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Originally Posted by KatzPajamas
First of all, I am not sure what it accomplishes to protest at the funeral of a soldier that did nothing more than serve his country. The dead soldier cannot change a thing about what he did or why he did it. It is too bad that there are people who without compassion for the grieving family.
However, to prohibit the right to protest anything...In the United States constitution, it states 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'" Does this law go against the freedom to assemble? From what I can find out, they have been non-violent assemblies.
Isn't it just possible that certain soldiers died to protect this freedom?
On the other hand, I would not want to have to face God someday and explain why I had stood "peaceably" with such a hateful message on a sign, at the funeral of one of His children.  |
I think you are right, KatzPajamas. The US Constitution does give the Westboro Church group the right to do what they do. It isn't politically motivated, from what I've read and from conversations I've had about their agenda with people. It is totally religious based and it is their belief that the US has strayed from God's will by acceptance of gays and we are being punished with dead soldiers coming home.
Anyway, they have every right to do what they do and I'm sure soldiers and other people like you and me would understand and fight for that right to assemble and protest.
But I'd also fight and honor the right of people within a state or community the right to pass a law saying these assembles must take place a certain distance from a funeral out of respect for the families and the ceremony. I'd fight and honor the rights of parents to bury their children, a husband or wife the right to bury their spouse or children to stand peaceable at their parents graves and weep without signs calling them horrible names saying they are going straight to hell.
Let the Westboro Church take their protests to another location further from something as sacred as a funeral. Even the Nazi's had enough respect for the dead to not desecrate a cemetery.