Jake Naman, an 18-year-old Christian from Redlands, California, was in the crowd before Savage’s words turned ugly. In an interview with FOX News, he described the lewd and inappropriate commentary Savage presented to the students. But while Naman was becoming more and more uncomfortable throughout the speech, there was a specific point at which he knew that the rhetoric would come flowing — when Savage mentioned “the Bible.”
“The very second he said the Bible and paused, I knew it was going to get ugly,” Naman said in an interview with Fox News. “It was about to be a bashing.”
In a show of courage, Naman, who says he felt bullied (ironic, considering the catalyst’s “It Gets Better” efforts), stood up and walked out of the event.
“I felt like in my heart I couldn’t just stay there at all. It was a really weird feeling I just had to get out,” he said. “I didn’t want to cause a scene but I really could not stand to be in that room anymore.”
In retrospect, the teen has plenty to say about Savage and the appropriateness of his words, specifically when it comes to the standards that Christians are held to.
While Naman thought he was alone in walking out of the event, when he got to the lobby he realized that others had joined him. Among them was 17-year-old Haley Mulder.
“I never felt more hurt, felt persecuted,” Mulder explained. “For me, my faith is what I want to be defined by. For someone to say it was B.S. is really hurtful. I felt put down and bullied because of my faith.”
According to Naman, some of the girls were crying as a result of Savage’s comments. So far, the advocate has done little more than apologize for using the term “pansy assed.” Additionally, he is standing by his characterization of the Bible.
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30 Comments
It doesn't seem logical to claim victimhood when one is the creator and the reason for the war against homosexuality.
What Savage did is violate the 1st Amendment rights of children in an environment where they are supposed to feel safe and secure. The adults in the room that facilitated Savage's assault on the freedom of religion did so under the guise of a, as yet to be identified, official state sanction.
Investigations and penalties are warranted. If the Government does not step in shortly we should call upon the Alliance Defense Fund to intervene. This event was recorded with the intent of public broadcast which necessitate a heavy handed response to this brazen assault on the first amendment rights of lawful U.S. citizens.
The Freedom of Religion is the first class in the United States to ever be afforded Heightened Scrutiny protections; way before it was ever afforded to Race, or Gender.
Sad that these are the leaders in the Democrat party. all insane.
elias -There is no war against homosexuality; that's silly. There is, however, a war against marriage initiated by homosexuals. You can't initiate a conflict and then claim victimhood.
To the extent that there is adversity towards homosexuality, it is against the behavior, not the person. Same-sex attraction is an affliction that can be prevented, avoided, and/or cured. Same-sex "sexual" behaviors, like all behaviors, are a choice and can be avoided.
OvercameSSA - There is no war against Christianity, that's silly. There is, however, a war against homosexuals initiated by Christians. You can't initiate a conflict and then claim victimhood.
Christians have a right to only hear people say positive things about their religion. Dan Savage is a *monster!*
See what I did there? It makes just as much of a point, and just as much sense, as what you said - not much. Let's try finishing that: "To the extent that there is an adversity towards Christianity, it is against the behavior, not the person. Christianity is an affliction that can be prevented, avoided, and/or cured. Christian behaviors, like all behaviors, are a choice and can be avoided."
"It was a really weird feeling, I just had to get out."
That is the healthiest feeling in the world; it breads life, and all things good.
Thank you young men and women!
Of course Dan (and those who allow him authority) should spend some time in jail. Only because we don't practice the healthy use of flogging as a mode of judicial punishment.
A non-Christian, on the side of justice.
In case you haven't see the video, Dan's whole point is that if Christians can learn to ignore things in the bible, they can ignore comments on homosexuality.
Granted the use of inappropirate language was not required.
Little boy makes little sense.
First, I said that there was a war on marriage, not Christianity. See what I did there? I brought us back to the original subject.
Second: Marriage has existed for thousands of years, yet it is only within the last 40 or so that it has been attacked by homosexuals.
No one is attacking homosexuals or homosexuality; just their behavior.
Your attempt to turn the tables and make a reverse analogy fails. How are you going to do well on the SAT when you are so bad at analogies? Now, get back to class!
@carlos
I think the point here is that he does not have the right to even suggest what Christians should or should not ignore. But it is the way that he does it that makes me want to suggest to Christians that they should learn to not ignore the death penalty for blasphemy.
I think his only point was: “I have felt hurt by you, and now I'm going to hurt you to show you how it feels.” It is called revenge, for revenge sake.
Or, through his own experience, he has learned that bullying is indeed an effective way to change peoples attitudes. So he (and his leaders) feel justified with his bullying tactics, since his job in the end is to help change attitudes.
bravo good post
If I had been there, I would have been tempted to stone Savage to death. But I would still have a duty to resist temptation, just like homosexuals have a duty to resist their temptations.
Mr Ejercito, murdering Savage is against civil law. Being gay is not. Your comparison might make sense from a biblical perspective, but have fun selling that to the judge.
