I think just about everybody who has passed Wells Hall lately has been confronted by the notorious preachers. These people have become known for their closed-mindedness, arbitrarily judging passersby and spreading bad vibes to the public.
I know a Christian girl who they refused to believe because she had dreadlocks. They pestered a Sikh friend, who wears a turban, saying, "Muhammad wouldn't save him." Rumor has it that they even pulled a turban off someone's head.
They call people degrading names out of "love." After confronting them one day, I became known as "Roller Derby Man" (out of reverence for my impressive rollerblading skills).
On that day, I had stopped by Wells to watch an argument between a preacher and a boy holding a Bible. Onlookers joined in to defend against (or return) the preacher's hateful speech and to pick up anyone he verbally knocked down.
From previous encounters, I was brimming with lines to throw at him, and I didn't hold back. Most uplifting were those who would yell above him, "Don't let him ruin your day!" or, after I had gotten my new name, "Dude, love the blades … high five!"
That event was charged with emotions ranging from one of uplifting unity to vengeful egoism. By the end, the preacher reportedly named Michael was no longer the fearsome accuser I had wanted to confront — he was reduced to a helpless fool in the middle of a circle, looking more than anything like a scared boy.
The public won the fight that day. I had satisfied my craving to confront him and it felt really good. Then I started wondering what would happen the next day. They would be back again, with wounded egos and a greater ax to grind with the world.
Taking a stance on the other side would just create more of the conflict we would all like to end. I had felt good for winning over the preacher, but now I felt ashamed for making it worse — I had hurt a man's pride and done nothing to help. Mine was an act of self-gratification, not out of a greater good.
I realized it isn't worth engaging this argument. What is important is to respect people regardless of their actions toward you. If confronted again, I would hope that I could just smile and say "good morning;" after all, there is no argument if they have no opposition to face. Oddly enough, it took winning an argument to realize that what I see as a nemesis could be a scared little boy inside.
Adrian Pichurko
human biology senior
