BLUEPRINT the Religious tolerance applies to all belief systems

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STAFF

Editor-in-Chief

Skyler Glenn

Print Editor

Julia Sumpter

Online Editor

Janell Lim

News and Multimedia Editor

Nadia Knoblauch

Lifestyles Editor

Sophia Canabal

Opinions Editor

Greta Carrasco

Entertainment Editor

Angelica Mendez

Sports Editors

Ava West, Karson Cuozzo

Staff Reporters

Abigail Neal, Andrew Wilson, Joshua Krob, James Lopez, Madi

Denizard, Rachelle English, Kailey Calvo, Grace Hilton

Designer

Dylan North Adviser

Brit Taylor

Principal

Robert Frasca

The BluePrint Staff Editorial

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Since its origin, the United States has emphasized the importance of religious freedom—it’s the first thing granted in the First Amendment. This country is a melting pot of different belief systems, and they are expected to coexist in peace. Even so, religious hate has been in existence as long as religion. Much of this hate is directed towards less prevalent religions in the U.S., like Islam and Judaism, but also the most prevalent religion in the United States, Christianity, is subject to this hate.

In the U.S., petty hatred against Christians has become popular on platforms like TikTok. Users often refer to God as “Sky Daddy,” calling Christianity the “Sky Daddy fan club.” At first glance, it seems harmless, but it shines a light on a double standard. Calling Allah “Sky Daddy” would be seen as disgusting—rightfully so—and any other religion’s holy figures should be treated with the same sensitivity.

Much of the hate against Christianity stems from the idea that all Christians are homophobic, antisemitic, racist— the list goes on. Yes, fundamental Christians have been most commonly associated with attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, and that is not okay. But most Christians do not hold such bitter beliefs. Society has come a long way in terms of inclusivity, and that includes many Christians. It’s important to recognize that Christianity and most other religions are rooted in the idea of love and acceptance, not judgment toward others. Just because a few Christians are hateful does not mean that they all are, and assuming so is ignorant.

Recently, rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, gained media attention for his anti-semitic remarks on his Twitter and in his interviews. One of the many things he said was that Jews are only concerned about profits: “I just think that’s what they’re about, is making money.” When this happened, many turned to the internet saying that it’s repulsive for such a high-profile figure to spread offensive ideas. Still, some small groups supported his antics, spreading the idea that “Ye was right.” The bottom line: he wasn’t. He caused damage to an entire community based on a centuries-old stereotype, and his only consequence was losing a few brand deals.

Hateful speech, like Ye’s, is not acceptable toward any religion. What’s the moral difference between the internet agreeing with Ye and others calling Christians bigots? Both are untrue and harmful. Instead of putting entire groups of people down based on preconceived notions, we should focus on ending stereotypes and taking the time to learn about individuals and what they believe. Just as we should not hate on others for their heritage and traditions, we should not ostracize those who practice religion, including Christians.

No, Christians are not oppressed in America. No, Christians do not have it as bad as other religions. But this does not make hating on them okay. Jews should not be characterized as materialistic, and Muslims should not be called terrorists. These false narratives increase the existing hate in society that most “tolerant” people beg to get rid of. We must expand on the progress we’ve made towards inclusivity and love—not shut others down for their beliefs.

You People

On Jan. 27 Netflix released its newest original “You People.” With big names like Eddie Murphy, who plays Akbar, and Jonah Hill who plays Ezra, the movie had high expectations, which it did not meet. The movie eventually gets repetitive, trying to get viewers to laugh with the same repetative jokes just reworded. Not only does “You People” fail to bring fresh new humor, it attempts to show the struggle with cultural differences, but never fully grasps resolving those issues.

- Angelica Mendez