The city of Seattle closed the park where evangelical singer Sean Feucht’s rally/concert ‘Let Us Worship’ was slated to take place, just hours before the event was set to begin over this past weekend.
With a big sign saying “Park Temporarily Closed” and security guards at entrances, the Parks Department took no chances on throngs of maskless Christians gathering together to worship. Although Feucht’s event wasn't mentioned by name, the writing on the wall was clear. The park will be closed Labor Day “due to anticipated crowding that could impact the public health of residents,” a sign out front read.
Now Feucht is crying foul, arguing that Christians are being discriminated against for the simple crime of wanting to praise their God.
Complaints of a Double Standard
Was Seattle engaging in anti-Christian discrimination, or was the park closure justified?
Feucht claims the city was engaging in anti-Christian behavior, arguing that Seattle lets Black Lives Matter activists protest wherever they wish.
“They don’t say [there’s a public health risk] about the Black Lives Matter movement. They don’t say the same thing about antifa. A lot of those guys have been destroying things,” he said.
Locked out of the park, Feucht took to the streets and led an event that was equal parts protest and worship.
“It was obviously a targeting and discrimination against believers in this city,” Feucht told Fox & Friends the morning after the rally-turned-protest. “It’s so wild, because yesterday on 4th Avenue in Seattle they had antifa rioters throwing mov cocktails at policemen, and yet the city focused their energy on our peaceful worship and prayer rally.”
Feucht called it the “height of hypocrisy” for “godless politicians” to target Christians while the cities they lead are “succumbing to rioting and burning and pillaging.”
Parks and Registration
Seattle officials haven’t commented on the story except to point to the official response from Seattle Parks and Recreation.
“Out of concerns for the safety of all those who visit Gas Works Park we have opted to close the entire park for the day. Seattle Parks and Recreation does not allow unpermitted public events to take place in Seattle parks and asks the public to continue to adhere to current public health guidelines so that we can keep our parks open.”
The issue from the city’s end appears to be simply that Feucht’s event was unpermitted.
That’s not even mentioning that Feucht’s ‘Let Us Worship’ events are being held specifically in defiance of shelter-in-place orders in densely populated cities where COVID-19 could spread rapidly. We wrote last month about Feucht’s event in Portland, Oregon, where masks were a very rare sight, and Feucht himself has made numerous Tweets indicating a skepticism towards masks.
If past behavior was any indication, it's clear that the event as-intended would be a potential COVID hotbed.
Is the Government Quelling Christianity?
Feucht’s concert series is called “Let Us Worship” - implying that there’s some shadowy force preventing Christians from practicing their faith.
But is that true? In the midst of an international pandemic that’s left nearly 200,000 Americans dead, there are countless examples of forward-thinking church leaders successfully pivoting their congregations to digital worship, keeping their flock’s faith needs met while also keeping them safe.
There’s a great undercurrent of irony to Feucht’s “Let Us Worship” concert series. If Feucht and his followers would wear masks, socially distance, and do their part to help end the coronavirus outbreak, Feucht would be free to hold all the concerts in the world (assuming he gets the proper permits).
Instead, according to public health experts, events like “Let Us Worship” will only prolong our collective quarantine, preventing the return of normal life.
43 comments
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Michael S Cope
Give to GOD that which belongs to GOD. Render unto Caesar that belongs to Caesar.
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Kenneth Paul Hargis
I just wanted to state the following:
The park was not closed to stop this rally. The park was closed because of the air quality in Seattle. The fires had made the city have worse air quality than 1960's Los Angeles.
All the parks in the city were closed at that time. This had nothing to do with the rally and Mr. Feucht is just using this as a platform to make false and horrid claims.
I bet if he tried it this week he would not find the park closed. But, I would have to take the time to check to see if it is open or not. Something he probably should have done as well.
He is not making a good name for Christians with his claims. It only makes us look callous and selfish.
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Paul J. Fumero
Most religious fools think they can grab God by the beard and make him do what they want because they heard it in Church... LOL.... God is not bound to any Church Religion of Holy Book. But that fool will have to answer to his idiocy in light of a dangerous pandemic that has killed 200,00+ Americans. And yet they will say "the blood of Jesus will protect me", well that is grabbing him by the nuts trying to do do your bidding in defying natural laws. Beware of pretentious church learned attitudes.
