Hate comes in many forms, but so do heros!

Yesterday we drove up to the N.C. Apple Festival, which is held every year at the beginning of September.

This festival is growing bigger each year. Its held on the streets of downtown Hendersonville. We were walking along, and up ahead we heard a man yelling angrily into a bull horn, but could not clearly hear his words. As we got closer, it became apparent that he was spewing hate and propaganda towards and about gays, dopers and anyone who didn't agree with his point of view (i.e. sinners).

He had a couple of other men with him, following behind, holding signs while he badgered the on-lookers.

We stopped on the street corner to watch all this unfold. Several people approached these men, some individually, some in groups, most were obviously in disagreement with the remarks they were making. Sadly, some were in agreement.

But shortly, the most awesome thing, happened.

A group of "goth" teenagers, dressed in all black, with chains, and funny hair walked up on all this. They stopped, listened, and had one of the men basically get in their face and tell one of them he was going to hell. The group said nothing and peacefully walked away. We watched as they went to some of the nearby vender booths and returned with cardboard boxes. These kids tore the boxes apart and with a magic marker wrote words of peace, love and acceptance, and stood in the crowd silently holding their signs and the hate raged on around them.

The young man in the top photo is shown holding his sign which states:

Love Everyone, Stop Hate!

Many people appauled these kids, or stopped and shaked their hands.

I was one of the ones that stopped and extended my hand!

(cliking on photos will enlarge them)