Westboro Baptist Church (I use their name only to identify them; I respect them as neither Baptists nor a church) is the horrible group that pickets any high profile funeral it can, be it soldier, celebrity or politician with their vitriolic signs such as "God Hates Fags." Their rhetoric makes no sense and they abuse some of the civil liberties we have left (freedom of speech, freedom to assemble) to torture innocent, grieving people. They embody evil to me, and because of the nonviolent methods they use, have gone unchallenged for quite some time.
I recently learned about this group, The Patriot Guard, which has taken up a mission of its own. They literally surround the evil protesters like a macrophage cloistering a virus. Equally nonviolent, yet equally determined, these people block the evil-doers from the sight of the funeral participants. As the video shows, Police officers apparently appreciate and respect the turnabout.
I applaud the Patriot Guard and I am so grateful they exist. Regardless of how I personally feel about the war, what they do is necessary to honoring the hearts of our citizens. This is a Good Work.
Wow. I guess I've had my head in the sand(for good reason, it seems) but I had never heard of those horrible westwood baptist idiots before. They sure as heck don't speak for my God! Good for the Patriot Guard putting a stop to that shameful show of hate and ignorance! As you said, no matter our feelings about the war itself, we need to respect the soldiers doing their jobs, and the families grieving their losses.
ReplyDeleteMy mother always said that "Just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean it's right to do it." These hateful Westwood people have the right to protest, but they are clearly full of hatred and are doing something shamefully wrong. The Patriot Guard has the right to shield the families, and they are doing the right thing here. Thank goodness for their patriotism and compassion.
ReplyDeleteI HATE when people like this give Christians a bad name! UGH!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are radical fundamentalist in all religions. To me, these people are no different than those that "evoke" the wrath of Allah on the US for "our ways". It is the same with these Christians, who feel that the wrath of God is coming down on the US for "our ways"
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that none of them see God as a loving God, as a healing God.
Patriot Guard members ride in our Veterans Day parade here. It makes me cry just thinking about what they do and the true love of country they have.
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