The week of September 13th, three street preachers stood across the street from Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR. One of the preachers filmed the occurrence, which was uploaded onto YouTube:
As I watched the video and heard the words coming from these street preachers’ mouths, I felt sick. From my understanding, they seemed to think that what they were doing was out of love — they’re saving the students from going to hell by telling them to repent of their sins. But this is one of the furthest things from love I’ve ever seen. If the street preachers truly think that telling people they’re going to go to hell because they hold different beliefs than they do, they have a twisted view of love. The street preachers are not acting out of love for others. They are actually full of hate.
Being unaccepting of someone just because they are different — whether they hold different beliefs than you, act in different ways than you, or look differently than you do — is not love. What makes the street preachers hateful is their intolerance. Anything that differs from their beliefs is unacceptable, and not only is it unacceptable, it is wrong and must be fixed. The street preachers do not even have to agree with others in order to be tolerant. All they would have to do is recognize, or be willing to recognize, that there is diversity and to let that diversity be. But no. It’s their way or hell.
Unsurprisingly, the high school students were upset by their presence and hateful way of thinking. There was soon a large group of students protesting against the street preachers. The street preachers continually said, in response to the students and police officers attempting to make them leave, that they have free speech. They are right about that at least. The street preachers do have free speech. But so does everyone else around them. Free speech does not mean that you can say anything you want and face no consequences. Free speech means that you can voice your opinion, and others can voice their opinions. Those opinions aren’t always going to be the same. Others disagreeing with you is not an attack on your free speech. Making you leave because you are causing a disturbance is not silencing you, but making sure that everyone is safe.
Perhaps most importantly of all, free speech should not be a way to promote hateful ways of thinking. Yes, you have a right to say what you feel, but do not say intolerant, hurtful words and hide behind free speech when you are questioned.
Eventually, the street preachers agreed to leave with a police escort. But their hate will not end because they left Benson. They will continue to spew intolerant words at other high schools and various locations. I am truly saddened that they think this is what love is. Their hate will not only hurt those who hear them, but themselves. Whenever they are faced with someone or something they disagree with, they will feel anger and disgust instead of acceptance or understanding. Their hearts will be like the Grinch’s heart — many sizes too small. The world is a much better place when it is viewed with, if not love, at least tolerance and respect.
