[salukigirl]

This religious group hangs out on campus holding signs. Now, I'm used to anti-abortion signs and things like that but these signs say things like "bossy women are sin" and that "a woman should never speak unless spoken to". They preach submissiveness among women and scream at people. I don't understand how they're allowed to do this but somehow they are. Some people get into arguments with them which I don't get because obviously they are impervious to any compassionate or logical argument. I just hate watching them. Supposedly there is no way to get them out because a state funded campus is a public forum where you can express whatever views you want. It's just sickening. I have worked damn hard to get where I am and have put up with sexist bull and know more women who are more intelligent than these disgusting guys. Just makes me wonder, when we have a black president and came very close to having a woman president or a woman vise president.....several countries have either had or currently have a woman prime minister or president or queen. Women have won Nobel prizes in several areas of science, some (Marie Curie) won 2 in 2 separate scientific areas. Not to mention we GIVE BIRTH. And somehow this kind of mentality still exists.

[Indie'sOK]

These people are ignorant and stupid, and I agree with your anger Take heart in knowing that very, very few people still have this mentality. Somehow some of these people were able to join together and claim themselves to be "religious".

[JayS]

I hate people like that, they're idiots...

[Elana05]

Hi Salukigirl,

It is terribly hard to tolerate. But I suppose these things happen in a democratic society.
Did you ever see the movie The Blues Brothers where where John Belushi (Jake) and Dan Akroyd (Elwood) drive their car toward a large group of white supremacists causing them all to fall into a muddy canal below? Then everyone around starts cheering. You can imagine something like that happening! Or just feel sorry for them. How misguided and completely full of anger does a person have to be to tout this stuff?

to you...

YAY FOR STRONG WOMEN!!!
E

[Onward2wards]

Don't get me started ... arrgghhh, too late.
That's not religion ... that's "tribal BS" as I like to call it. It can be projected onto any system of belief or social group.
That sort of thing grinds my gears too ...
http://www.somnium-profundus.deviant...rnal/32513746/

[CindyLuWho]

Make your own sign. Gather a group of friends, male AND female, to support your side.

Or, try to look at them with pity. How sad their lives must be. They probably need some good psych meds! You will never be able to reason with them. That's what makes them fanatics.

"Well behaved women seldom make history"

And really, they are not worth your expending you energy on. Save your energy for cause that matter to you. Allowing them to make you angry gives them the power. If you can, LAUGH every time you walk by. point and laugh!

[venusss]

That is just terrible.

Really, you should start a counter-protest. I certainly would.

[salukigirl]

Thanks guys. I thought about making my own sign but I'm always in class and have absolutely no time to protest lol. Maybe I'll just be real bossy to them. Since apparently the act of having a vagina is sin.

[Perna]

It's a little bit funny; it's not likely they get many dates? I would think one could pass some sort of regulatory, on-campus thing that they have to at least "check in" and be certified as students there, etc.?

[salukigirl]

Thta's what I was hoping but it's technically a public forum because it's a state funded campus.

[lynn P.]

Yes I understand this must be infuriating. Have you tried complaining to administration - maybe the administration don't realize how their presence is stressing some students.

Where I live we occasionaly get a certain door to door religious group and when I was a kid they would often canvas our neighborhood. I really dislike them immensely - how would they like it, if someone came and pushed another religion on them. I have my own religion and it's an insult to me to preach their ideas on me. Once when my mother told them she wasn't interested and tried to close the door - the guy put his foot between, so she couldn't close it. They're religious bullies.

[Perna]

But still, I don't think state-funded abuse is allowed? Even the KKK has to get permits when it marches in public. It's not really a protest or organized rally or anything of the sort but just a bunch of guys disturbing the peace?

[Indie'sOK]

I like the slogan, "Well-behaved women rarely make history"

[KathyM]

WOW - I don't think I'd be able to resist that group. I'd be tempted to get in their faces, pat them on the head, and say "Don't blame ME for your fear and loathing of the women in your life, and don't blame ME for your inability to communicate with them."

[lonegael]

Wow. Makes you wonder what kind of mothers they had, huh? Pretty scarey! Any of them named Bates? Or did they wake up to the cry of "NO WIRE HANGERS!" in the middle of the night? The imagination runs wild. HuUUUGGGGGGSSSSS saluki. It's easy to be speculative from a distance.

[peaches100]

Originally Posted by lynn P.

Yes I understand this must be infuriating. Have you tried complaining to administration - maybe the administration don't realize how their presence is stressing some students.

