And I am OK with that.
Yesterday was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. To commemorate those that perished and those that fought back, I helped to organize a service at the YWCA of Great Falls. I especially want to thank community leaders like Commissioner Beltrone, Mayor Stebbins and Chaplain McCain for taking part in the service.
The service was well attended and, I think, a very nice event. We certainly were able to both commemorate the fallen and raise awareness of current genocides, most specifically the crimes now happening daily in Darfur.
While we were setting up, a protester came by. A real-life protester at a HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL SERVICE. This guy, whom I will name Schmuckity McSchmuck henceforth on these pages, had a 15 foot pole on which he had a 3' square sign with "REPENT SINNERS" on one side and "ACCEPT JESUS" on the other. He spend about an hour standing in front of the Y reading out loud from the New Testament.
At one point, I went out to talk to Schmuckity. I invited him into the service, since we were talking about peace and I thought that the guy he was talking about also had something to say about peace. Schmuckity wasn't too interested in peace, apparently. He told me that us Jews were going to be judged more harshly for forsaking his savior.
Bizarre, no?
Anyway, despite Schmuckity, the service went very well. I especially want to thank the mayor for her gestures of support.
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7 comments:
If it's any consolation, I think Schmuckity McSchmuck might be in for a bit of a surprise when he meets up with his savior... something about judging others, and all that.
Schmuckity kind of reminds me of some fellow conservatives who hang out at a bulletin board I frequent. Their lack of manners and inability to even consider the other side of an argument make it hard for me to want to be on the same team.
Unbelievable...it would have been so tempting to drag him away...what an idiot.
it would have been so tempting to drag him away...
It is a testament to you Aaron that you did not.
To be honest, I have never understood the fanaticism ( zealotry? ) for or against a religion that would cause one to act that way. I suppose that is why I can not fathom the holocaust itself.
I am glad that you had a nice event. I did not even know there was a Holocaust Memorial Day. I will take some time to remember and think good thoughts for the people of that horror.
That last sentence should be:
I will take some time to remember and think good thoughts for the people that suffered that horror.
The juxtaposition of the ranting protester outside and the peace filled service inside, drove home the point that hatred remains a powerful force. The heckler’s presence was a painful reminder that we must never forget the legacy of man’s unchecked hatred.
I was honored and humbled to be part of the Holocaust Memorial Service. thany you for the invitation.
Aaron, thank you so much for inviting me to participate in the Remembrance service. I was deeply moved and will always remember.
Schmuckity's name is Robert and he is a member of a "church" in Wisconsin. I was told that by someone who actually spoke to this nutball. Earlier he was picketing the MLCC.
I use my gestures of support sparingly, but this guy was a disgrace to the Christian (and any other) faith. He had it coming.
Dear Mother of Jesus, help us!
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