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Robin Barbara Werner
Howdy My brother’s and sisters
Being a retired healthcare worker I feel like endlessly ranting about folks that feel that ignoring protocols is their right I will spare you from that The numbers of bodies 200,854 and growing speaks for me
Gathering in Gods name Or gathering at all Great Leaving events to spread Co-VD 19 to other humans is murder
Simple easy to understand
Have a wonderful day and
Stay away from me I’m a survivor of four bypasses I’m a Veteran And my choice to survive is between me and God
Thanks Prayers for all
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Brother David
After reading this I have to laugh. Not at you my dear sister but at the logic that most other commentators have used for not having common sense. My classes in bacteriology were many years ago (early 70's) and I know that protocol has some modifications, but one thing is true limit the spread and common sense tells us that a barrier is a simple way= the start of a safe, easy limit the spread of diseases. And as to the right to not be safe, there is not right. No one has the right to make others sick. Doing so is called by an other name.... murder, and the last time I looked at the Constitution I don't think that is in there. The right to free speech, but you can't spew ..... over a number of people or even one. The right to assemble or protest ..... but you can't, once again, cause harm to others. I not going to go into the rest. Use common sense and respect the rights of others and a quick look at the Ten Commandments is a good guide weather you beleive or not. I tell people all the time "even if you don't believe in the Bible it is a good book and the lessons taken in their contexts is a good way to live". Peace and Love to all. Brother David
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TheSound.com
What if the congregation was going to drive to the event breaking the speed limit, not wearing seat bets, and texting while driving? Wearing masks is a public safety issue just like seat belts! If you wish to congregate DO IT OUTSIDE with proper social distancing. Master Jesus taught while OUTSIDE people. SO, copy that too.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
I say let them have their madness rally. Then have them quarantine, together, for two weeks and see how many succumb to COVID. I've lost my patience for these fools, but I don't want their foolishness to harm others.
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Dennis Paul Shipman
I don't hear God speaking in anything I have read here. Yet I believe
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Billy Whalin
I do not like to engage in arguments in ones opinion be cause we all have one. Those that minister to others without thinking of their parish safety are greedy for mans money and selfish. I as a disabled Army Medic have seen what man can do to one another in their interpretation of Gods words. His words are easy to follow and one is to not endanger others using his name. I fear we will see last days in our life time. Because of this virus many so called ministers has put their own greed interest instead protecting their parish from sickness or death and they will have to answer to God. When God was strong in this country people of ww1 and 2 had to endure alot more then wearing a mask. Grow up spoiled people because I can tell you that you will be disciplined by God and believe me it shall hurt. May God have mercy on us all in Jesus name Amen.
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Barrett Edward Bhame
Enough already! Christianity has nothing to do with public health rules. I hear now "if I die, I die" from people saying they are Christians. Mask wearing has nothing to do with your decision to take a chance on God keeping you safe. It has everything to do with you keeping others safe out of love. The true quote for non mask wearing people is "if I kill, I kill" since if you spread this virus to someone that dies from it you have killed that person! That is not Christian or for that matter should it be allowed. This is the second pandemic I have lived through and we learned nothing from the first one in the 80's to protect one another from each other. Then it was wearing a condom. Today it is wearing a mask. Shame on us for making this an issue and calling this restrictions on worship. God will judge us on how we deal with these trials. Where will you stand during that judgement?
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John Condron
Wow! Just wow!
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Atleast us humans have tools at our disposal.
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Dan Anderson
With technology being what it is, there is no reason why their "rally" can NOT be held online. To DEMAND that they have their rallies and church meetings in person is ludicrous, not to mention dangerous.
To those who are complaining about how "church is being taken away from us! Discrimination!", may I suggest you think about others as well as what your own rabbi, Jesus said about praying:
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:6 - KJV)
No need to go "bragging" about it.
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The Rev. William C, Millhouse
Methinks the Lady doth protest too much. He is only pissed because he can't pass the plate.
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Minister Carlos Ricardo Walls
Faith and christianity is 'Great',but where's the logic?Covid 19 is a real thing in our world.Don't put your life and the life of others in jeopardy?As humans we are fragile.Wake up people?
