The always controversial Westboro Baptist Church took their protests too far last fall, when they picketed a military funeral, displaying signs with phrases like, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers".
The case, first brought to the Supreme Court on Oct 6 was thought to be a potentially groundbreaking First Amendment case.
However on March 2, the Supreme Court ruled a sweeping 8-1 victory for Westboro Baptist's right in the case Snyder v. Phelps.
I am normally a strong believer in the freedom of speech, but I am more than dissatisfied with this outcome.
I feel that the Westboro Baptist Church has time and time again, abused this right, this time causing harm and danger to others.
If they would like to stand on my corner with their hateful signs or shout their beliefs at me while I am grabbing my morning coffee, so be it.
However, anyone who has lost a loved one would agree that protesting is awful as well as disrupting a private and personal procession.
Everything about the "congregation" is offensive, including their website's URL, godhatesfags.com.
On the homepage of their website, there is a video in which they are burning the Quran, as well, what in their opinion is the doomed American flag on September 11, 2006.
Homosexuals and Muslims are not the congregations only targets of discrimination and hate crimes.
In fact, they seem to distribute hate equally to everyone in this world.
According to the church, God also hates Lady Gaga, Haiti, Gerald Ford, Sweden, Nebraska and pretty much anyone besides the members of their congregation.
The website also includes a numbers section, where one can view their "statistics" such as how many people whom God has cast to hell since you have loaded the page.
Westboro stopped in my hometown, Long Beach, Calif. early in 2010 to protest.
When they arrived, my diverse community protested back with signs revealing ridiculous statements such as, "God Hates Mondays" or "God Hates Fig Newtons". I think it was a pretty decent way of showing the congregation just how absurd they truly are.
I have yet to find one decent thing Westboro Baptist Church has done to help anyone in this world, besides providing comic relief for the rest of us sinners.
Unfortunately the Supreme Court did not rule in favor of Synder, but in my humble opinion since the congregation hates America so much and most of the rest of the world, I suggest they move to a remote island where there are no homosexuals, Nebraskans or soldiers to discriminate against.
Although I am sure they would be found condemning coconuts and sea turtles to hell to cure their boredom.
Good commentary. 15/15
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about the Supreme Court decision. I understand the need to protect free speech, even reprehensible speech, but it is frustrating to have no legal recourse to such hateful acts.
I'm glad your community got creative and set up a funny counter-protest to this hateful bunch. Maybe that's the best response.