OT: Today…I PWNT a Gideon.

[venomnation]

Today…I PWNT a Gideon.

Let me preface this by saying that I harbor NO ill will, whatsoever, towards any religious sect, be it that they share my beliefs or not… I am not familiar with the Gideons, or their practices, and I do believe they have as much right to do what THEY do, as I do to worhip Who I choose, where I choose, and when I choose. This instance, however, took it a little bit beyond “religion”. You can have your religion. I have mine, but the moment you step across the line and try and force your religion upon me, or worse, try to embarrass or belittle me in public by USING it, or any political motivation….in short, it’s gonna be “on like neckbone…”

Today as I entered the main “hub” of our school….I noticed older men in well dressed suits perched at every entrance to the hub….handing out miniature Gideon Bibles. I accepted one and thanked him. My intention was to buy books, so I picked up my “number” from the “take a number and wait an eternity” machine….and proceeded to sit and wait. Knowing there were no less than 90 numbers to be called ahead of mine, and they call them in batches of ten every ten minutes (sometimes less frequent than that) or so, I knew I had a good chance of waiting at LEAST 90 minutes…more likely to be around the two hour mark…so I told myself “well I’ll go visit with my friends here, and see a few teachers I like, etc”.

I returned periodically and every time I did…one of them tried to hand me another Bible. I politely, each time said “Thank you, I have one”. On the fourth or fifth time I said that…and the third time this particular gentleman had heard me say it to HIM, he responded “well, you just looked like you could use another one”. I stopped dead in my tracks. Turned around, looked back at him, looked down, and gave myself a full body scan. Dress shoes, pressed khaki’s, dress belt, black polo shirt emblazoned with the logo of where I work, clean shaven, hair combed.

I politely inquired “Pardon me? “ – He repeated himself and said “you looked like you could need another one”. I cocked my head and politely inquired “explain that sir”. He chuckled. I said “no, sir, explain that comment…tell me what about a slightly overweight white boy, with a wedding ring, no tattoos, no piercings, clean shaven, in pressed pants, a work shirt, dress shoes, dress belt, and combed hair…tells YOU that “I” NEED another bible…explain that to me”. He turned and walked away. And that SHOULD have been the end of it…but he mumbled something under his breath as he walked away…and I piped back up “excuse me, sir…this is a public, state owned university. Does “Separation of Church and State” not, in the least, prohibit you from hocking your wares on School property? He smiled…and said “no, young man…the first amendment to the constitution of the United states guarantees my right free exercise of religion, and freedom to assemble peaceably, but maybe you’re not familiar with it, seeing as though you’re still a youngster and in school and all”.

I stepped back, and said, rather confidently “since you so blatantly decided to pull that out of your ass…you can preach your bible…and you can preach your first amendment, but be careful with whom you choose such battles, because I, sir, I am 31 years old, I am well educated, and I too am familiar with the First amendment to the Constitution…and such amendment guarantees MY freedom to tell you to shut the hell up and get the hell out of my face with your garbage…I believe that, sir, is Freedom Of Speech”.

He looked at me, grinned a little, and stepped back, in silence, and motioned for me to “continue on” about my way…and as I did, I couldn’t help but hear a small round of applause…and a few people goin “yeah…”.

Today…I PWNT a Gideon.

[Big J]

So, you cussed out an old man who was passing out bibles? For a comment that you probably reacted to needlessly?

Yeah~! clapclapclapclap

Seriously, not to flame, that seems kinda weak. You shoulda let it slide and assumed him nutty. After all, he's handing out little bibles in public - he is nutty.

[stmonkeys]

how quaint. i once got an email joke that basically said the very same thing.

don't believe everything you read, folks.