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Dan Anderson
Carlos - Absolutely true. The human animal is one of the weakest forms of life on this earth. Even the lowly mushroom can push away hardened soil on top of it so it may break the surface. Worms can burrow through solid soil. Humans have a terrible time to tunnel INTO sand, let alone through it.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Try using a bucket and a shovel the next time you're building a sand castle.
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Christian
We the faithful believers in God, reject the illegal and unconstutional forced needle injections of unclean filth into ourselves and our children.
For Our God demands we remain with a pure heart, and we shall never consent to the unclean filth of the world being injected into our blood.
The Righteous shall live by Faith. Our Faith is in our Creator, as is all our Born Free natural god given rights. We honor the 1st Amendment as Free People. We will never submit to being their slaves, being treated like property, and hereded like livestock by the forces of darkness.
Christ calls us walk in the light of truth. The Holy Spirit of Truth guides us along the Way of Love.So, We put all Faith in God and God alone, not paper masks, not tyrants, nor criminals, or dictators. Christ is our Brother, Christ is our Saviour, Christ is the son of God, and we all are the Children of God, Blessed be the name of our Father God ! We lift up our hearts, our souls, our lives, and our Love to Jesus. For Love is God, and we Live for Love and Love alone. By the Grace of God and God alone do we move, and live, and have our being.
1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ...Psalm 24:4
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.Proverbs 22:11
One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend. ... The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips--the king is his friend. ...Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ... God, create a pure heart in me, and renew a right attitude within me. ...2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ...
Psalm 73:1
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. ... {A Psalm of Asaph.} Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart. ...Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ... “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ...
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin"? ... Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? ...
Psalm 73:13
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?Psalm 78:72 He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands.
Hebrews 10:22 ...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. ...
Psalm 19:8
... The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.Psalm 94:15
... Righteousness will be restored with justice, and all the pure of heart will follow it.Love, Peace, and Blessings of the Way of Love be with you now, and always. Live pure in the Grace and Love of our saviour Christ Jesus. JESUS SAVES.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
My supremely powerful invisible sky fairy bends your imaginary old pedo( hey Mary was not an adult by my standard and that is all that matters) over and abuses him sodom style!
So trust me when I say your god with a really little g I hear, is very very dirty and unclean after what he got covered in afterwards. I hear he ended up in a G hole at a G bar later that night.
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Christian
ALL Liberty is essential, and our Bill of Rights are Universal Human Rights, our civil rights are always secure. Our pre-existing natural god given human rights and freedoms do not come with an 'off' switch. In the United States of America, WE THE PEOPLE Rule. Our Constitution outlines the limits put on our employees, our servants and helpers in the government. USA has no rulers, no masters, no lords or kings. The constitution is the supreme law of the land, and over rides any and all lesser authority. From it comes all authority, and thus unconstitutional mandates have NO Authority, by definition. We will not kneel before men, nor bow down to our servants and our employees. It is not a public park they are trying to shut down, it is our God Given Freedom they are oppressing. It is the Constitution and Bill of Rights they have attempted to restrict will illegal and unconstitutional starve-to-death in place police state lock down house arrest of 328 Million FREE CITIZENS of Our Republic. We simply say, No. No thank you. We are Born Free. We Live Free. and we Die Free. Our Life IS Liberty. We hold this truth to be self evident: ALL humans are created Equal.
We will worship the Creator of all things, as this is our purpose, to Love Life, Liberty, and Enjoy Happiness. Our very souls exist for this reason, our life is to live for our Creator, until we return to the Source of all Being.This is why the godless and the communists fear the Faithful and the Righteous, for us the body is our vessel, but not our selves. The Holy Spirit of Truth shines within us, the Living Power of Love lights our path. We will never submit. We will never conform. we will never obey the godless communists that demand we worship them. For they are our brothers and sisters too, not rulers, not kings. Those were abandoned since 1776.
So dear brave believers, Wave your American Flag High, with your good book in your hand, and peace and love in your Heart. As for me and my house, we shall serve God and God alone. Our god's name is Love, and we shall never abandon Love. Love creates us, Love binds us, Love gives us life, and our life meaning and purpose. From Love we come, and to Love we return.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
Oh boy you really are effing far far out there arent you. Let me put it this way, life liberty happiness in that order. If something puts my life at risk, and the only way to stop that threat is to deny your liberty then that is what has to give sorry. God has nothing to do with this country, our founding fathers were not christian at all. Not a one of the main ones. Most were free masons who put that orders agenda above all else, and that is simple fact not the crazy conspiracy stuff that goes along with it all.
