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This one is probably going to stir the storm folks, so buckle up!
First let me warn you that I am about to do a complete flip-flop in the eyes of a few people. Last month, I defended religious
freedom concerning The Pledge Of Allegiance and this month........ well, I still believe in religious freedom. It just pisses me
off sometimes. A few years ago, I was visiting Amarillo from Pittsburgh and I attended the "kickoff show" for
Queensryche´s Empire tour at the Civic Center. You guys may remember that Queensryche was here for about a week.
We were all jazzed about the show. As we were waiting to be let in, we noticed that several men, women and children were
outside the Civic Center passing out pamphlets, and informing us that we "didn´t really want to go to that show";
we were walking into our damnation. Every once in a while, someone would smart off to the religious folk, even cuss them. Now
that was downright disrespectful. However, "Yes I DID want to go into the show because I liked Queensryche and I paid
a lot of money for the tickets!" As we politely kept to ourselves and continued thru the line, another one of the religious
guys came up to us and extended the pamphlet. Again, very, very politely we declined. "No thanks man."
But the guy wouldn´t take no for an answer.
"Please," he told us, "just take it."
Again, we refused.
"Tell ya what," he said with a smile, "how about I give you this, turn around and walk away. After I am gone,
you can throw it away."
THAT PISSED ME OFF! This guy was doing this pamphlet gig for all the wrong reasons! Or perhaps there is a
pamphlet quota you must reach to get into HIS Heaven, I don´t know. What I DO know, and I have said it in this column
for the last 6 months, is that freedom is a wonderful thing but comes with a great responsibility.
Even religious freedom.
Now,
A few nights ago, I went with Brock and another friend of mine, Branden Mann to the Polk Street Block Party. As we were
walking up to the gate, we saw that people in the lines were being persuaded to not go into the party. A quick glance around
and we saw huge bedsheets with religious propaganda on them on both sides of the street. At that moment, a heavyset man
with glasses (Please forgive me for not using your name; you weren´t wearing a nametag) approached and offered us a
pamphlet. I honestly have to say that I don´t remember EXACTLY how he said it, but he asked us take the pamphlet.
Branden told him (politely I might add) "No thank you sir."
The guy cast a HATEFUL look at us and turned away. Now here´s the kicker. As this large, heavyset...... guy was
waddling away from us to go harass someone else, he said obnoxiously, "Yeah, I guess Jesus Christ and alcohol don´t
mix very well, do they?"
Maybe not, but judging from this guy´s girth, Jesus must mix well with pork rinds and cheeseburgers, isn´t that
right, you big judgmental piece of trash?
Here´s the deal. Yes, I was in fact planning on having a few beers. Honestly I was. But let´s say I wasn´t planning on having a single drink. Let´s say I was just going in as part of my job, to take some pictures for this magazine. Who is this fat freak to assume I am going in to drink? What ever happened to "Judge not, lest ye be judged"? If anything puddin´, your attitude makes me think that I wouldn´t want your brand of God. But I don´t think you´d really want me either.
Here´s the ironic part..... I ADMIRE the religious people who go out to events like the Block Party. They
actually have the right idea. Why preach to the choir? Go witness to the people that NEED it, right? Right. I just think that
sometimes, as with this guy the other night, their hearts are in the wrong place. Go out there and witness because you WANT
to, not because you think you HAVE to. Don´t lose heart when someone doesn´t want to listen. because if you
think you are going to go out and win the entire flock, get used to disappointment. But even if it´s one person that does
listen....... well, that´s a job well done.
And THAT´S the stuff dreams are made of.
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Brass Tacks October 2002 |
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