Let's not lose focus: the important thing here is to limit Savage's right to free speech because that speech hurt those Christians' feelings.
"But I would still have a duty to resist temptation, just like homosexuals have a duty to resist their temptations."
Even if I bought the discredited notion that GLBT people have a moral obligation to resist "temptation," the suggestion that that has moral equivalence to murder is beyond outrageous.
I thought the audience was there to hear him speak about journalism, not rail on the Bible. If he wanted to do that, he should have called the lecture, 'Why I don't believe the Bible'. He had a captive audience, so he decided to interject his personal feelings. Let him rail on the Bible if he wants, but he should have stuck to the topic of the convention for the reason he was invited. I'm afraid he has only hurt himself by the bad publicity it has caused.
If it was a captive audience, how did those students manage to walk out?
"Mr Ejercito, murdering Savage is against civil law. Being gay is not."
Niether is having more than one girlfriend, but that's no reason to legalize polygamy.
My heart and feelings go out to these brave fine young Christians and the courage they showed. They did not sit there and succomb to the bullying but fought back at the bully by walking out.
Sad to see that some of the girls were crying. C'mon Christian ladies the lord Jesus said if they have persecuted me then they will do the same to you. Be vigilant in your faith and be strong.
If Savage ever comes to an event where I live, then I am also walking out.
I wonder if he be prosecuted under a states anti-bullying law for persecuting, bullying and slandering people of faith. People of faith need to unite and let them know we will not tolerate religious discrimination.
The Bible also says: By their fruits you shall know them.
Yes, even before the age of DNA analysis and Statistics the Bible made a connection between the homosexual act (between two men or two women) and the immediate and also long-term negative consequences to society associated with that act.
It is scientifically now understood the act is an affront to the concept of gender, and leads to biologically and sociological negative consequences. Yet, there's nothing said in the Bible against friendship. Actually, the contrary.
See how the drones on this comment thread disregard the concept of gender, to their own demise? And they criticize us for being logical, while claiming themselves to be logical. It's common 'nothing buttery' syndrome- example: civil marriage is nothing more than a contract between two adult persons, which can be broken at any time. OK. . . then how come it is called a contract, if it can be broken by one side of the agreement? They claim to be logical, but all they have is analogies and ad hominem arguments. Then, they get mad (more) when they (a self appointed social class) doesn't get their way (from the majority). USA is by definition a country where the majority rules, not a king or duke or elite social class who supposedly knows best. Enjoy it while you can.
M. Jone
Slander: a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report
Nothing Dan Savage said was false. Nothing. It's all in the Bible
Sad that "christian" journalism students could not hear from an opposing view but the whole things was staged anyway. I mean, kids were leaving before he even mentioned the Bible.
MarkOH,
Savage stated that what is written about "homosexual' is "BS." The word "Homosexual" was coined in 1887 by one person in reference to a concept of life long same-gended sexual pursuits. The word did not exist in Biblical times; nor did the construct of exclusively life long same gender sexual relations.
Stating that this miscreant did not say the Bible was BS is disingenuous when everybod knows that when you condemn what is written in the Bible you are condemning the whole book.
You are not as clever as you think everbody else believes.
Randy, you're being disingenuous by playing semantics.
"The important thing here is to limit Savage's right to free speech because that speech hurt those Christians' feelings."
But let's the limit the right to free speech of those persons who don't believe in redefining marriage,
because it hurts the feelings of those persons who do believe in redefining marriage.
No double-standard, right?
Randy E King:
"The word did not exist in Biblical times; nor did the construct of exclusively life long same gender sexual relations."
Then why use the Bible to justify denying same sex couples the right to marry? If, by your own words, the idea of life long same gender sexual relations did not exist in Biblical times then God (who is all knowing, by the way) says NOTHING about same sex couples.
dn
"Christians have a right to only hear people say positive things about their religion."
OMG, wow. Do you have any idea what that says? wow. Bit much don't you think?
I was preparing to respond to one of your other comments when I saw this. Apparently there is no point. Is it just me, or is that the most intolerant statement that could ever be made. How do you NOMulans not understand that that is how you are coming across to the world at large. Where are you missing the point that the world at large is waking up to reality that your way of looking at the situation is what is creating the harm and doing the damage, just because you say so and you have the right to only hear what you want. Really?? Really??
People, please, I am not here to antaganize or attack. Just hoping that maybe at least one of you might see that there are other ways to look at things. It would be in the best interest to all of us if we could come to a mutaul understanding, but by your own words, that is not possible. I really would like all this to go away so we ALL can get on with our lives.
@eliasasm Here's a translation of your post:
"People, please, my intention is to disparage and attack those with whom I don't agree. It seems I am losing. The 1m1w pushers win. The LGBT community has failed."
Now THERE'S quality translation.
--Victor Golf Charles
Come on guys. This student walked out of a speech. Compare that to a gay child who is picked on every day at school. And by the way, I await for Brown to debate Savage.