I've been kind of following this story about the church members who picket the funerals of our dead soldiers from Iraq, claiming that God hates those dead soldiers and is punishing America for our sinful ways, and causing untold amounts of pain to the families of these dead solders. There is something inherently evil in the actions of these picketers. Yes I do believe in freedom of speech, but leave it to people like this to take the issue of freedom and twist it to their own selfish beliefs. The father of the dead soldier in this article has successfully sued the protesters and was awarded $11 million in damages. Will this stop the protesters? I doubt it. They will just claim that it is satan working against their good works and continue it, claiming their faith makes them strong. Why can't people like this put that kind of faith to good use instead of causing pain to innocent people?
Where should the line be drawn? Countless soldiers have died to protect our right to speak what we believe, but is this taking it too far?
I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian home. I have never been one to judge others for having beliefs of their own, but so many Christians do. My mother, as much as I love her, is one of those people that would be labeled "far right." I do not talk politics to her (actually its just about impossible to as she goes on a rant anytime politics becomes a topic of conversation). She believes what she believes, and I respect her right to believe, but I don't feel the need to follow her blindly. Luckily for me, she doesn't disown me for our differences, or for the fact that one of my best friends is a lesbian, or for the fact that I will be living in sin with a man without the benefit of marriage.
Do the kids in the above picture follow their parents blindly? Probably, as they are just children and haven't had the chance to form their own opinions. I don't blame them for what they are doing, but I do blame their parents for raising their children with such vitriolic hate toward anyone who believes differently than they do.
Somehow the above picture makes the world seem a sadder place.
3 comments:
These assholes would make good targets.
Amen, sistah.
I hadn't heard about this, but agree with you completely. Those poor kids don't stand a chance to grow into decent, kind people, and will probably include other kinds of hate crimes in their repertoire soon.
It's cruel and disgusting. And the father will never collect any money because these misguided people probably don't have any.
I don't believe in Bush's war, but I feel nothing but gratitude for the Americans fighting it because they are trying in their way to make the world better, too.
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