Westboro Baptist Church
They are going to be protesting a funeral of a soldier killed in Afghanistan from my town on Thursday. I am not even going to go into them and their rights yet, but I first just want to reach out to any vegwebbers from Southwestern Illinois in the Alton, Godfrey, Wood River, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Collinsville and surrounding areas. PLEASE spread the word, tell everyone you can every body there will help.
Now, onto these disgusting fuckers. I have nothing to say as far as defending their rights, because as far as I'm concerned they are the worst of the worst and I know that's what free speech is about, but not at a funeral. Disrespecting the dead is one of the worst things someone can do. Mourning families should not have to deal with this kind of hate and ignorance. I come from a military family and this is the number one thing that pisses me off to no end. Not much is more despicable than protesting a funeral of someone who died protecting your LIFE. I truly hope they go to the wrong town one day and someone shuts them up for good. I believe in forgiveness but these people do not deserve mercy.
I like the response of people who set up camp across the street from the WBC. They collect donations to be donated to causes/charities the WBC is totally opposed to. In some instances, they've been able to collect thousands of dollars that would otherwise never would have been donated to some worthwhile causes - all because WBC is there.
See here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Of_2ykZpQ
Why the HELL is my Datebook post being moved, surely to here, when I REALLY need people to go there. It is an event. Not a debatable topic. It is something going on, that we need people to attend. Anyway, this is my response to a post:
A soldier died from injuries sustained while fighting in Afghanistan. This is their M.O., there is no reason. They go to funerals with ridiculous and hurtful signs, taunt grieving families until one of them gets punched out and then they sue. They win their lawsuits, which gives them money to keep harassing innocent families. They usually go to dead soldiers funerals and they just protested Elizabeth Edwards' funeral. They are not a real church, but somehow they are still tax exempt from the government, which means they can use all their dollars travelling across country to "make" more money.
Why the HELL is my Datebook post being moved, surely to here, when I REALLY need people to go there. It is an event. Not a debatable topic. It is something going on, that we need people to attend.
I see that you tried to invite people to the events around the country. You then went into sharing your opinions (which is totally cool). But opinions shared about a controversial group like WBC leads to debate and debates are held in Food Fight.
PS. I hope there is positive change in the hearts and minds of WBC. Their group always upsets me. :/
Why the HELL is my Datebook post being moved, surely to here, when I REALLY need people to go there. It is an event. Not a debatable topic.
Probably the Datebook is only for Veg*n events.
I come from a military family and am a homosexual....my opinion of these people can't be posted here and my loathing of these people scares me sometimes.
Humans are the most unpredictable and dangerous of all the Earth creatures... These ones = exhibit A.
My heart goes out to the family who lost their loved one, if I was near your area I would be there with you! Shame on WBC!
So, I just got back. There couldn't have been for than five of them. And there were hundreds of us. Flags for miles, and pretty much every business billboard had a message to the family of the solider. Very heartwarming, I teared up a little just driving to the protest.
So, I just got back. There couldn't have been for than five of them. And there were hundreds of us. Flags for miles, and pretty much every business billboard had a message to the family of the solider. Very heartwarming, I teared up a little just driving to the protest.
Very awesome. ;)b
WBC are my heroes.
WBC are my heroes.
<skepticism!>
I think... perhaps... I may not believe you.
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they're just quoting the bible people.
they're just quoting the bible people.
The Bible says "Thank God for breast cancer"?. What chapter?
I don't mean any disrespect but I have to say the WBC has given me some cofindence in the US. With all the additional security at the airports it feels like were selling our freedoms one by one. I don't think it's possible to have a free nation and not be offended or scared by all the jackasses out there. regarless of how absurd the WBC's words are, I think its important that there defended in the same way as any other.
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me."
Martin Niemöller
I don't think anyone here is saying their freedom of speech should be restricted; just that they're assholes. Theology supports tons of similar assholes around the globe, once you bend it right (er, wrong!)... I don't have a problem with either freedom of religion or freedom of speech-- quite the opposite!-- but personally, I use mine to avoid their church like plague and to assert that they are, in fact, assholes.
That quote is not about this, but about governmental control/ censure/ persecution based on personal things like religion & expression... and that's not the same thing as expressing personal opinions. Incidentally, I do think that at some point hate speech and incitement of violence warrant government intervention; WBC deliberately plays hopscotch with this line, and I don't think *that* is what Niemoller's quote is about either.
I agree it's good that you *can* say stupid hateful things in public, in the US, without being arrested; may it always be so! But that doesn't mean that you *should*... It's still stupid and hateful, so knock it off or be identified by your fellow Americans as assholes. I think that's fair.
well i've always understood the quote to be about protecting everyone including the freaks and or jackasses
i guess i wasn't saying that anyone was suggesting that we beat the WBC with clubs when they talk. just taking comfort in the fact that I live in a country that you can have such outragous veiws, exspress them in about the most offensive ways, and there is no government action.
i guess i wasn't saying that anyone was suggesting that we beat the WBC with clubs when they talk. just taking comfort in the fact that I live in a country that you can have such outragous veiws, exspress them in about the most offensive ways, and there is no government action.
I don't have an issue with them saying the things they do, I have an issue that they are basically harassing and terrorizing mourning families with the most ridiculously hateful speech. I believe in protesting and being an activist, but that is not what they are truly about. They quite literally live off of getting what they deserve by getting punched out by the families then suing them, so this is not a freedom of speech issue for them. Its all about publicity.
Meanwhile someone's family is traumatized by something masquerading as free speech. And yes, hate speech SHOULD be limited at funerals, at the very fucking least.