We’ve had quite a week here at the University of Virginia, with not one but two separate demonstrations to warn us of our eventual damnation. On Monday, evangelist Michael Woroniecki (yes, that Michael Woroniecki) brought his entire family to grounds with huge signs that said things like, “REPENT” and “SATAN RULES” and so forth. They screamed at students that they were destined for hell, and suggested that Hurricane Katrina was a sign of God’s wrath. (The Woronickis are evidently against church, and encourage a personal relationship with the Lord — but you’re probably getting it wrong and will go to hell anyway, unless you join his cult-like following.) From the Cavalier Daily:
The Woronieckis said they have toured college campuses throughout the United States, Europe, Morocco and Central America for over 30 years preaching their message.
“You’re going to hell,” Mike Woroniecki, the father of the family, told the officers and students. “If you’re not going to hell, I’m a fool. If there is a hell, I’m the most loving man in the world for telling you.”
Students responded as you might expect — gawking and snickering — while two industrious young men stood next to the demonstration and unfurled a huge banner that read, “BULLSHIT.” In response to a complaint from the dean of students, the police tried to convince the Woronieckis that they needed written permission to demonstrate (not true) but they eventually left peacefully.
Then on Thursday, we received a visit from Life and Liberty Ministries, a group that is currently on a “Face the Truth Virginia” tour of college campuses. They arrived in a truck that was literally covered, on all sides, with graphic photos of aborted fetuses and the hopeful message, “God hates … the hands that shed innocent blood.”
Small children held up graphic photos of aborted fetuses, while adults passed out pamphlets with more gruesome photographs and quotes from the Bible. The group is also against birth control and homosexuality, though their protest at U.Va. focused primarily on abortion.
I guess calling child protective services on the parents of those small children, for exposing them to such gruesome images, would be out of the question
(I’m sure a valid charge could be filed, though I’m uncertain as to exactly what it would be. Bad parenting clearly isn’t the crime it should be).
What is “bad parenting”? Letting you kid absorb mainstream media on the TV, movies or school is arguably more objectionable than pictures of aborted fetuses.
Hmm,.. blood and gore on TV, in the movies, and in our schools… yeah I’d agree that might arguably be more objective. I guess if they want to expose their kids to pictures of aborted fetuses that’s their business, but they should do it in the privacy of their own home. Not on a public street where I’ve gotta see it.
In all it’s just ironic what people consider offensive.
When you let mainstream media agents into your home, there is no privacy. There is no privacy on a public street. In fact, unless you become a hermit or join a religious isolated cult, you are fair game to be brainwashed by the mainstream.
Somehow, I find small extremists groups less sinister than Adelphia Cable.
i hate to say it but i agree with the old sympster. What is worse the media or some whack protester? Hell, could I hold up some pictures of people who died from alcohol car accidents. And I would be protesting for stricter laws for DUI. What is the difference?
The difference is that DUI is already illegal and killing people while doing it is murder. Abortion, on the other hand, is a legal procedure and there is a large divide societally about whether it constitues choice or ‘murder’. The protesters are largely unaware that their interpretation (‘murder’) is the result of their personally chosen religious and/or moral beliefs — and further unaware that there is or ought to be any difference between their beliefs and legal ruling or scientific fact.
I can disconnect Adelphia and I can toss out my TV (and often have). The visual violence used by these protesters in an attempt to intimidate and frighten others into their way of thinking isn’t something I can disconnect if I happen to drive by it with my family.
i am talking about the images that the little kids might see regardless of the act. We must think about the children. Those poor little children must be save.
I can disconnect Adelphia and I can toss out my TV (and often have). The visual violence used by these protesters in an attempt to intimidate and frighten others into their way of thinking isn’t something I can disconnect if I happen to drive by it with my family.
You can stay home and not drive by. You can close your eyes. You can choose to ignore their message. Just like you say you can so easily do with Adelphia Cable, the radio, the commerical adverts and all the other channels of brain control we have.
The only reason you make a distinction is because it’s uncomfortable for you.
I also object to your rapprochement between legality and morality. Laws have nothing to do with ‘right’or ‘wrong’. And if you choose to believe so, it’s, again, because it’s convenient to you as a representative of the mainstream.
I just came across an old article about Mike Woroniecki. Mr. Woronieki was the spiritual advisor to Andrea Yates, the mother who in 2001 (in Texas I think) drowned her 5 children because Woronieki told her she was destined to go to hell and drag her children down with her.
Imagine – a genuine psychotic cult leader, right here in our town!
Sympatico said rapproachment! So suck it!
Ok, there was a link to a similar article about Andrea Yates in the original post. I was the only one in the dark about who this nut is. I thought it was funny when it was first posted on here, but now that I’ve read some about this family, I think these people are dangerous and pretty frightening.
They are our very own Taliban,along with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. But I don’t see us bombing them or sending them to Guantanamo.
Oops,forget our own govt has support of Religous Reich.
Ever see the movie The Handmaid’s Tale? depicts what would happen if these people ever came to power.
Perhaps we should put these people together with the Islamic religous terrorists on an island somewhere and let them wipe each other out. Then the rest of us could live in peace.
wow Hollow Boy, I am not christian and I even offended by your remarks. Hummm, still wondering why Kerry wasn’t elected? Take a hint. You put christians in the same breathe as the Taliban.
It has always seemed to me that the most extreme 10% of the population make 50% of the noise. Maybe it’s 70%
I am no longer amazed by liberals who have zero problem comparing Nazi or the Taliban to the religious right. What does that make liberals, the godless left? For years we tell people to make their voices heard, make sure you vote. So why are you angry that people who believe differently are more motivate to make their voices heard at the ballot box? You actually want to put people on an island because they believe the world has different code of ethics then you do. If they think your going to hell because of your beliefs, why would you care?
I don’t get angry when people protest things I believe in, I work hard to elect people who believe what I hold dear. When the Mormons or the 7days come by my house I always make time to talk with them. People who believe in something have a passion, however misguided, in their lives. It seems wrong to prevent them from doing what they believe. Freedoms are only tested when others become uncomfortable.
I have no problem with their different ethics, or them voting. Its when they want to take others rights away, or even wipe them out that is the problem. “wrong to prevent them from doing what they believe”? There is a difference betwen believing and acting. The Sept. 11 bombers believed in what they were doing. Should we not have prevented them?
The problem I have with liberals is that so many don’t regard Islamo-fascism as a grave danger. I support our action in Afghanistan and part company with those who equate it with the Iraq War, which is looking more and more like Vietnam.
I want no part of any sort of fundamentalist theocracy, whether Muslim or Christian or whatever.
I don’t care if people believe the moon is made of green cheese as long as they don’t try to shove their belief down my throat at gunpoint.
“as long as they don’t try to shove their belief down my throat at gunpoint.”When anyone tries that be assured you will not be alone.
However there is no gun that I see.
It is wrong when your beliefs take away the rights of others. My point was people who try to tell of their religious belief not those who want to take away the right of others. Thought that went without saying, guess not.
As for “fundamentalist theocracy”, you let me know when one gets elected in this country. Do you think the religous right is happy with everything Bush does? You would be wrong. Moderates decide who runs the country. They usually pick , what they believe to be the lesser of two evils.
The fact is if, and I grant its a big if, some of our Religous Right fanatics took power, abortion, birth control, the teaching of evolution,homosexuality,etc would all be illegal or suppressed.Not saying it will or can happen, but who would ever have thought an obscure Austrian army corporal would become the leader of a world power. It goes without saying that not all Christians are like that fringe,anymore than all Muslims are al-Qaeda. But history shows that sometimes its the most extreme,violent, and fanatical element that prevails-look at the 20th century-Communism, Nazism, the Taliban, Khmer Rouge,etc.