This blog is a forum for the students of HDFS 370 to share their thoughts, reflections, and questions about readings, films, and discussions in this class. You are welcome to post about any issue in sexuality, especially ones we won't cover in class.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Thoughts from the WBC Rally
I guess people can use the comments of this to talk about the WBC rally.
Personally, I felt that the rally must've been really awkward for the WBC members. I feel like the fairly docile and noncombative nature of the crowd was exactly what the aim of the counter protest should've been. However, a friend of mine pointed out an a Columbus punk message board that... "The counter protesters had some witty handmade signs, but mostly stood and stared at the braindead and bizarre spectacle. This is uncomfortably close to what i suspect WBC wants." Does anyone agree with that? Is that the aim of the WBC? Personally, I feel like their goal is more to stir up crowds and incite anger, which would've made their rally in Columbus pretty much a failure. Also, a comment made in class about dancing on the American flag made me think about people's priorities. Surely there are some people out there totally unconcerned with GLBT rights who are more angry that the WBC desecrates the flag. Now, this may just be me speaking from a background where I've never really been taught to have pride in a country, but doesn't it seem like these people's priorities are out of line? The same goes for people who would get more offended at the OBAMA = SATAN signs. Shouldn't we value basic humanity above politics or national pride? I wouldn't really know what to say to anyone whose main reason for hating the WBC was due to the WBC's hatred of America, but doesn't it seem like their priorities wold be out of line? Can anyone offer up anything as a defense for the patriotic viewpoint?
I agree with you completely Max, so I'm afraid I can't be very insightful as to why some find the desecration of the flag or jabs at Obama more offensive then the cruel signs aimed at the GLBT community. As for the protest itself, I personally was toward the back of the crowd during the protest, so people around me seemed more interested in hugging and talking than trying to catch a glimpse at the WBC. I felt like the counter protest was almost a buffer, diffusing some of the anger the WBC would have generated had they not been surrounded by positive and/or silly signs. It was weird that an event that was planned by the WBC to be hateful and angry, brought people from different circles together in a really positive and kind way. I certainly had conversations and met people that I never would have talked with (or hugged) had it not been for the WBC coming.
Personally, I felt that the rally must've been really awkward for the WBC members. I feel like the fairly docile and noncombative nature of the crowd was exactly what the aim of the counter protest should've been. However, a friend of mine pointed out an a Columbus punk message board that...
ReplyDelete"The counter protesters had some witty handmade signs, but mostly stood and stared at the braindead and bizarre spectacle. This is uncomfortably close to what i suspect WBC wants."
Does anyone agree with that? Is that the aim of the WBC? Personally, I feel like their goal is more to stir up crowds and incite anger, which would've made their rally in Columbus pretty much a failure.
Also, a comment made in class about dancing on the American flag made me think about people's priorities. Surely there are some people out there totally unconcerned with GLBT rights who are more angry that the WBC desecrates the flag. Now, this may just be me speaking from a background where I've never really been taught to have pride in a country, but doesn't it seem like these people's priorities are out of line? The same goes for people who would get more offended at the OBAMA = SATAN signs. Shouldn't we value basic humanity above politics or national pride? I wouldn't really know what to say to anyone whose main reason for hating the WBC was due to the WBC's hatred of America, but doesn't it seem like their priorities wold be out of line? Can anyone offer up anything as a defense for the patriotic viewpoint?
I agree with you completely Max, so I'm afraid I can't be very insightful as to why some find the desecration of the flag or jabs at Obama more offensive then the cruel signs aimed at the GLBT community.
ReplyDeleteAs for the protest itself, I personally was toward the back of the crowd during the protest, so people around me seemed more interested in hugging and talking than trying to catch a glimpse at the WBC. I felt like the counter protest was almost a buffer, diffusing some of the anger the WBC would have generated had they not been surrounded by positive and/or silly signs. It was weird that an event that was planned by the WBC to be hateful and angry, brought people from different circles together in a really positive and kind way. I certainly had conversations and met people that I never would have talked with (or hugged) had it not been for the WBC coming.