Pastor Arrested For Protesting Patriotism IMO

[Tsukiyumi]

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (CBS/AP) A pastor in central Georgia has been arrested for protesting outside a high school against its demon mascot.

Police spokeswoman Tabitha Pugh said 36-year-old Donald Crosby was arrested Monday at Warner Robins High, and charged with picketing without a license and disorderly conduct.

Crosby and supporters picked the opening day of classes to protest against the pitchfork-wielding mascot. Crosby, of Kingdom Builders Church of Jesus Christ, says his son attends the school and he doesn't want him exposed to the name's devilish connotations.

School officials say the mascot honors a World War II fighter squadron nicknamed the "Screamin' Demons."

The pastor was released on bond.

Source

Sure enough, the 7th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group was originally named the "Screamin' Demons". I think it's a great mascot choice, and this dude should pray for Jesus to remove the giant rod from his ass.

EDIT: What do you know? They're back to being the "Screamin Demons" again.

[stitch626]

[Tyyr]

The topic title is a bit misleading.

That said I seriously doubt this mascot was endangering his son's or anyone else's soul.

[Tsukiyumi]

The topic title is a bit misleading...

Really? He began to protest against the use of a decorated flying unit's mascot (appropriated for the school), without even thinking of looking up the history of it. He just sees "Demon!" and blows a gasket because of bigotry.

[Mikey]

A pastor has nothing better to worry about than this? I can only pray for the day to come when a high school mascot is the greatest manifestation of evil which we have to combat.

[Deepcrush]

Agreed, if this is the worst thing on the plate for today... I'd be happy.

[Lighthawk]

The topic title is a bit misleading...

Really? He began to protest against the use of a decorated flying unit's mascot (appropriated for the school), without even thinking of looking up the history of it. He just sees "Demon!" and blows a gasket because of bigotry.

While I think the guy is wound a bit too tight, a religious guy protesting the use of a demon, regardless of the mascot's history, is hardly the same as saying he's anti-patriotism. He's more likely just against the idea of using a demon form as a symbol for anything that's not expressly evil.

[Tsukiyumi]

...He's more likely just against the idea of using a demon form as a symbol for anything that's not expressly evil.

Doesn't change the fact that he's protesting against the mascot of decorated war veterans. His ignorance of its history or meaning is irrelevant.

In fact, it only makes his ignorance (and intolerance) more obvious.

[Deepcrush]

Tsu, I think you're over reacting and yes, I'M saying you're over reacting.

The use of demons or fallen agents of God is a very sensitive subject for people of faith. This isn't a matter of Patriotism, but one of his personal beliefs which you are declaring are against the values of Patriotism simply because you don't like the guy for being picky about a mascot.

[Tyyr]

Doesn't change the fact that he's protesting against the mascot of decorated war veterans. His ignorance of its history or meaning is irrelevant.

In fact, it only makes his ignorance (and intolerance) more obvious.

He's protesting against the mascot of a high school. It might be based on the mascot of a WWII fighter squadron but he's not protesting those guys.

[Tsukiyumi]

He's protesting against imagery that he associates with Satanism. If he wanted legal justification, he could try arguing separation of church and state, but I doubt he'd go that route. If Satanic imagery isn't acceptable, then crucifixes shouldn't be either.

Anyways, my point is, he didn't bother to check why they used that image; he just jumped straight to religious ideology. Protesting that image, to me, is no different than protesting the symbol of the Apollo program because you're against Greek mythology.

[Deepcrush]

You're dislike aside, that doesn't change that the thread topic isn't only misleading but in fact a lie.

The problem continues that you are applying your own opinion of faith to another and then damning him for not agreeing with you. Since the United States of America is supposed to have a freedom of Religion, you are yourself acting unpatriotic by opposing his right to protest.

[Mikey]

Or, to play devil's advocate (pun completely intended) - protesting the mascot of the Washington Redskins, or the Cleveland Indians, or Atlanta Braves...

Starting to get my point, now that it's a bit closer to home? He's protesting the use of demonic imagery. The precursors that have used that same epithet are irrelevant. I have read nothing that says that the high school used that nickname because of the fighter group, or in homage to it. While I think the guy is N-V-T-S for his carrying-on, I also think it has absolutely zero to do with the fighter group.

[Deepcrush]

It would be wise to edit the Thread Title to "Pastor Arrested for Protesting Mascot".

[Captain Seafort]

Agreed, and done.