Is It Okay to Prevent Protesting at Military Funerals?
Senator Snowe, introduced a bill that would put tougher restrictions on protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers. by Rachel Lynn Robinson
(libertarian)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Is it right for someone to protest at a soldier’s funeral? Didn't the soldier die to protect the rights guaranteed to us in our Constitution? Not the least among these the right to free speech and the right to gather in assembly. It might be morally reprehensible but is it constitutionally acceptable for someone to stand out at a fallen hero's grave with a sign that states "God Hates Fag's"
It is morally reprehensible to think that God hates anyone. God by definition is pure love. Hate the sin love the sinner comes to mind or Judge not lest ye also be judged. How about when Jesus after coming upon the Prostitute about to be stoned to death for her sins, tells them "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Surely these individuals with the Westboro Baptist Church do not believe they are without sin. After all they proclaim not only to be Christian but to be Baptist and one of the most important beliefs of the church is that everyone is born into sin. It is only through seeking out forgiveness from the Father and believing in the Son are we able to overcome our sin and receive life after death. So a church that proclaims to believe in God, to believe in Christianity must believe that they two are sinners. Is it a sin to protest at a funeral? Hatred is a sin, so holding up signs that proclaim God hates must be a sin. It must be taking the Lords name in vain.
Still the main question is this, beyond whether or not the behavior of these individuals is reprehensible. Beyond whether or not it is sinful, the question remains is this behavior legal. Is it Constitutional? The Supreme Court says that it is. That protesting is allowed at funerals because it is protected under free speech and freedom of assembly. So what then do Senators Olympia Snowe and Marco Rubio hope to gain with passing a bill making it harder for protesters at Military funerals? Will this bill infringe on our rights? There is no arguing that the Protesters are wrong, that this behavior is vile at best. Still passing a law that hinders or prevents them from protesting will edge in on if not trample our rights as free citizens.
Could that be what WBC really is after? What could they hope to gain by these protests other than notoriety for the church? There has to be something more, and one can't help but wonder if it isn't the destruction of this country. One sign that a protester holds up is that God Hates America. If these believers truly believe that then they can hope for a passage of this new law because it might not stop them but it will further their agenda the destruction of America. Taking away the rights that makes America different from any other nation on this planet.
Recently in a written statement to Fox News, Margie Phelps the daughter of the Church’s leader and defense council who successfully argued the case in front of the Supreme Court stated; "these pandering perverts have no respect for the laws of man or God!" "This law is grossly out of bounds of the constitution. I don't know who the lawyers are advising these senators on this, but they need to be fired for incompetence."
She of course is referring to the Senators who would like to put an end to the protesting. It isn’t so much that they are wanting to stop the Protesting though, it is more complicated than that. Rubio’s plan is to still allow the Protesters, just not for an hour before or an hour after the funeral. Also the Protesters would have to keep up to 100 yards away from the funeral, the family and friends of the fallen soldiers. From this Ms. Phelps makes the argument that the Senators, Rubio and Snowe, are perverts. For what, for wanting to protect the dignity and sanctity of a funeral; it is amazing that people who believe that God hates America would consider someone who is protecting the dignity of a funeral to be a pervert. Climbing into the minds of these people is exhaustive.
We need to find a way to protect our Soldiers, protect their families, all the while not infringing on the rights that they gave their lives for. Soldiers do not want to see the pain that is caused by these protesters. Still, they wouldn’t want to see our freedoms taken away. If there is a way to prevent the protests without infringing on the rights of everyone else we need to find it. We need to protect the right of free speech even if we disagree with what they have to say. We need to protect the right to assemble, even when those assembling are abusing that right to harass the families of hero’s.
Perhaps that is the answer to our question. One has the right to assembly according to the Constitution; do they have the right to harass? Rubio and Snowe say that they don’t have the right to harass, and they are hopeful, even if this bill doesn’t get passed there is a similar measure pending in the House, and Sen. Rubio expects quick passage, saying no one in their right mind could vote against this bill.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of Rachel Lynn Robinson only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Rachel Lynn Robinson is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
