In an 8 to 1 vote the supreme court has ruled that it is admissible by law for people to picket funerals. Seems to fall under the good ‘ol free speech category. I truly believe that this is an extremely delicate issue, where the outcome could have surely created a domino effect that could lead to *gasp* a 1984-esque future. So I will go against Francisco d’Anconia’s advice and give my own, irrelevant opinion. (High five if you get the reference!)
First off, I think we can all agree that any person who chooses to picket a funeral is a little (perhaps a lot) sick in the head. (how effed up is that video?!?) I suppose you’re making a point by being grossly offensive and hateful, but the only hearts your winning are the people who are as sick as you...and for the rest of our sakes let’s hope that demographic is a minority.
As someone who is socially liberal, this is a difficult issue for me to grab a hold of. It is simply wrong to do what the members of Westboro Baptist Church did and I truly hope that whatever god they believe in sends them to whatever hell they believe in and they rot in it. If you are so inclined to be so deeply involved in a church that preaches hate, that is your prerogative, but let others live their lives as they choose. Your opinion of the lifestyle of others is irrelevant. Keep it for your own sermons and preach to your own screwed up choir.
However, I feel as though banning this type of behavior could possibly be the slippery slope that so many of us fear. I have to agree with Chief Justice Roberts that perhaps the best way to go about this issue is to create stronger, larger, buffering zones around funerals. I also have heard various stories where the communities have banned together to block or prevent this type of behavior. Yes you have a right to freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean there will be no consequences. I am not a religious person, but the shadow that these people are casting on christianity is sad and disgusting. These are the people Ghandi was talking about when he said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians, your Christians are so unlike your Christ”.
In America you have the freedom to be who you want to be, say what you want to say, have sex with whoever you damn well please and be happy about it. If you want something other than this, move somewhere else, please. I for one, would be overjoyed to see you leave our “sick country”. As so many politicians and pundits have said, freedom of speech is not negotiable. However, neither is our right as Americans to be free and choose what we want for ourselves. You do not have the right to tell me or anyone else how to live. Go create your own precious little Zion somewhere hidden far away from us...and you better pray real damn hard that what you believe is correct...because if not, the wrath of karma is coming for you...and I hope it beats the shit out of you.
For some interesting supplemental info, check out some of my favorite pundits..
How dare those legal and social commentators, who never miss an opportunity to praise the Jehovah's Witnesses for stretching the boundaries of the First Amendment, now condemn the Westboro Baptists, whose actions in our time are no more outrageous than were the actions of the Jehovah's Witnesses during World War 2.
ReplyDeleteDuring WW2, Jehovah's Witnesses specifically targeted the homes of parents and spouses of wounded and killed soldiers -- knocked on those doors -- and told wives, mothers, and fathers that their husbands and sons had died not only needlessly and pointlessly, but in support of a government which GOD considered His enemy and would soon destroy.
During WW2, Jehovah's Witnesses would show up at War Bond Rallies and spew the same garbage.
1940s Jehovah's Witnesses would park sound trucks across the street from public schools and during recess and blast the school campus with pre-recorded sermons decrying the Pledge of Allegiance. There were also instances of JWs going inside school buildings and passing out anti-Pledge literature to children in the hallways.
JWs also parked sound trucks outside of churches during ongoing services and blasted churches with pre-recorded sermons decrying church teachings.
JWs carried phonographs with pre-recorded sermons door-to-door decrying patriotism, Christianity, etc. During WW2, a WW1 veteran and then Deputy Sheriff ran two JWs out of his gasoline station after they started playing such a recording. One of the JW "pioneers" pulled a pistol and murdered the Deputy.
Post WW2, the WatchTower Society made a point of renting for conventions those facilities which had been named or renamed in honor of the WW2 veterans (Memorial Coliseum, Veterans Stadium, etc. etc.) so as to poke their fingers in the eyes of returning veterans and the cause for which they had fought, been wounded, or died.
1940s Jehovah's Witnesses would specifically target urban Catholic neighborhoods with door-to-door sermons and literature which defamed the Pope and other Catholic hierarchy, Catholic theology, etc.
The JWs of WW2 were the Westboro Baptists of today.
Make up your minds, commentators.
FACT SOUCE:
http://jwemployees.bravehost.com/NewsReports/2031.html
I didn't know that, thanks for your comment...and that's pretty screwed up as well...just more fodder to solidify my theory that religion does harm than good.
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