How We Hate
This is wrong on so many levels, it is almost beyond belief:
Hundreds of area veterans have said they will try to shield Pvt. Jonathan R. Pfender’s family from members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., the Evansville Courier & Press reported today. Church founder the Rev. Fred Phelps contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays. Church members, who have protested at scores of military funerals, informed Evansville police Saturday it would protest at Pfender’s services Tuesday at The Centre.
Soldier’s Funeral to be Picketed (News Sentinel)
The great thing about this country is the freedom to have opinion, and to protest to give voice to these opinions. I would not advocate any adverse action against these protesters, but I got to think they are doing their mission a disservice.
First, preaching a message of hate towards gays is hardly a Christian message. If the country did not “harbor” them, what would we do? Kick them out? Take away their civil rights? What is it that the US is doing for gays anyway? The federal government does not even recognize a person’s sexual orientation as being a protected attribute (so you can deny someone housing, refuse them loans and insurance, fire them/refuse to hire them, all based on their sexual orientation without fear of a federal civil right suit (some states/cities do have protections)). Many folks will be alienated by this hateful message, but it is probably not intended for them.
But I cannot think of anyone I know who would not be offended by the use of a solemn ceremony like a soldier’s funeral for your private political goals. The protest group includes an attorney, Jonathan Phelps. He and Fred led a protest in Fort Wayne at the showing of the Laramie Project, a play about the University of Wyoming student who was beaten to death because he was gay. That protest, I can understand. The purpose of the play was to bring a message to town, against violence towards gays. The protest was a response to that message. That sounds like communication and debate. Good things in our society. . But protesting at a funeral? The purpose of the funeral is not to engage in a debate about the war, homosexuality, or anything else:
Mark Acker, the county veterans service officer, echoed the point.
“Our theme is we’re here to honor a fallen comrade and pay tribute to his family,” he said
January 9th, 2006 10:56
It’s Fred Phelps, Tom. (He says with his best “It’s Chinatown, Jake” impression.)
He even has his own wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps
(It mentions that his protest of the Laramie Project is nation wide.)
January 9th, 2006 11:16
Hmm. I have no personal knowledge, I was just judging by the article:
“Jonathan Phelps, a member of the church and its attorney, was one of eight people who protested, and explained the church pickets at all the funerals of the soldiers God sent home in his vengeance and wrath.”