You mentally ill types that clearly belong in an asylum with shock therapy and ice picks in the brain will go the way of the dodo. Numbers who claim belief in your delusion drop every year. It is odd you have issue with kings, as everyone including dear old king G at the time of our revolution had the sanction of the pope himself as a god mandated ruler right? Something actual christians are bound by their faith to adhere to. Fun fact the Pope and in fact all major church leaders of every christian church of the age condemned the american colonies revolting against their god given king.
Its just one of the many things that make you mad maga types so utterly foolish and hypocritical in the eyes of any one with a modicum of understanding of well anything other then blind faith and dogmatic mythology.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
It's people and events like this which give Christians a bad name. We never hear stores like this with Mormons and Muslims.
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Stewart
"The blessed Religion revealed in the word of will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institutions may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances, be made subservient to the vilest of purposes." [From an unused draft of Washington’s First Inaugural address]
"Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause." [George Washington, letter to Sir Edward Newenham, June 22, 1792]
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Krystina S.
No one religiolous person has the right to endanger others during a health pandemic. Not Christian, Muslim, Hindu or anyone else. That is not what freedom of religion means. He needs to shut his mouth and stop spewing Covid-19 everywhere. Following the Jesus Way is humble, protecting the homeless, NOT demanding to create an unhealthy situation that could kill others. What Would Jesus Do? Stop with the group yelling and singing sessions.
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flugo
'crusti': You've conveniently ignored the other valid viewpoint of Feucht's. Why wasn't the same restrictions/prohibitions that his group endured applied to the radical, violent Antifa/BLM misfits when they amassed many times? Why? You'd do well to be more objective with your blather!
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Ilmenheru Terikson
Oh what aboutism and insults from a flat earther who has in these very forums said they would rape their own sister if they did not believe god was real. That it is only their faith that stays their hand from acting out every desire and other such nonsense. No need to pay Flugo here any mind folks. The guys morality is as broken as it comes.
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Anisahoni
I agree with you 100%. flugo yugo is a troll, never adds anything of value here except blather and yet he believes we somehow respect his opinions. Best to ignore him, Maybe he will go away again for awhile.
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Janis Carol Sommers
Maybe, he was not allowed his concert because it was to be a maskless event. BLM and other groups wear masks. Big difference.
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Paul J. Fumero
Most religious fools think they can grab God by the beard and make him do what they want because they heard it in Church... LOL.... God is not bound to any Church Religion of Holy Book. But that fool will have to answer to his idiocy in light of a dangerous pandemic that has killed 200,00+ Americans. And yet they will say "the blood of Jesus will protect me", well that is grabbing him by the nuts trying to do do your bidding in defying natural laws. Beware of pretentious church learned attitudes.
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William G Hackathorn
Besides the fact that wearing your cute little face diapers provides about as much protection from a virus as a chain link fence does against mosquitoes, basic human rights are those to freedom of religion, freedom of speech (expanded to expression including peaceful protest) and freedom of assembly.
In the United States, these are first rights spelled out in our Bill of Rights.
In addition, the act of requiring masks in most cases was instituted by governors of states in violation to their own state constitutions. Laws are not made by governors, governors are not kings. Laws are made by legislatures. Therefore, gubernatorial mandates are unconstitutional.This again lends to the argument that NOT wearing a mask is a peaceful protest which is also protected in the 1st amendment. Even if, legislatures passed laws requiring masks, this would violate MY human rights and the first amendment's clause on Freedom of Religion in that I, rightly, believe that requiring a mask in order to buy and sell, is social conditioning to allow people to more readily accept the "mark of the beast".
The "control through fear" tactics being deployed by the enemies of freedom are is so "in you face" that to not recognize them for what they are has to to cause extreme cognitive dissonance. CNN, MSNBC and even FOX are not your friends. You are being laughed at as you cower in fear behind your useless face diaper and believe that everyone who died WITH the virus died OF the virus and that every case of the virus is a seroius infection or a death.
