I was invited to the Easter Pageant in Mesa. I was very sad to see people allowed to protest around this event. It sends a terrible message.
One man at the corner of Hobson and Main was offended when I told him I would not accept his pamphlet because I am an American and I believe in freedom of religion. He began to loudly proclaim a rather hateful diatribe about calling people to repentance who do not believe as he does — his “duty of love.”
I have my doubts that he does this in front of a Jewish synagogue or a Muslim mosque. In other words: he is targeting a group. That is essentially a hate crime.
One man was allowed to show his sign on the same side of the street as the Pageant. These actions reminded me of the Westboro group that protests funerals.
Hate messages are not needed.
Now, as someone who is proud to be an American, I do believe in their free speech. But I believe hate messages should be away from where people are obviously simply trying to peacefully enjoy an Easter message.
I bet he’d have been welcome to watch the pageant by the very people whose beliefs he protested. In fact, I’m sure of it.
Mike Burke
Tucson
shrinkingviolet posted at 10:38 am on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Yes, you apparently believe in free expression - as long as it's not your own expression being curtailed. Fear the other! Fear the other!
Retired Citizen posted at 11:12 am on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Well. Mike, just consider the source and forget it.
Accuracy posted at 11:54 am on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Very true Mike Burke……
Vile protesters that show up and protest – standing on the periphery holding signs, shouting their abusive language – disagreeing with the Mormon pageant performance and the message of Easter, is inexcusable.
President Obama hosted more than 100 Christians at the White House this year for an Easter Prayer Breakfast, calling it an opportunity to "relfect on the triumph of the resurrection."
Millions of Christians around the world gathered in churches and celebrated Easter, a one-of-a-kind interfaith ceremony on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012.
And again this year, the annual Mesa Easter Pageant carried on a tradition that began more than 70 years ago.
VofReason posted at 12:19 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
People such as those should be dismissed as misguided. Better yet, someone should have put a camera on them and a mic in front of them so they could prove to the world what a nutball they were. Now that is free speech.......
sdjtaz posted at 3:08 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Mike,
I'm sorry that you were uncomfortable in the situation. The best advise is to ignore individuals, such as these.
That being said, your decision to equate this to a hate crime doesn't even come close. Their activity, while being vile, was legal. In order for it to rise to a "hate crime", then a "crime" needs to take place. There is a fundamental difference between someone expressing their dislike for a certain belief and actually doing physical harm to someone due their belief, appearance, or sexual orientation.
They were on public property and attempts to remove them because we don't like their message would be a violation of their right to free speech. Ultimately, to have a guarantee of free speech, we have to allow those we don't agree with to speak freely also.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:31 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
I'd go a step further. Typically those who would exercise their free speach rights out of doors had to do so in ways which allowed those who were exercising their free speach [and religious rights] to do so without being imposed upon. In other words, carry signs, but keep the volumn and tone of free speach down, particularly when the religious speach was being stages on private property.
I'd throw any of those whose free speach could be heard across Main Street in a paddly wagon and let them out at Fiesta Mall!
sockratties posted at 11:02 pm on Fri, Apr 13, 2012.
Isn't the Easter Pageant a public display of the beliefs and devotion of those supporting and taking part in it. It's not exactly indoors even though it's on private property. If they want to make their message public, like on Main Street in Mesa, they have to put up with the public which may not respond as desired. One should not visit beliefs and expectations on others without knowing they take the chance of being disappointed.
chatmandu002 posted at 11:16 am on Sat, Apr 14, 2012.
Mike,
Bye you definition of "hate speech", aren't OWS and the 99%ers guilty of "hate speech" for targeting the 1%ers.
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