Is it their right to protest, or is it an invasion of privacy?
SuzannePjam
Posts: 411
I think it is nasty, ungodlike and a complete invasion of privacy to protest at these poor fallen soldiers funerals.
Congregation plans to protest soldier’s funeral
Church says dead soldiers are God’s punishment for homosexual tolerance
JACKSON, Miss. - Members of a church who say God is killing American soldiers in Iraq because of the United States' tolerance of homosexuality are planning a protest at Saturday's services for Army Sgt. 1st Class Clarence D. McSwain.
The 31-year-old McSwain of Meridian died in Baghdad on June 8 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy, the Department of Defense said.
Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., have been going to funerals across the United States denouncing homosexuality and praising the deaths of Americans. The church's Web site says the group will be at McSwain's funeral in Laurel at 1:15 p.m.
"Thank God for IEDs," the Web site says. IEDs, or improvised explosive devices, is the military's term for the roadside bombs, which have taken a heavy toll on coalition troops.
"This is not the time or the place for that," said Ashley McSwain, the soldier's sister.
"This is about my brother and remembering him. They're not going to stop anything. It won't stop him from dying, and it won't stop us from crying," she said.
‘Like a shadow’
Ashley McSwain said her father, Theodis, is a minister at Gilfield Baptist Church in Alabama, and that her family knows that God would not punish her brother and family. She dismissed the tactics of the Westboro Baptist Church.
"I'll treat them like a shadow I saw out of the corner of my eye," she said Friday. "They're not even worth thinking about."
Clarence McSwain was an honor student and football player at Meridian High School. He took English classes at the University of Southern Mississippi before joining the Army 12 years ago.
This was his fifth overseas deployment and his third tour in Iraq.
Protest of the protesters planned
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcycle-riding veterans who attend the funerals to form a human barricade between the church members and mourning families, also plan to attend services for McSwain.
Jason "Waldo" Wallin, deputy executive director of the Patriot Riders, said the group feels obliged to attend the funerals that are targeted by Westboro Baptist Church.
"Quite simply, we're just a bunch of average Americans letting people know that they're not alone. And to let the families know that their soldiers’ sacrifices are not forgotten," he said.
The Patriot Guard is setting up a staging area at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Laurel.
Ed Baker, state captain of the Patriot Riders, said in a posting on the group's Web site that police have offered bikers escorts to the services.
McSwain leaves behind three young children, including a 5-month-old son he had met only once.
McSwain was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division based out of Fort Campbell, Ky.
Congregation plans to protest soldier’s funeral
Church says dead soldiers are God’s punishment for homosexual tolerance
JACKSON, Miss. - Members of a church who say God is killing American soldiers in Iraq because of the United States' tolerance of homosexuality are planning a protest at Saturday's services for Army Sgt. 1st Class Clarence D. McSwain.
The 31-year-old McSwain of Meridian died in Baghdad on June 8 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy, the Department of Defense said.
Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., have been going to funerals across the United States denouncing homosexuality and praising the deaths of Americans. The church's Web site says the group will be at McSwain's funeral in Laurel at 1:15 p.m.
"Thank God for IEDs," the Web site says. IEDs, or improvised explosive devices, is the military's term for the roadside bombs, which have taken a heavy toll on coalition troops.
"This is not the time or the place for that," said Ashley McSwain, the soldier's sister.
"This is about my brother and remembering him. They're not going to stop anything. It won't stop him from dying, and it won't stop us from crying," she said.
‘Like a shadow’
Ashley McSwain said her father, Theodis, is a minister at Gilfield Baptist Church in Alabama, and that her family knows that God would not punish her brother and family. She dismissed the tactics of the Westboro Baptist Church.
"I'll treat them like a shadow I saw out of the corner of my eye," she said Friday. "They're not even worth thinking about."
Clarence McSwain was an honor student and football player at Meridian High School. He took English classes at the University of Southern Mississippi before joining the Army 12 years ago.
This was his fifth overseas deployment and his third tour in Iraq.
Protest of the protesters planned
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcycle-riding veterans who attend the funerals to form a human barricade between the church members and mourning families, also plan to attend services for McSwain.
Jason "Waldo" Wallin, deputy executive director of the Patriot Riders, said the group feels obliged to attend the funerals that are targeted by Westboro Baptist Church.
"Quite simply, we're just a bunch of average Americans letting people know that they're not alone. And to let the families know that their soldiers’ sacrifices are not forgotten," he said.
The Patriot Guard is setting up a staging area at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Laurel.
Ed Baker, state captain of the Patriot Riders, said in a posting on the group's Web site that police have offered bikers escorts to the services.
McSwain leaves behind three young children, including a 5-month-old son he had met only once.
McSwain was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division based out of Fort Campbell, Ky.
"Where there is sacrifice there is someone collecting the sacrificial offerings."-- Ayn Rand
"Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead,
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed..."-- Elvis Costello
"Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead,
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed..."-- Elvis Costello
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"My lips are shakin'....
