I know I know, don't jump down my throat- the words in the title are not mine! Are you as shocked and disgusted as I am? Now that I've got your attention:
I recently received a message that included a media player video of a "Hannity and Colmes" show about a church. The Westboro Baptist Church to be exact. Members of this church stand outside of churches and funeral homes waving signs and chanting such things as, "Don't pray for America, Thank God for Dead Soldiers, and God Hates Fags." (which is actually the name of one of their websites. www.godhatesfags.com)
Because of the protests of this group many states are tryign to "combat" the problem with laws restricting protests within X number of feet of a memorial service. In defense of the church the ACLU has stepped in declaring the laws to be unconstitutional. This is where my problem starts. I fully stand behind the 1st amendment, and as I read somewhere, "I may not agree with your bumpersticker- but I respect your right to stick it." Although I am horribly appalled at the idea of chanting the things they and their religious beliefs go against everything I was ever taught or read myself- they have every right to do it.
This situation is so touchy and tricky. Although they are protected under the first amendment, they are violately "unwritten" basic human laws. Unfortunately there is nothing that anyone can do about that fact.
I am not sure what bothers me more: what they are saying or who they are saying to or about. It really disturbs me to see that this group of people are saying these things about the very men and women who lay their lives on the line for them to be able to say it.
I have posted some links below and the video can be found at the following link: http://thatvideosite.com/view/2178.html
You can visit the following links for more information on this group:
http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/05/03/aclu-defending-westboro-baptist-church/
http://www.chronwatch.com/content/contentDisplay.asp?aid=20731
http://www.godhatesamerica.com/
Hmm, that's really sad. I can't immagine why they think they should disrupt funeral servises or spread hate. It's so sad that many of our churches today have started to act this way, it certainly isn't pleasing to God at all. He love and grieves for each one of the soldiers killed & their families...and He loves absolutely everyone. God wouldn't have sent His son to die for a world full of sinners if He hated them.
There is no God, so so much for Phelps and his little inbred cult.
But...this is a war of aggression in Iraq, so the troops who are getting killed occupying it are getting what they deserve. So much for most of Phelps' critics.