Hey Man, Can't We All Just Get Along?
Seriously, Guys...Rashomon?!?!
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While the Phillies were busy losing game two of a day-night doubleheader to the Washington Nationals, Michael Marcavage, the face of Repent America, was busy pissing off fans in the 300 level of Citizens Bank Park. Marcavage was on-hand to protest Gay Day, the third annual night for gays to celebrate in groups at a Phillies game. The game has always been a center of controversy, including when the homophobic Todd Jones made his debut as a Phillie the day after making homophobic remarks in the Phils' locker room.
Marcavage unravelled a sign that said "Homosexuality Is A Sin, Christ Can Save You." Fans came down to obscure the banner at times, which did not reportedly obstruct the fans' view.
What's most shocking about all of this isn't that Marcavage pulled a stunt like this. In fact, we'd be a little shocked if he didn't. No, we're shocked at Phillyist Headquarters because the Phillies actually negotiated with Marcavage before the game. Marcavage's lawyer notified the Phillies what was happening, and the Phillies backed down and allowed it happen.
Actually, now that we see it in print, we're not that shocked at all: the cowardly Phillies showing no backbone isn't that surprising. It's just another day of business for our Fightin' Phils, who acquired the Wild Card lead in the afternoon after beating the Nationals, but then relinquished any chance of building a larger lead in the standings by letting the Nationals take a come-from-behind victory in the evening.
The Phillies will play the Pirates this weekend before taking off on a road trip. When the team returns, they'll play the Houston Astros, in what is being billed as a Latino celebration series. Latino Phils fans, beware: Latin America Is A Sin, The American Christ Can Save You.
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The thing that bothered me most about this story was the Phillies organizational response...
"On a night when we didn't have the gay community, we wouldn't necessarily permit a sign like that," Stiles said. "A sign expressing an objection to the war would not be permitted because it has nothing to do with baseball."
So you can infer two incredibly distressing points from Stile's comments.
1) That if any community group has a group trip to the Phils game, opposition can display signs. So, for example, if the NAACP has a "Day at the Game," it follows the Phillies would have to give the Ku Klux Klan equal time.
2) Free speech at a Phillies game is limited to the fans who show up at a game. They take your sign if it criticizes the team, they take your sign if you criticize the government.
Ugh, it bugs me to be a fan of this team sometimes.
Don't know if you've seen what nutbags these guys from Repent America are, but it's kind of unintentionally hilarious. These are the kind of idiots that you might see on the Springer show. First of all, they had a press release whose headline was, "Repent America Going to Bat For Jesus Again This Year." Because Jesus was well known for HATING certain groups of people, and I'm sure he's proud to know his legacy lives. But my favorite part of the website was the "Are you good enough to go to heaven" bit. Under "You shalt not commit adultery", you'll find out that "punishment for transgresion of this sin is the death penalty." What? Thinking impure thoughts about a woman is enough to get me the death penalty? Now I do not have a law degree, so i'm no expert on this, but i'm fairly confident that they just made that up. dude, i'm telling you, their website is a treasure trove of hilarity. Enjoy!
http://www.repentamerica.com/index.php?face=3%3A12%3A43+PM&on=1