical even.
Not only was the counter protest respectful but displayed the kind of compassion we hope to see in our society. Anger is here, California has banned marriage equality and many are justifiably hurt and angry, but I still see a glimmer of hope in these kids, that yes things will change.
As we face outrageous protests from the far right regarding things like gay marriage, taxes and imagined "isms" destroying our Country the thing that frightens me the most is all the hate and negativity. This is what will ultimately tear us apart if we allow it to. As we face one of the most challenging times in our history, from climate change, economic turmoil and many other dangers facing our society, it is almost impossible to pull together as a Country with the cancer of hate and intolerance growing so out of control.
People like Glenn Beck claim to love this Country, Rush Limbaugh says that because I'm a liberal that I do not love my Country. The hateful rhetoric does nothing to move our society forward and when media outlets fuel the fire with outrageous claims accompanied by "you decide" it becomes clear that there is an agenda.
I'm choosing a side and that side is love. I'm choosing to fight this hate, negativity with love and if I have to keep a song in my heart in order to do so, so be it. What does that mean? At every turn when the ugliness rears it's ugly head, I will attempt to be there to counter protest with love. I know, I know, but it's the only way to keep me sane and engaged, I don't want to be bitter and angry, it just makes us sick as a society and we need our energy to pull together rather than pull ourselves a part.
The students at Corona del Mar High School demonstrated that we can respond to hate and bigotry with our hearts and show a different path, a path that mightnot just be a higher road but a road to a better place for us all.