Semper Fi Fags

     In 2006, members of Westboro church picketed in an anti-gay protest at the funeral of fallen marine Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Maryland. The protesters claimed that God was punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" by killing the soldiers. They shouted at the grieving family, and carried signs saying "Thank God for dead soldiers," "God blew up the troops," "AIDS cures fags," and "Semper Fi Fags." The Snyder family decided to sue the church for invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy. In the link above, the spokesperson for the church, Shirley Phelps-Roper and a reporter for Fox News, Julie Banderas, get into an argument about the church's actions.

     They quote different parts of the bible, including, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbour, and not bear sin because of him." and "Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Yes, we're supposed to argue for what's right, and yes, the bible does tell us what is morally considered a sin, however you chose to interpret that. But I think that ultimately, we must let everyone choose for themselves what is right and what is wrong, and we must love them for that. I believe that Christianity is distinguished from other religions by the belief that someone died for our sins, so that we could be forgiven. I think the message of Christianity is forgiveness, to forgive and accept each other. Tolerance is the greatest thing one can do. 

     What bothers me in this clip is that neither of them listen to each other. They're both so convinced that they're right that they don't pause for the other, they simply repeat their beliefs and call names. Before I make the wrong point, know that I side completely with the reporter's point of view, but you cannot expect to change someone's point of view just by yelling at them. 

     In the fall of 2007, the Snyders were awarded  $2.9 million in compensatory damages plus $8 million in punitive damages, which were later reduced to $5 million. However, the church appealed in 2008 to a federal appeals court, which reversed the previous decision and argued that the church's free speech rights had been violated.  After more appeals, the case was brought to the Supreme Court this year, in Snyder v. Phelps.

     In March, the court ruled in an 8-1 vote that members of Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote "a broad-based message on public matters such as wars." CNN anti-gay church right to protest

     We live in a country where stranger can tell a grieving father at his son's funeral that God hates his family and killed his son for defending a country that tolerates gays. Ironically, the country they hate so much has protected their right to do this. We live in a country with free speech. Whatever that means.