They say Opinions are like... Well, you know the saying. That is why I call this column -Opinion & Assholes-, because in my Opinion, these people are Assholes!
Funerals and Memorials Should Be Treated as Honored, Hollowed Grounds.
Published June 28, 2010
SplatterTribe Entertainment
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If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times. I thrive for diversity on SplatterTribe.TV. With that being said (again), I monitor a lot of what I say on here. I try not to state a lot of my own personal opinions because: 1.) They are just my personal opinions and 2.) I try not to alienate people (because I do have A LOT of opinions.) It is just how I want this site ran. I want to showcase diversity and my personal opinions are not always that diverse. It is what it is. I is what I is.
Another thing I have rambled about for years is the Music, Entertainment, Art & Life concept & I think it is time to bring a little more of the LIFE aspect to the Tribe.
Now, that brings me to this writing. I recently had to write this for a class and I figured since I already had it wrote, I might as well post it on my website. The
eason I don't mind posting this opinion is because I could give a sh@t less if I alienate these
people or anyone who may, for some stupid reason, support them. This article focuses on their protest of funerals and memorials.
BTW, there is a comment box at the bottom of the page if you, for any reason, feel the need. What do you think? Also, if you, yourself have any opinions or assholes you want to write about, feel free to contact the Tribe at tribe@splattertribe.tv - Primal
The Westboro Baptist Church, located in Topeka, Kansas has been pushing the limits of Free Speech well into two decades with their anti-gay protests at funerals and memorial sites across the country, but are funerals and memorials really a place for protests? The modern day United States of America is still ran and based around the ideas and principles put together over 2 hundred years ago, by our forefathers, in the US Constitution. We so honor our fallen forefathers that we follow those rules and standards set in that constitution, to this very day. Many Americans have given their lives to fight for those words over the past 2 hundred years. Our brothers and sisters are fighting and dying on this very day, in other lands, to honor this country and those words. Then, when they pay the ultimate price, when they give the last thing they have to give: their Life, our brothers and sisters get honored in their homeland by the shouts of "Thank God for IEDS" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers". These are the kind of protests that the Westboro Baptist Church prides itself on. This is how The Westboro Baptist Church shows their appreciation to the fallen. As Americans that live by the words of our fallen, we should not allow this to take place. Funerals and memorials should be treated as honored, hollowed grounds in this country.
Our fallen Americans are the ones that have molded our country, our world, our lives and our families. We honor our mothers and fathers by living by their teachings and passing them on to our children. We honor great visionary's by changing the way we view things or even by the changing of laws. Every time someone passes on, that is another lifetime of knowledge and experience left to us. We grow as people by learning from the mistakes and accomplishments of those lives. How many times have you, yourself, reflected back to a situation, or a conversation that you had with a family member that has since passed and realize that that person or that conversation had a direct influence on how you lived your life, or how you viewed life. Chances are we all can reflect back to someone from our past, family or not, that did have that kind of impact and we all honor those people in our own ways. We use photo albums, family trees and some even use tattoos to remember those they loved, that have passed on. People will often go to great lengths to keep the memory of their loved ones alive, but why then will we not go to great lengths prevent their disrespect on their final journey? Why will we not go to great lengths to protect our families from witnessing these horrible protests?
The Westboro Baptist Church hides behind Freedom of Speech. Don't misunderstand me, I am a true believer in Freedom of Speech. I think Freedom of Speech is a major reason why this country is the great country that it is. The thing about Freedom of Speech though, (and even by how it is described in the our US Constitution) is that it really does not have one true definition. The ability to speak your mind without fear or limitations…Right? Maybe. Freedom of Speech can be interpreted or misinterpreted in many ways. Does it really mean you can say anything you want at anytime you want to say it? No. You cannot stand on someone's property and be disruptive to them. You cannot enter a building that you do not own and be disruptive. You cannot enter a funeral home itself and be disruptive. These are all actions that could conceivably land you in jail. So Freedom of Speech does have it's limitations and interpretations, but how can this issue actually even be a true issue of Freedom of Speech anyway? Those being protested cannot even speak for or defend themselves and isn't that, in itself, Un-American? Freedom of Speech is allotted to everyone so that we can defend ourselves and our ideas. The dead can no longer do that, and because of that reason, these protests should not fall under the same guidelines as Freedom Of Speech toward the living and a precedence to the law should take place.
We all, as American's, have taken part in or witnessed the way our culture honors the fallen. I have witnessed some beautiful shows of respect at funerals and memorials. We have all witnessed and felt how much a passing hurts. I have also witnessed people be disrespectful and disruptive at funerals. I have not though, ever first hand witnessed a Westboro Baptist Church protest. I have not had to stand there and mourn the loss of a loved one while these people shout derogatory words in my direction. I have not had to drive in a funeral procession and see their derogatory signs facing my direction. So then how can I claim this as a personal issue? I can because I am a American, damn it and, I am a proud American
*. These soldiers are fighting for me and my family. I have witnessed the images on television. I have read the stories in the newspaper and on the internet. I see what is happening to those that are willing to die for me and it makes me angry as an American that I can't do anything about the disrespect they are getting, at home, from this group of hate infested people known as The Westboro Baptist Church. It makes me angry that they hide behind a constitutional amendment that, as I previously stated, should not be able to be hid behind in this circumstance.
In September of 2006, Coalition forces in Afghanistan did not attack a Taliban Funeral with prominent leaders in attendance. This was an operation that could have taken out a big chunk of our enemy. It was a very controversial decision by the Coalition Forces to not take this action. Most people realize that given the same opportunity, the Taliban Forces would probably not have came to the same decision. During and interview with NBC NEWS, Military leaders stated that this was an issue with the 'Rules of Engagement' and that "Coalition Forces... hold themselves to a higher moral and ethical standard than their enemies" (
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14823099/) What? You mean in a horrible situation like War, the most violent action of mankind, our Coalition Forces showed a respect for the dead and the mourning of, to our own enemy? Well, whether right or wrong and whether you agree with the decision or not, that is exactly what was done. Now, I know this is an extreme example. A protest is a protest and a bombing of 190 people is more than just a mere protest but, nonetheless, my point remains the same. Why is it that in War we can show more respect to the dead of our enemies and their rituals of mourning, than we can show to our own at home?
We respect our forefathers and fallen by honoring their words, laws, wishes and knowledge. In a horrible situation like War, we show respect to our enemies fallen, even if they do not and would not do the same for us, but we are allowing our own to be disrespected at home right now. Disrespecting our fallen American's should not be protected by Freedom of Speech because it is a one sided affair. The Westboro Baptist Church yells at those who cannot yell back. They scream at those who can no longer scream back. They disrespect those we should respect the most. Funerals and memorials should be treated as honored, hollowed grounds in this Country for those who have spoke for us, those who have spoke with us and those that have made us who we are. We, as Americans, can and should use our voice to say we will not allow this to happen in our country any longer and then we can finally give a voice back to our fallen.
*
I am a proud American, but I do have many issues with
our political system as a whole...MANY.
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