Friday, May 28, 2004
The Rapid City Journal
May 29, 2004
Phelps is welcome
Area pastors and the Journal editorial board (May 16 editorial) are wrong. The ministry of Fred Phelps is welcome in Rapid City.
Gay and lesbian students in area schools face the same epithets, slurs, and inhumane treatment as typified by this "man of God" every day while teachers and classmates look on.
Voicing anything but a position of hellfire and brimstone in public leads to unwelcome mail with religious pamphlets and tracts demanding repentance with a seldom-matched ferocity. Such harassment even extends to repeated anonymous phone calls.
The schizophrenic nature of this public battle is that the "outrageous" message of Rev. Phelps must be publicly denied while it's cheered on from behind closed doors. Too many of our own agree with not only the message but desperately need the top messenger to make their own messages seem sane and "centrist" by comparison.
The true test is not to pretend that these prejudices aren't here, but to rise up as a community and overcome them.
THOMAS ALLEN HEALD
Rapid City
May 29, 2004
Phelps is welcome
Area pastors and the Journal editorial board (May 16 editorial) are wrong. The ministry of Fred Phelps is welcome in Rapid City.
Gay and lesbian students in area schools face the same epithets, slurs, and inhumane treatment as typified by this "man of God" every day while teachers and classmates look on.
Voicing anything but a position of hellfire and brimstone in public leads to unwelcome mail with religious pamphlets and tracts demanding repentance with a seldom-matched ferocity. Such harassment even extends to repeated anonymous phone calls.
The schizophrenic nature of this public battle is that the "outrageous" message of Rev. Phelps must be publicly denied while it's cheered on from behind closed doors. Too many of our own agree with not only the message but desperately need the top messenger to make their own messages seem sane and "centrist" by comparison.
The true test is not to pretend that these prejudices aren't here, but to rise up as a community and overcome them.
THOMAS ALLEN HEALD
Rapid City
Comments:
Post a Comment