Where I live we occasionaly get a certain door to door religious group and when I was a kid they would often canvas our neighborhood. I really dislike them immensely - how would they like it, if someone came and pushed another religion on them. I have my own religion and it's an insult to me to preach their ideas on me. Once when my mother told them she wasn't interested and tried to close the door - the guy put his foot between, so she couldn't close it. They're religious bullies.

Lynn,

I'm sorry your mom had a bad experience with door to door ministers. But you need to know that not all people who engage in door to door ministry are "religious bullies." I've belonged to a religious group that goes door to door for over 25 years, I've never stuck my foot in the door to keep somebody from closing it. We go to the door in groups of 2, and nobody I've ever gone to the door with has ever stuck their foot in to keep the door from closing either. We are trained to be tactful and respectful of others. However, some people by nature aren't as tactful or they get so eager to share their message that they overstep boundaries. I'm sorry your mom had this experience. Please know that we are all not that way.

I also understand how having someone come to your door and talk to you about the Bible may feel like "pushing their religion on you." Have you ever wondered why we do it? It's not because we want to bother you, or make you angry, or wake you up on Saturday morning. We go door to door to talk about the Bible because Jesus specifically commanded his disciples to do this. In fact, the Scriptures say he divided them up in groups of 2, and sent them into the cities to share the Bible message. He said we should do it until "the conclusion of the system of things." We go door to door because we've been instructed to do that. It is not always easy. It takes courage!

Again, I'm sorry about the bad experience your mom had. We are told in the Bible to show "a mild temper and deep respect" when we share Bible truths with others. We are also given instruction in the congregation on how to do this. But some people by nature are less tactful, and we make mistakes like everybody else. Please know that we are all not that way!



p.s. In regard to the religious group on campus, the way they are behaving, and the wording of the signs, don't indicate " a mild temper and deep respect."

[salukigirl]

I'm just sick of all this religious stuff anyways. There is a difference between being spiritual and "religious". I don't necessarily mind when people come to my door but I will never attend their church or participate and I've always wondered how many people they actually "convert" by doing that? How many people actually see that or see those signs and think "wow....bossy women really are sinners". Does that actually DO anything? I went to a rally for reproductive rights which was mostly focused on allowing all women of all races, sexual orientation and income to have equal access to pap smears or mammograms etc... and all of a sudden a religious group gathered across the street screaming "baby killers" at us. I'm sick of being told that just because I don't go to church I must be a "horrible liberal baby killer". While I realize not all religious folk are like that....not all liberals are "baby killers". Actually I have never met a person who claims to be "pro-abortion". I just think this country would be better off without organized religion period.

[KathyM]

I agree with you Salukigirl. It appears the focus is always on the judgment and damnation of those who don't believe, look or act as they do. They only know how to spread hatred and fear. They don't know how to spread love, so what makes THEM the experts?

If they REALLY start to get under your skin, maybe you should get yourself a baseball cap that says BOSS. When you see them, give them a big smile and tip your hat to them..

[ECHOES]

I wonder if you could work with your University to establish *where* groups can present themselves on campus. Maybe a specific place could be allocated that is not a space that is frequented?
Maybe they have to be allowed there, but maybe the campus has some input as to where they are allowed to be while there..

[salukigirl]

Yeah, the place they set up shop is directly in front of the student union. So you can imagine how many people pass in front of there everyday.

Kathy - I'm sure my boyfriend would LOVE to get me that hat haha

[ECHOES]

Maybe you could get their set up area changed?

I loved Lynn's reference to "religious bullies".

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Some males are so afraid of women and shall always be. I smile reading the things they have said. Should one of them attempt childbirth they would be screaming, but it would be screams of a much different meaning and nature

Morgana

i also think a counter demonstration would be a good thing. i'm a christian feminist, even have a group blog about it showing how scripture supports it. i'm not liberal or conservative though. lame categories imo.

[lonegael]

Some of these people have very little understanding of what it means to talk about reproductive rights. Just the right of a woman to say, "not tonight, dear," is a reproductive right, as is the right to do a self exam. Handing them some brochures might be a good idea, if any of them might read them. I am famirl conservative myself, but thes guys sound like the second star-to-the-right-and-straight-on-till morning-type. There's no telling what they will see as encouragement to stay. Head up, Saluki. Try not to let them make you too much like themselves, OK? HUGGGSSSS

[elliemay]

I would stand next to them with a sign saying "These people will never ever get laid".

But that's me.