Saturday, December 2, 2006

I Just Don't Get It, Again

This one is a bit different than the last "I Just Don't Get It". This one has to do with those protesting folks from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. These are the people that protest at the funerals of soldiers who have given their lives in the line of duty. In the story in todays headlines, an American Indian soldier was killed on Thanksgiving day in Afghanistan and his services are going to be held on a North Dakota reservation. The Tribal Leaders of the reservation have passed a resolution that bars these protesters from entering onto reservation lands.

The thing what irks me most about these protesters is that they claim that the lives of these soldiers doing their duty were taken as a form of punishment from God for the way our country tolerates homosexuality. HUH? WHAT? I have to tell you, this makes no sense whatsoever to me. NONE.

I can see protesting the war as being wrong. I can even see someone using the grounds of religion for saying that homosexuality is wrong. But where in the world would someone come up with the idea that God is punishing soldiers who are doing their duty? I don't see any correlation in this. And to protest this at a soldiers funeral is just plain WRONG to me.

These brave young men and women have done what they are called to do, and it is a severe form of disrespect to protest in this manner at their funeral services. I love this country and it's freedom that are enjoyed by all. But, I just don't get these people.

I just wanted to let you know how strongly I feel about this subject. I hope I got my message across clearly enough. Sometimes putting into words what I feel can be a challenge to me. To put it in the right words anyway. Till next time BYE!!

10 comments:

Crazy Working Mom said...

This happened in Arkansas too. Those people came here and stood right across the street from the funeral home and protested and had horrible signs! I felt so bad for the family. For people like that to even have rights is wrong. But, the worst part about it is that they had YOUNG children out there reciting horrible things and carrying signs that said even worse! I am with ya, buddy I just don't get it either. I don't care what my faith or beliefs were, I could NEVER disrespect another human being as these people do!!!

Great post...got my blood pumpin' this morning.

Anonymous said...

Ok.. I'm going to be a fence sitter on this one.

I'm in total agreement with you on the subject of our soldiers (alive or dead) deserving our country's respect. And I personally do not think God is punishing them.

On the other hand, due to the "freedoms" accorded to those who live in this country, they do have the "right" to do this.

Shelby said...

I agree with you Mike. It is disrespectful - at the funeral for goodness sake.

Michelle said...

I agree that I don't understand what the hell homosexuality has to do with any of it. I do agree that it's very disrespectful to tarnish someone's funeral with nonsense.

Of course, they DO have the right to do it, but it's hard to commiserate with them if they are going to be so disrespectful. Maybe they need to figure something else to protest or another way to do so. I, personally, think what they are doing is disgusting and it kinda makes me mad that they are trying to say that God would punish soldiers for something that has nothing to do with what they're doing during war.

John Holland said...

I agree with you. The problem is these people thing that they have God on their side so anything they do is right. I agree that they have the right to protest, but the problem I see is that a funeral ia a private matter, not a public forum where you can protest. That's like someone coming to your house to protest when you sit down to eat. You have to have some rights too.

Also, just to let you know I haven't forgotten you tagged me. I'm working on it. Maybe that's one of my weird things...I take these things maybe a little too seriously and am trying to come up with six good answers. Plus I just did a 24 hour work day, so my brain isn't exactly functioning at top level. (And no jokes about it never functioning near there either :)

Gene Bach said...

It's uncidtionally disrespectful and shows that these individuals have zero understanding of what their religon is supposed to be about. Be interesting to see what their reaction would be if someone erected shops specializing in pornography on either side of their church and advertised with thong-clad beauties on Sunday morning. In fact, it might be interesting to see if a large group of those beauties would be willing to start attending the services EVERY Sunday until the "enlightened ones" decided to back off? I'd pay to see the reaction on their faces.

Chelle / Chel said...

I'm with you, Mike. Sure, they have a right to freedom of speech, but they are infringing upon the rights for others to mourn in peace. I think people take this freedom of speech thing way too far when it comes to the sanctity of other's experiences.

Chelle

Unknown said...

We have a right to agree or disagree with our leaders. We have the freedom of speech to make public outcry of our disagreement or agreement of our nations leaders. Those who have died bravely and respectably in the name of our nation had the right, honor and dedication to our country to serve in the name of freedom that we so cherish.

Do not dishonor our honored dead or honored living service members by desecrating their last ritesor their right to serve. I do not feel that this is the proper forum of a display of disagreement with our leaders by shaming and belittling our dead.

Whether we agree with our governments policies or not, funerals for our honored dead will be the last memory of that person for the friends and family who are mourning the loss. Adding to the trauma of the loss of a loved one is wrong and this whole manner of demonstration of a groups dissatisfaction with our government is only hurting the families.

If they wish to send me letters and tell me they aren't happy with the war. So be it. If they wish to go on television or the internet and tell me about it. Go for it. Don't try to impress me by creating shame and ridicule on those who don't make the decisions.

This is kind of long winded for me but Right is right and wrong is wrong, and to me this just isn't right.

Good Post.

Later Y'all

Jeni said...

I agree totally with the freedoms as most everyone else has stated here.

But, there is a time and place for everything and disruption of a funeral - for whatever reason - is showing total lack of respect for the dead, whether that person was whatever - massive sinner or superb saint - it makes no never mind!

As to the belief that the war is punishment by God for the liberal attitude they perceive with respect to homosexuality - give me a break! Change the channel to something besides Pat Robertson and his ridiculous drivel.

Anonymous said...

This has less to do with religion, than small petty minded people who enjoy causing pain to others - oh wait, that is what organised religion is about. Tolerance? Don't make me laugh.

I'm not sure I go for the 'rights' argument either - seems that argument is used more by people seeking to cause pain & distress than do something constructive. You have the right to bury your child in peace. You have the right to protest about whatever you want, just do it somewhere else.

As was mentioned earlier, the saddest part is the little kids being forced to partake in this abuse - more young minds brain-washed to a life of intolerant bigotry.

Sickening.