The Dove World Outreach Center phenomenon is getting ridiculous. I understand that in the United States we support a plurality of opinion and the concept of free speech. However, since when do we passively allow blatant hatred and bigotry to go unchecked? Though I don't typically lecture people on the absolutes of "right" and "wrong," this is definitely an instance in our lives where we need to take a step back and say, "Damn it, that is wrong!"
The DWOC is abusing the liberal idea of freedom of speech and opinion by socializing young recruits to be hateful, i.e. Martin Boecken, 15. What kind of parents allow their child to march in a hate parade? Furthermore, what kind of parent allows his or her child to go to school with an "Islam is of the Devil" T-shirt, let alone with two different socks?
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick and tired of this group professing a message so out of tune with modernity.
Although a controversial ethical issue does exist, society needs to address this serious philosophical question: Should we stand by and watch something so unsubstantiated, hateful and potentially violent exist, or should we take action responsibly before the group snowballs into something far worse than it is now?
The group will most likely dissipate and die off after a year or so but think of the amount of young kids, just like us, who will confirm bigotry in the name of Jesus.
