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When a predominantly gay synagogue in Manahattan learned that a group of ultra-Evangelical Christians were planning a protest outside their building, the congregation decided to turn the hate rally into a fundraising event. Parishoners from the Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas-based institution, gathered on Sunday outside Congregation Beth Simchat Torah with signs reading "God hates fags" and "Jews stole the land."
The synagogue heard several days in advance of the church's planned demonstration and decided to counter the protesters' publicity drive with one of their own, rather than pursuing legal action. The congregation encouraged its supporters to donate at least $1 for every six minutes that the demonstration lasted.
Following the 51-minute protest, the synagogue was able to raise more than $10,000 in donations. The congregation, which has been renting the West Village space, hopes to eventually buy a building of its own.
Some 150 people - including members other nearby synagogues and churches - held a counter-demonstration during the fundraising event, where they sang Jewish songs and prayers.
The Westboro Baptist Church is run by Fred Phelps, an outspoken evangelist who claims natural disasters and terrorist attacks are the result of America's "tolerance" of homosexuals. Phelps targeted Congregation Beth Simchat Torah because it works primarily with the Jewish gay and lesbian community. (Haaretz News Service)
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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Joy of joys. But what a dreadful pun in the title! Who would WANT to do that with Fred?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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What a brilliant idea. If everyone could be so creative in dealing with hate-mongers, there'd be a whole lot more peace on earth.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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ray2x
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: April 2009
Messages: 430
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I do jerk the knee when it comes to the religious fundamental intolerance of gays and others. But recently, I have befriended a born again christian and am trying my best to walk in his shoes. I do not bring up any hot button issues but he knows that I am a bit of a liberal person. Thus far, it has been a pleasant friendship based on friendship (a novel idea), not of a judgmental basis. Perhaps, me being Mexican (and gay) speaks to his unconscious, and him being an oriental may have a part in his not trying to save me or convert me. He never brings up religion and I feel he can be trusted. Who knows, I may out myself to him.
Raymundo
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Interesting, Raymundo. I have a friend who found it harder to come out to me as a fundamentalist than I did to come out to him as gay. Of course I win every argument with him and enjoy teasing him by showing him the way the rock layers are revealed at the cliff edge, but he simply responds that these things are 'difficult' and somehow we continue to be friends even though, in serious moments he will admit that he thinks I am going to hell (or eternal damnation). btw he is **very** clever - a first class degree in engineering from Cambridge!
Love,
Anthony
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