- Page 6. Over The Edge — February 17, 1997 Ave Maria ka-fuffle much- ado avant nothing? The Rise of the Right? Christian Morality Lurches into Hate? John W. McFetrick Berard called me a couple of weeks ago. “You interested in looking into a bit of hate literature?” “What the hell are you talking about now?” I glanced at my watch. “Do you have any idea what time it is?” I snapped. “Jesus...don’t you ever sleep?” “Never mind that,” he said. “Get down here. I need to show you something.” I hung up the phone. The Boss has been a bit jittery lately. He hasn’t smiled in weeks and I’ve avoided him altogether, if only for my own safety. On the other hand, whatever brought on this latest episode of personal trauma might well be worth investigating. I arrived at The Edge five minutes later. “This better be good. I haven’t got time for your psychotic ranting.” “Here,” he said, thrusting an envelope into my hands. “Read this. I’ll stand over by the desk, away from you so that your eyeballs won’t ruin my jacket when they explode from their sockets.” I emptied the contents onto the table. There were two pamphlets, each dealing with separate aspects of ‘homosexuality.’ I lifted one and immediately put it back down, stepping away from the table as though I had suddenly been poisoned by an invisible force. “What the .fuck is THIS?” Paul smiled. “The gang from PIRG sent it over. You might want to talk to them.” * ok ** * I spoke with Jenny. “Where did you get this?” I demanded. A thin smile appeared on her face. “Would you believe a health food store?” “Bullshit. Granola eaters love everyone. How is this possible?” ; She slumped into a chair and buried her face in her hands. “I know,” she sobbed. “We DO love everyone. I can’t understand how something like this could have happened. But this isn’t an ordinary health food store. Christians own and operate it.” “Christians? Who _ said anything about Christians loving everyone? And how did they get involved in healthy living?” Jenny shrugged. “Beats me.” She drummed the top of the desk with her fingers. I could see the wheels turning; Jenny is a shrewd thinker. If there was going to be a rumble with regard to all this, she would certainly be involved. Jenny is one of my favorite Righteous Shit Disturbers. “I’m going to call a meeting. Maybe we should organize a protest.” I laughed. “Against what? If these God fearing, homosexual hating freaks want to hand this shit out, they have every right.” She eyed me coldly. “Have you even read this? And they don’t hand it out. They sell it.” I admitted that I had not read the pamphlets. “You should.” FER REE HK I decided instead to check out the store. Once inside, I casually poked around, trying not te be obvious since I knew that many Christian Moralists tend to be extremely paranoid. I caught a couple of employees eyeing me suspiciously. I guessed they were expecting trouble. © Books on Fourth Phone 563-6637 Fax 563-6610 Toll Free 1-800-303-2950 1229 4th Avenue Prince George, B.C. V2L 355 ‘Application. The store shelves were lined with everyday health ‘items; natural soaps, vitamins and supplements stood out against the odd Honey-based foot deodorizer. I found a couple of packages labeled ‘Wheat-germ laxative’ and ‘Asparagus Hemorrhoid Treatment One Gloves sold separately.’ Right Wing Fundamentalists, I gathered, are a fairly tight- assed bunch. Towards the rear of the store, deep, as it were, in a carved out section that resembled a make- shift bomb shelter, I found the book section. Along with the usual ‘Make Peace with God’ type stuff were titles like ‘How to Avoid Hell,’ ‘What Will Hell Be Like?’ (I could only assume that this was or is a rhetorical question), ‘Feminist Religion’ and, a real zinger, ‘How to Get Along With A Fundamentalist.’ This tome went on for over 250 pages. A cursory reading of the first chapter suggested that there is no easy solution to this, a most perplexing dilemma. Another title caught my attention. ‘Gay Lessons: How Public Funds Are Used to Promote Homosexuality Among Children and Young People.’ Equally as dense as the others, this book illustrated some perceived agenda driven by ‘homosexual groups’ that proliferate the continent. Another section held titles like ‘How to Deal With Guilt.’ Finally. A book I could sink my teeth into. Buried under another pile was this: ‘Too Many People: Answers and Hope For the Human Family.’ The cover photograph showed three smiling Asian children. EE KEK KKK ‘Liberalism is a sin,’ said one book. ‘[It] is the monster of our times and a deadly heresy.’ That being the case, I thought it best to read the pamphlets. Jenny had them sealed in a special envelope she kept buried behind the Res. buildings under a hosp of iT ie nt'd T- ————— Staff Credits Editor-In-Chief Paul (Use the Force! Meet the deadline!) Berard Arts and Entertainment Editor Brandi (Want to write?) Baker Business Manager Sheila (Do you still have the plant?) Wanner Photographic Editor Emily Bulmer Catherine Kendall Copy Editor Vince (You cannot resist the power of the Dark Side.) Yim Writers Vince (Luke...1 AM your father!)-Yim Kevin (No! No! Mom said it was the mailman!) Milos Lennise (Become a Jedi knight, you will.) Mann Arron (She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts!) Oberman John W. McFetrick Brandi Baker Contributors Jason Layout Paul (If you strike me dot I shall become more powerful than you can even imagine.) Berard Travis (EUUUUUGGGGHHH...EUHHGGGHHH!) Alexander Vince (Your powers are weak, old man!) Yim Teryn (This isn't what I had in mind for a rescue!) de Smet Lena (Aren't you a bit short for a Storm Trooper?) 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