Funeral Protest = Huge FAIL!

When the U.S. Constitution is used to back something so anti-American as protesting at soldiers' funerals, it's pretty much safe to say that this country has taken a turn for the worse. Today, the Supreme Court backed the Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist church that holds anti-gay protests at soldiers' funerals, saying the First Amendment protects them. I must be missing something here.

Yes, I believe everyone has the right to free speech, but to go so far as to say it's okay to protest at the funeral of someone who died for you and your right to freedom is disgusting. Men and women volunteer to join our armed forces. We haven't had a draft since Vietnam, and it's the choice of American citizens to give their time, and in many unfortunate cases, their lives to protect this country and what we stand for. I look at it as a form of treason to protest at the funeral of someone who died for me and for OUR country.

According to the Westboro Baptist Church, U.S. members of the military are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the U.S.'s tolerance of homosexuality. Have what opinions you may, but people are who they are. America doesn't "tolerate" homosexuality. America lets people be who they want to be, who they need to be. That is what America is all about and what this great nation was founded on. The Pilgrims came here in the 1600's to escape religious persecution. The Irish came here in the 1800-1900's to escape persecution. The Jews came here during World War II to escape persecution. So many others have come to the U.S. to escape persecution and to start new lives. Lives of freedom, happiness and security. And now we have people who were born here, American-born citizens, who are being persecuted in their own country. That goes against everything we as a nation have worked for, built and maintained.

People may think because I'm Catholic, I should be against homosexuality as well, but I'm not. I have many friends and acquaintances who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and I have no problem with that. I certainly don't feel that soldiers are dying because of my friends' lifestyles. Soldiers are dying fighting an unfortunate war against people in other countries who do not share our views (people who will probably never share our views). These soldiers are sacrificing their lives so that we can go to sleep at night knowing we are safe and that all we hold dear as American citizens is safe. They fight for us, not against us, no one should ever doubt their commitment to the cause.

It turns my stomach to know that people deliberately travel the country to hold signs outside of soldiers' funerals that say things like "Thank God for dead soldiers," "You're Going to Hell," "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11." Who are they to say what God feels for us? Who are they to judge us and say who's going to hell? "Thank God for 9/11?" How would they feel if they lost someone that day? I know too many who did, and everyday is a painful one knowing that your friend, mother, father, son or daughter died in such a horrible attack. The physical damage is being fixed and rebuilt, but the emotional damage will never quite heal. And to poke a hot iron into the wounded and broken hearts of those who lost someone in battle is just as appalling, immoral and disgusting.

Margie Phelps, a daughter of Reverend Fred Phelps, said this of today's Supreme Court ruling, "I think it's pretty self-explanatory, but here's the core point: The wrath of God is pouring onto this land. Rather than trying to shut us up, use your platforms to tell this nation to mourn for your sins." And to that I respond, you know nothing of the wrath of God and let he who is without sin cast the first stone. When was the last time you read the Bible Margie (try John 8:2-11)? As I recall, all those who were the accusers were also the sinners! YOU are the ones making this country look bad.

Do us a favor Westboro Baptist Church: shut up, stop using the U.S. Constitution to pollute the country with your verbal defecation and foul attitudes and leave the judging to God. That's why he is God. We have all sinned at one time or another in our lives. No one is perfect. Some can find their way and find God, some never can, but judging someone based on who they spend their life with is not your call to make. When the time comes, whether it be a natural or untimely death or full on Armageddon and Judgment Day, God will be the one who decides who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. And I honestly doubt He'll really care what the Westboro Baptist Church has to say about it. You don't like that? Then get the hell out!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

For more info on today's Supreme Court ruling, click: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110302/ap_on_re_us/us_supreme_court_funeral_protests