I have been
familiar with the Mathew Shepard story since I was in high school and one of
the surrounding public high schools was putting on a performance of the Laramie
Project. This was a huge deal because it was one of the first times in an
Indianapolis school that this play was being put on. This was a huge deal
because word had gotten out that the Westboro Baptist Church was going to be at
North Central High School protesting the putting on of this play. This had been
one of the first experiences I have had with Westboro and they are just as
prejudice today as people were back decades ago.
I attended a private high school and when they heard that
students from my school were going to leave early to protest this group they
told us that if anyone left than those people would be suspended and face disciplinary
probation. This was the worst thing I have ever heard. Here are kids trying to
stand up for something they really believe in and was a good cause. I did not
realize how a school could tell their students not to stand up for something
they believe in, and something as serious as this issue. There are people out
there filled with so much hate and we wanted to balance that hate with support
and love.
I did not go to the protest, but I heard of many people who
went. Police were there making sure everything was under control but most
people noticed how the police were on the “love” side. It was truly amazing to
see people ban together and show acceptance and love for people they might not
know or even ever meet. It was a very powerful experience.
The main point that I want to get across in my blog post is
that prejudice is still very much alive in our community. I want to encourage
people to stand up for what they believe in and give a voice to the people who
can no longer be heard. This is not just focused at homosexuals, but can be
seen everywhere. Hate will not disappear until we allow it to, and I think it
is time for hate to be no more.
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