Letter: Christina Ferrero on ‘Hate is the scariest mask’

Dear Editor:

I began reading Jon Marquez’s column a few weeks ago after his controversial contributions made quite a stir on the campus. I picked up the Oct. 28 issue about five minutes ago and spotted the headline “Hate is the Scariest Mask.” Not even three paragraphs in, I was immediately startled by his comment, “Oh Jesus, this is what I get for sinning, isn’t it?”

I assume that if he had meant it to sound as if he were addressing Jesus Christ he would have placed a comma after “Oh”—so with the lack thereof, he must be taking my Lord’s name in vain. You may have found this to be a humorous pun, but I was deeply offended that Marquez made a hateful statement against my personal beliefs. I will advocate for freedom of speech any day, but the hypocrisy is irritating.

I have never been affiliated with the Baptist Church, and I can’t discredit Marquez’s statements about the Westboro members. If the claims that he makes about them are true, I can understand why he is upset—picketing funerals and saying that homosexuals in the military is directly related to a punishment from God are not actions I would stand for. However, if Marquez truly wanted justice he would not be spending so much time criticizing their style or referring to them as “little trolls.” Instead, Marquez is simply tossing poorly constructed insults around in the hopes of gaining a few cheap laughs.

In the end, Marquez doesn’t take any digs at the Bible, I appreciate that. But, Jon, I have found many of your statements, both in this article and others, to be intentionally cruel and hateful. I absolutely do not condone the acts of the Westboro Baptist Church, but when you mock and call names you are not any better than they are. You preach about hate being the “scariest mask” but end your article with, “I’ll show them how stupid they are…” Jon, what mask are you hiding behind?

—Christina Ferrero,
Freshman of Bayard