A few weeks ago, the CDC put out numbers which were immediately surpressed. Actual deaths due to the virus numbered 9,200. The number being reported id 200,000 deaths which includes a friend who had a farming accident in which a tractor rolled over his body. He was tested for the scary virus and found to have it. Dying of the wounds suffered shortly after arriving at the hospital, his death was counted as a COVID casualty and being that COVID is a national emergency, his family will not be able to collect his life insurance. But, the good news is that his death from a tractoe accident after testing positive for COVID can be used to keep you face diaper wearing sheep in fear and under control. WAKE UP!!!!
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Kenneth Paul Hargis
So in your learned opinion, the helmet, seat belt and any other safety law is unconstitutional. And you can't see how your logic is flawed?
Masks are not meant to protect you, taking that view demonstrates a narcissistic personality. Masks are to prevent spreading the virus to others. Jesus was not so self absorbed that he wouldn't make that connection and since he actually cares about others, he would wear a mask and not create a situation that could be dangerous to his flock.
Please, start thinking about others. Probably with a little more love and you would benefit greatly. You should also stop looking at those conspiracy websites.
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Robert A Stiff
Hackathorn: I doubt I have ever read a more scathingly ignorant message. Your lack of compassion, ignorance of fact-based science and baseless refusal to consider the rights of others staggers the imagination. Making up stories and promoting fake news in order to elevate your personal beliefs is beyond contempt. Here's hoping your anti-mask ignorance earns you what you deserve.
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John David Tice
Covid-19 is of course covered in life insurance. Hackathorn is fibbing or they bought insurance from some guy on a street corner.
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Stewart
Its simply a hey look at me non event .
Knowing prior to his call for everyone to show up and conveniently not getting a permit shows his using the situation as a poor pitiful me I can't do everything I want without following a known set of rules long in place .....
FAUX NEWS hurry and show my mistreatment by the heathen government I should not have ruled placed upon me only those that do not believe as we tell them too can be restricted .
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Paul J. Fumero
He is crying because his money stream has been interrupted.
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Stewart
Ah yes the only reason organized religion exists ....
To feed the clergy . Or too Quote a wise man . Whores perform the same function as priests, but far more thoroughly. [Robert Heinlein
The profession of shaman has many advantages. It offers high status with a safe livelihood free of work in the dreary, sweaty sense. In most societies it offers legal privileges and immunities not granted to other men. But it is hard to see how a man who has been given a mandate from on High to spread tidings of joy to all mankind can be seriously interested in taking up a collection to pay his salary; it causes one to suspect that the shaman is on the moral level of any other con man. But it is a lovely work if you can stomach it. [Robert Heinlein,
God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent - it says so right here on the label. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. No checks, please. Cash and in small bills. [Robert Heinlein, "
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William G Hackathorn
YOU should be crying because your rights are being denied, but that's not the "party Line" is it?
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Ilmenheru Terikson
Our rights go in order of priority life, liberty, happiness. You wearing a mask is not about protecting you, its about protecting those around you, about being a social and civil member of society and civilization. Your right to liberty ends where my right to life begins. That means if you do anything that I deem threat to my life, I am then in my right to deny you happiness,liberty, and ultimately even your life if that is what I see as a need to protect my own.
Lets use something maybe more your speed since you sound like a classic southern red neck.
Imagine someone is drunk as hell, and playing around with a chainsaw swinging away wildly without any concern for what is around them. You know if they get too close to you or anyone else they are a very real threat, so you then after seeing no safe way to disarm and contain them use a fire arm to shoot them dead. You did so because your life, and the life of others had been endangered by this one, and only by denying their own right to life, could you insure your own.
Wearing a mask is not some denial, it is no more then seat belt laws, public health and decency laws, and literally any other law that really only seems to have to exist because self centered fools think anything that tells them to care about others is a violation of their right to be a useless waste of a life hindering society as a whole for the rest of us.
News flash you are not a special snowflake. You do not matter more then the group as a whole.
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Minister Mike
So, this guy and his followers are christians, right? Didn't Jesus tell them to render unto Ceaser? Or did they miss that part? 🤣🤣
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
They always miss the parts that find them at fault.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
They missed that part. It's not part.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
The simple English pronunciation of this guy's name alone shows he's totally screwed.
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More from arrogant self serving loudmouth who thinks because he can sing that he is someone special.