There was a time in my life when I thought our country could do no wrong; that our just actions greatly out weight the injustice. Despite people’s beliefs, I understood that the vast majority of America believed in the Golden Rule. “Treat others as you want to be treated.” I don’t think that now.
In New York City and around the country, Muslims are the having their First Amendment rights challenged over building their Community Centers and Mosques. Critics would have us pass judgment on all Muslims because of the actions of Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001.
As a Christian, I know I would not want to be judged by the hypocrisy of Pat Robinson or Frank Graham; nor, would I want my faith to be judged on the actions of the Dove World Outreach Center’s preacher, Terry Jones and especially, the folks of Westboro Baptist Church and their pastor, Fred Phelps.
Today the United States Supreme Court is hearing augments on the Westboro’s First Amendment right to picket military funerals and I truly hope the court will find in favor for Albert Snyder and his family, one of the victims of Westboro Baptist Church, but their decision is months away. However, the statements coming from the Court seem promising.
The critics of the Muslim Community Center, state that American Muslims should be sympatric of the victims’ families of 9-11. For the Muslims, their Community Center is seen as a place of peace, of worship and a place to build bridges between the different cultures of New York City; for them, it’s a place to begin healing the wounds of 9-11. This is quite the opposite of the Westboro Baptist Church, which is looking to destroy bridges.
The supporters of the Westboro Baptist Church, which include the Associate Press, American Civil Liberties Union, and several other churches and news organizations, cite that the law suit infringed on Westboro Baptist Church’s First Amendment rights; no matter how hateful and damaging their messages may be.
The supporters of Albert Snyder and his family state that Westboro Baptist Church infringed upon their right to mourn the loss of their son and they intentional inflicted emotional distress, among other claims. The Snyders stated that they had one day to bury their son and the Westboro folks took that from them.
The question becomes does the First Amendment trump human decency. For most of us who took Civic in High School would say no; well al least in this case. We learned that slander was not protected by the First Amendment, and neither was yelling fire in a crowded theater.
The Westboro Baptist Church carried signs with statements like, “God loves IEDs, God Hates Fags, Thank God for Dead Soldiers and God hates your feelings”. They also chanted these hateful slogans at the folks attending the funeral. Afterward, they posted similar hateful messages on their website. In the Snyder’s case, the post included an epic poem entitled; “The Burden of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder” and they addressed it to his parents. It stated that, “They taught him to support the largest pedophile machine in the history of the entire world, the Roman Catholic monstrosity.” And that Albert and his wife had “raised [Matthew] for the devil” and taught him “to defy his Creator, to divorce, and to commit adultery.” This seems slanderous to me.
The reason we don’t let people yell fire is to prevent others from being harmed. Most of the funerals that I have attended are very emotional. People are distraught over their lost. Mix that with protestors slandering their loved one and you have a perfect storm for violence. As seen on this Good Morning America report, violence has broken out multiple times with the members of the Westboro Baptist Church and the grieving family members and counter protestors. Violence started by either side should not be tolerated, but it should be expected.
I would like to think that you could have a rational conversation with Fred Phelps and ask him WWJD, what would Jesus do, but I know he wouldn’t get that Jesus is a symbol of peace and not hate.
Remember the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you want to be treated.”