"And Love,...Wish the world would go again with Love
One can't seem to have enough."
www.myspace.com/jenlovespearljam
Untill their will grows tired
I have to agree. I think America is obsessed with "freedom". Yet, if the freedom is sufficiently unpopular - they forget the divinity of their freedom.
Protesters say soldiers’ deaths are God’s penalty for U.S. tolerance of gays
GREENBELT, Md. - The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters from a fundamentalist Kansas church filed an invasion-of-privacy suit against the demonstrators Monday.
It is believed to be the first lawsuit brought by a serviceman’s family against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members routinely demonstrate at military funerals around the country.
Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, is seeking unspecified damages. The younger Snyder, 20, died March 3 after an accident in the Anbar province of Iraq. He was buried in Westminster, Md.
“We think it’s a case we can win because anyone’s funeral is private,” Albert Snyder’s lawyer Sean Summers said. “You don’t have a right to interrupt someone’s private funeral.”
‘I want it to stop’
After filing the suit, Snyder said at a news conference that he hoped a hefty judgment would leave the church members unable to afford travel for more protests.
“I want it to stop,” he said of the protests. “I didn’t know there were people in the world who did that.”
Members of Westboro say the military deaths in Iraq are God’s punishment for America’s tolerance of gays. They typically carry signs with slogans such as “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God for IEDs,” a reference to the roadside bombs used by insurgents.
The church has inspired dozens of state laws banning funeral protests, including a Maryland law that did not go into effect until after Snyder’s memorial.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman for the small congregation, said it is the first time Westboro has been sued by a soldier’s family.
“We were exercising our First Amendment rights,” she said.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
"Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead,
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed..."-- Elvis Costello
Park City, UT 06/21/98
Mountain View, CA 06/01/03
San Diego, CA 07/07/06
San Francisco, CA 07/15/06
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.
www.bebo.com/pearljam06
The protest itself is fine (to each his own), but WHERE they are protesting is inappropriate and my God will probably send them to hell for this unbelievable bullshit. I never wish bad things on people... Well I do to these prejudice motherfuckers. I wish horrible things to happen to them. Karma is a bitch.
but in cases like this i always follow that with "and it's our right to call them insane, zealotous assholes who are a shame to the human race".
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
I was wondering if anyone knows if there have been counter demonstrations to their demonstrations...not to just add to the melee surrounding what should be a private time for families of the fallen soldiers...but just some kind of effort to put them down.
I'm surprised there hasn't been some violent reaction to them. I am no expert on protest or anything, but it seems that when an unpopular protest is going on, the other side is always countering it (abortion, gay rights, equal rights, etc.)....and when it gets to an issue that really hits a nerve, those get way out of hand.
Why don't you join me in following them only to kick their ass when they start protesting? Maybe piss or take a shit on them when they're down?
i think i heard that on Fox... that there are like 80-90 people in this and they're all from the same church... and that's when you know someone's off the deep end, when an anti-gay group gets shit on a fox show. (it was one of the guys like o'riley).
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
OH, man, I'm laughing my ass off! I would love to join you. Unfortunately, I really can't risk my job with an arrest, but I would support your leadership of a
Protecting Respect for Others' Funerals group. (Or just hiring some thugs...KIDDING!)
Yeah I'm not serious, but man it sounds ecstatic! I'd love to do it consequence free. Maybe I could get the pigs on my side for this one
Think I'd get good karma points on this one?
what the hell is wrong with people that they can not allow a grieving family some dignity at an already difficult time.
shame on you protesters
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
The gods would be proud.
Not their "god"
agreed.
it is in extremely poor taste imho, but sure, they do have the freedome to do so. it's just sad. :(
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
it's what they turned him into that i hate...
http://www.wishlistfoundation.org
Oh my, they dropped the leash.
Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!
"Make our day"
i agree it is EXTREMELY poor taste to protest at the funeral.
Violence is worse than protesting.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Depends who gets the violence and what people are protesting for. Protesting leads to violence. What happened in Germany started off as a bit of protesting. Al-Qaeda started off as a bit of protesting. The Klu-Klux-Klan started off as a bit of protesting. There is no unconditional right to protest nor should there be.
No - it makes no difference what the protest is about. Violence is worse than protesting.
These people are obviously very sick and I could not possibly disagree with their motives anymore than I do, but I do not support taking away their right to protest.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Then protesting is protesting, whether you're protesting for people to be killed for being gay, or protesting for people to be killed for glorifying homophobic killings.
the supreme court has upheld restrictions on various forms of protest based on their tendency to provoke or incite violence. it's called the "fighting words" doctrine. you can't yell fire in a movie theater. you have to maintain certain distances from abortion clinics. i think harassing a bereaved family who lost a loved one with signs saying "thank god for ied's" could pretty easily and comfortably fit under the fighting words and inciting violence response. they should be shut down or dispersed or learn to protest/demonstrate respectfully.