2021 Gumbo final - Book - Page 205
205
jake
“So yesterday, I had just gotten some food from the Union, and I was just hanging out.
As I was about to leave, I saw this whole gathering of people around these old people.
I was like “what the heck is going on?” I remember seeing similar things last year.
It’s especially weird now because of COVID times, but the people I saw were wearing
masks for the most part. I went over there and there were a lot of older folks, men and
women, preaching about not just the bible, but actually coming after specific members
of the crowd. They were calling them out for their sexuality, the way they dressed and
the way they look. I think that’s goofy as hell! Yesterday, the cops were called, and I
was part of a group that went to talk to them. And, I’m a realist, a reasonable person,
not someone who gets really fed up with emotions or anything like that. In the end,
the preachers are simply trying to convey a message that they know for a fact is not
going to be heard. Essentially, they’re coming out here to gaslight, to heckle, and to
incite. And the students are reacting! They’re choosing to not just simply walk past
them and let them do their thing. They’re not getting in their face, trying to start a fight,
or anything like that. They are participating, making a mockery of it, laughing with
them, and making jokes out of it. They’re being entertained. Just before you walked up,
a gay couple walked in front of the old man preaching and kissed in front of him. It was
an awesome moment, and it was really funny as the old dude watched in horror! My
biggest argument is that we don’t necessarily need these people out here preaching,
saying those kinds of things to people. The audience that agrees with them has already
heard their message and the people who disagree with them are not going to change
their minds. This is a place of learning and education. We’re all just trying to get our
degrees, do our thing, meet new people and have fun. This is super counterproductive.
They shouldn’t be saying all of these rude, horrible things to people who are 18 or 19
years old. They’re trying to tear the community apart. I understand that they have the
right to be here, but it just is what it is.”