Handing out Flowers as Protest against Prop 8

[TomWins]

In Fresno, a group has gone to several churches who actively worked to Pass Prop 8 and handed out flowers with the message, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you” as church members were going in to services.

Here is a link to more information on this "Protest"

http://www.lateupdate.com/Opinion/PROPOSITION-8-ACTIVISM-DIFFERENT-CHURCHES-DIFFERENT-ATTITUDES.php

I love the idea but find it only one tool of many that we need to develop in order to defuse or stop the gay hatred and ignorance that is being spread by these churches.

[Rick336]

In Fresno, a group has gone to several churches who actively worked to Pass Prop 8 and handed out flowers with the message, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you” as church members were going in to services.

Here is a link to more information on this "Protest"

http://www.lateupdate.com/Opinion/PROPOSITION-8-ACTIVISM-DIFFERENT-CHURCHES-DIFFERENT-ATTITUDES.php

I love the idea but find it only one tool of many that we need to develop in order to defuse or stop the gay hatred and ignorance that is being spread by these churches.


This is a great idea. And not only flowers, but we could bridge the love by handing out candy to the church goers because otherwise, I'm just going to throw this leftover Halloween candy out.

Rick

[FoxInSox]

Taking Halloween candy to church goers may set off a whole other debate... :p

[Jennifer5]

I really like the idea of protesting this way. I think that the nonviolent actions get the most attention because people can actually open up and connect. But I think that the protests that are based on actually loving your enemy, not just promising not to hurt them... those actions really get to people.

I think you have to feel bad about hurting someone, when that person comes back and treats you with love and kindness.

[CaptainSnoopy]

Love it! Well done Fresno!

[pnggrad79]

It is shameful that there were churches that actually had people preventing these flower children from entering. Even more appalling is the overflowing trash can near the entrance. How could these people go back into church, shut the doors and praise God for what just happened? Jesus was neither shown nor celebrated at any of those churches who stood to guard their congregation of FLOWERS! Imagine flowers as being construed to be a violent symbol.

I think it was rather Gandhi-ish to do that and hope such "protests" continue.

[CaptainSnoopy]

What those people did against our floral friends, they will have to answer to God. All they need to do is read Matthew 25 and realize they are kinda screwing themselves as they toss flowers in the garbage.

[Duskmelt]

I agree with the others that this method of "protesting" is much more postitive and effective than picketing near churches or "bashing back."

This is the way to do things, not vandalism or screaming bigotry.

An applaudable idea, thank you for sharing.

:cool:

[Emproph]

And not only flowers, but we could bridge the love by handing out candy

Imagine flowers as being construed to be a violent symbol.

Those darn homosexual activists and their hatred for Christians with allergies!

Their floral peace offering sent me into a downward sneezing spiral, that to this, *a-choo*, day, I have not recovered from.

The whole episode sent me into epinephrine shock, causing me to lose consciousness and end up in the emergency room, BUT NOT before witnessing one of them offer my diabetic mother a piece of candy!

Am I alone on this one or are the gays out to kill us all?
--
BREAKING NEWS: Gay activists attempt to poison church-goers with a combination of pollen and sugar.

[RedneckDyke]

Handing out flowers is a great idea!

[tdogg]

I'm not as progressed as some of you. I still would have to wrap my mind around the thought of passing out flowers and candy to them. Especially if it's going in the trash. Holding up a sign is much more fun.

But it is a noble and great idea. Perhaps a candy with a message in it. Love not hate. Love is a family value. Love all families. Or even simply God is Love.

[CaptainSnoopy]

I'm not as progressed as some of you. I still would have to wrap my mind around the thought of passing out flowers and candy to them. Especially if it's going in the trash. Holding up a sign is much more fun.

THe Amish have a tradition if you screw them over in a business transaction. They send you a loaf of Amish bread. It is a symbolic gensture that says,"Even though your business dealings were less than honest and honorable, I will still break bread with you." Remember, these are the same people who forgave the man who gunned down innocent children in their school.

There is a power and a freedom in love. I would love it if a gay activist group sent a care package to a church that supported prop 8 with a note that says, "As Christ forgave me, so I forgive you."

[scott snedeker]

Turn the other Cheek, But it must be sincere. Otherwise the feeling is not real. To do that We must turn our inner pain into inner compassion. Now that takes effort time and focus!

