[ OPINION ] What is NOT persecution of Christians

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JWs are obsessed with the idea that they’re being persecuted. If someone they’re preaching to is mildly rude to them or, sometimes, if the person just says they aren’t interested, that’s persecution. It’s so silly. A lot of it comes down to their need to feel special.

They like Bible passages like this one at Matthew 24:9-14:

I've always disliked street preachers.

I once saw a street preacher yelling about Jesus and how no one can change her mind about God. She always did this. Same freaking spot. All the time. Like clockwork.

I braced myself but to my surprise a man approached her with a big but clearly annoyed smile. He told her that he thought he might find her here and that he'd made a presentation to argue his case. Then he opened a large zip bag and assembled a small stand for paper. Frankly I was almost tempted to cancel my plans and watch the debate.

I walked by hours later and he was still there, talking at the preacher who was protesting that he was persecuting her.

...Which, no. I'm sorry but if you stand there yelling that no one can change your mind, you are asking for a debate.

It's one thing to wear religious symbols, attend church and have your own beliefs. It's quite another to take to the streets and yell at strangers for no good reason. I don't blame that guy for snapping. I think we were all tired of her antics.

She never did come back.

About 15 years ago I made a post saying roughly this.

My gnoses are mine own and nobody else's business.
I'll thank you to keep yours to yourself too.

I personally think public proselytising should be a prosecutable offence.
I'm tired of people waving their faith in my face.

Well...it does imply that actually.

You have the freedom to choose your religion, and you have the freedom to opt out of religion itself (and be an theist, or to just play golf on Sunday and not think about it).

But I agree that freedom of and from religion doesnt mean you can cancel the freedom of speech of others.

And there have been gray areas of freedom of speech. Like with that kid in that school...the school went all out on supporting LBGTQ week with banners etc, so this one kid sported a T shirt that said "there are only two sexes". And he was summoned to the office to explain that choice of shirt. Just hassled. Nothing happened. But still it seems like legit freedom of speech to me.

But thats a far cry from "Christians being PERSECUTED in America".

You have the freedom to express your religion as you choose, whether or not anyone else objects to it, right?

Others also have the freedom to express their religions as they choose, whether or not you object to it, right?

Right?

Please provide a link to the American law that says no one is allowed to express their religion, or the American law that says only one religion shall be expressed.  Before you do, however, let me remind you of a well-known fact:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...", says the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.