Misguided Fools

I have a deep respect for the men and women in our armed forces. While those of us who sit back here comfortably in our homes every evening can relax, we musn't forget that it's because of our brave soldiers that we have the right and the freedom to do it. Not everyone agrees with that sentiment and not everyone agrees that soldiers should be respected but what the 70 to 80 congregation members of the so-called "church" known as Westboro Baptist in Topeka, Kansas are doing at any and all events they can join across the nation is disrespecting anyone they feel they have the right to.

Now regardless of whether you support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or not, one thing that can't be denied is the fact that our soldiers are serving their country with honor and as such, when they have lost their lives, they deserve a degree of respect when they are finally laid to rest. However, the congregation from Westboro, led by their Pastor Fred Phelps, has been protesting the funerals of soldiers stating that their deaths are the result of God punishing the United States (and in turn it's soldiers) for the acceptance of gays in the military. Now I'm sure the sane among us are probably wondering what the real connection between the two things is and for what little knowledge I possess in my small brain, I'm unable to decipher it.

I find it despicable that Phelps, who as a priest and head of a church is expected to spread the word of God which I think most theologians will agree is one of compassion, yet Phelps chooses to spread words of hate at every given opportunity. They arrived to protest at the funeral of Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Maryland. Although they had sought permission to be in the area, their antics were so disruptive that Snyder's father sued the Church for mental distress and anguish. However, given that our Constitution allows for gatherings and protests of this type, the court ruled against Snyder and in turn ordered him to pay $16,500 to recompense the Church for their legal fees. Supporters of Snyder and his family raised the money but the fight continues and now it has gone to the Supreme Court to determine whether groups like those from Westboro Baptist can protest.

I don't know how the Court will rule in this case but I think that this is beyond the laws and comes down to simple human decency. How can anyone even consider this shameful act to be within the realm of human decency? If you believe that God is punishing the country for their stance on things you feel go against God's Will then why don't you do us all a favor and savor the fact that you will be saved when the time comes and the rest of us will suffer for it? What unnerves me about many religious fanatics (and that's how I'd classify Phelps and his congregation... many of whom are his children and grandchildren) is that they use God and religion to spread hate. It's a sad and terrible thing and rather than using religion to spread a positive message or offer support, by figuratively spitting in the faces of the families of those whose loved ones have given their lives to their country, they are having just the opposite effect.