[CaptainSnoopy]

Turn the other Cheek, But it must be sincere. Otherwise the feeling is not real. To do that We must turn our inner pain into inner compassion. Now that takes effort time and focus!

Well written.

[Rick336]

Handing out flowers is a great idea!

Or, we could give each one of them a live possum. Imagine them having to sit through an entire Sunday service holding a live possum.

Rick

[tdogg]

I'm probably leaning towards the possum right now. I'm trying, it's a work in progress. But I still have times (like this week) when I'm really pissed off and any offering of flowers or candy would be more sarcastic than sincere. I'm probably better off sulking alone than trying to have discussions and performing random acts of kindness towards Christians. Probably just having a grumpy week (and reading ugly words posted by prop Prop 8 people who call themselves christian).

[scott snedeker]

Imagine an empathic possum. she sits on the lap of a Christian and feels the fear. from lap to lap up and down th pews she gets the empathic vibrations of each of the congregation.

This one fears eternal damnation clutches his chest with mortal dread of eternity in either oblivion or torture. He is so blinded that he cannot see much else. He follows the preacher desperately but does not see that in reinforcement of that fear the preacher deftly uses ancient wrathful scripture to keep followers dependent on him.

She, the possum begins to shake, overwhelmed with sharing the hell on Eath this man lives. She is overcome with pity at his spiritual predation at the hands of this preacher and moves on.

Another woman trapped in a loveless marriage is disgusted every time her husband penetrates. But it is the will of God and she must endure or lose everything and be damned eternally. Too cowardly to stand up she hates herself and the only relief she gets is the gratification of punishing those damn queers.

How dare they call what they have marriage! Marriage is about sacrifice and enduring! They are just doing what feels good! They know nothing about true marriage! They have not paid anything for God's approval! Not one damn thing! And they expect all the reward too! It just irks me!

The possum leaps off this one. This life is wretched and soulless. Her pain is unbearable. After feeling a few more tortured souls with no chance for compassion allowed the possum faints in shock. One of the members, believing she is dead picks her up and places her in the trash can.

She senses the flowers in the trash can with her. She senses the love and compassion and begins to cry. The contrast of empathetic vibrations generates compassion for those who suffer so inside the church.

She sees now that it is their pain and suffering that blinds them to the beauty of the capacity to love. She takes a flower for herself. Runs up to one of the gay folks, a young man, handing out flowers and offers it to him. Stunned but charmed he picks her up and holds her in a loving embrace as the possum talks to his heart telling him of the suffering of those inside.

[Jennifer5]

Imagine an empathic possum. she sits on the lap of a Christian and feels the fear. from lap to lap up and down th pews she gets the empathic vibrations of each of the congregation.

This one fears eternal damnation clutches his chest with mortal dread of eternity in either oblivion or torture. He is so blinded that he cannot see much else. He follows the preacher desperately but does not see that in reinforcement of that fear the preacher deftly uses ancient wrathful scripture to keep followers dependent on him.

She, the possum begins to shake, overwhelmed with sharing the hell on Eath this man lives. She is overcome with pity at his spiritual predation at the hands of this preacher and moves on.

Another woman trapped in a loveless marriage is disgusted every time her husband penetrates. But it is the will of God and she must endure or lose everything and be damned eternally. Too cowardly to stand up she hates herself and the only relief she gets is the gratification of punishing those damn queers.

How dare they call what they have marriage! Marriage is about sacrifice and enduring! They are just doing what feels good! They know nothing about true marriage! They have not paid anything for God's approval! Not one damn thing! And they expect all the reward too! It just irks me!

The possum leaps off this one. This life is wretched and soulless. Her pain is unbearable. After feeling a few more tortured souls with no chance for compassion allowed the possum faints in shock. One of the members, believing she is dead picks her up and places her in the trash can.

She senses the flowers in the trash can with her. She senses the love and compassion and begins to cry. The contrast of empathetic vibrations generates compassion for those who suffer so inside the church.

She sees now that it is their pain and suffering that blinds them to the beauty of the capacity to love. She takes a flower for herself. Runs up to one of the gay folks, a young man, handing out flowers and offers it to him. Stunned but charmed he picks her up and holds her in a loving embrace as the possum talks to his heart telling him of the suffering of those inside.

AWE!!! :love:

[tdogg]

Ok, so maybe I've edged ever so slightly towards being able to hand out flowers, sincerely. Thanks for your words. :love::love: