Well, I have now seen it, a moment that makes me proud to be a geek.
I have been a geek for a lot longer than the term has been around. I love science fiction, and computers, and gadgets of all kinds. I have been to science fiction conventions and worn costumes, even competing in costume competitions at the conventions (if you really want to see pictures of these, go here). So, yes, being a geek is in my blood.
One of the things I love about geeks, particularly the ones into science fiction and fantasy are that they have an open mind and are accepting of most things. In truth, it was science fiction that kept me open minded enough to give credence to energy work. Had I just listened to my parents (and the world in general) with their “that’s not possible” attitude on all things outside the norm, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, keeping an open mind, and being able to accept things outside the norm have helped me and continue to drive what I do and how I act.
Most of the sci-fi geeks are peaceful (yes, even the Klingons) and go out of their way to not cause trouble and help others. They accept alternative lifestyles without judgment. That is not to say they are into all alternative lifestyles, but that they accept other people’s desires to follow different paths. But they do get behind good ideas, and can be a force to be reckoned with.
This past weekend, a large group of these geeks protested a protest, and proved to be the greater force. Yes, I’m talking about the ComiCon convention that was held in San Diego this past weekend. For those that don’t know, ComiCon has gone from being a bunch of people getting together because they like comic books (or as they’re called now, graphic novels) to a major media event where studios publicize all the movies and TV shows coming up that are based in sci-fi, video games, comics, and more. They have a crowd of some 125,000 fans and a huge number of directors, producers, and stars.
Well, this year, the convention had been targeted by the Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas City. They believed they should protest the event because these geeks that go to it worship super heroes instead of God. Uh huh. Right. In case you don’t know who the Westboro Baptist Church is, they are a group of people that will go anywhere in the country to protest anything that doesn’t conform to their beliefs. They are (according to CBSNews.com) not associated with any Baptist organization at all.
I found a news story that told a bit about them, and how they have been protesting everything they can. It seems they believe that everything that is going wrong for our country is because of our attitudes in that the “United States has condemned itself to destruction by accepting homosexuality and other sins of the flesh.” They had planned to protest the funerals of those that died in the shootings at Virginia Tech a few years ago because “the Virginia Tech teachers and students who died on Monday brought their fate upon themselves by not being true Christians.” Yeah. And let’s make a bad situation worse for grieving families of this tragedy. Come on. How stupid can you be? (Like I said, I am accepting that they have the right to believe what they want. It’s when they hurt others with those beliefs that I take offense.)
They have also been protesting at funerals of American servicemen killed in Iraq. Earlier this year, the church protested at a funeral of a marine lance corporal killed in action. They carried such signs as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags." The father of the fallen soldier sued the church and was awarded $11 million. The church of course is appealing. This makes one wonder how a single church could even have that much money to pay.
But they met their match at ComiCon. The group of protesters from the church was met by a much larger group of convention goers protesting the church’s protest. The geeks stood out in large numbers, most of whom were wearing costumes. They held signs like “God Hates Jedi”, “All Glory to the Hypno-Toad”, “Odin is God. Read The Mighty Thor, #5”, “Fags are Sexy Beasts”, “God Hates Kittens”, and “God Loves Everybody”. Most of the signs were there to make fun of the church and its beliefs.
The protest went on for a while until the church finally packed up its signs and people and left well before their scheduled time was up. They were sent running be a force of people who believe that people have a right to make up their own minds about what is right for them. And it was all done peacefully.
I love it when the geeky outcasts face an evil force head on, and win. So take that you narrow minded hypocritical zealots. I hope you’ve learned a lesson... don’t screw with sci-fi and fantasy geeks. (But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.)