The First Amendment: Not For Everyone

I feel like I’ve spent a lot of time this week ranting. Truthfully, it’s kind of exhausting, and I fear that if I’m not careful I could spend my entire life being indignant (I’m thankful you all are here to take up arms with me). At least yesterday’s Halloween respite was a pleasant breather.

Now on to more Zizzle-Zot wrath…

I was watching Good Morning America while eating my Frosted Flakes today and a story came on that instantly had me steaming from the ears. The segment was my first introduction to the congregation of Westboro Baptist Church, hailing from Topeka Kansas. Why did this small collection of Evangelicals catch my attention?

I’m glad you asked.

Led by Rev. Fred Phelps Sr, the 75 church members (most of whom are related to Phelps) have been touring the country and protesting at the funerals of dead soldiers.

Phelps and his congregation believe that disasters including Hurricane Katrina, the attacks of 9/11, and the quagmire in Iraq are God’s punishment for a country that tolerates homosexuality (the group first gained national notoriety when it demonstrated at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was beaten to death in Wyoming in 1998).

Holding signs that read “Thank God for IEDs,” “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” and “God Hates Fags,” the group spreads their message of hate amidst the tears of grieving parents. They disrespect men and women who have given their lives to serve a cause they believe in. The protests aren’t concerned with the war. They aren’t pacifists who disagree with war on moral grounds. They are celebrating the deaths of innocent young soldiers out of a pathological hatred for homosexuality.

I don’t feel the need to explain or justify my outrage. I’m ashamed that these people assume the label Christian, and on behalf of all Christians, I’m sorry.

Nearly 30 states have passed laws making it illegal to protest within 300 feet of a funeral, laws which Phelps believes are restricting free speech and are therefore unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union agrees. Caroline Frederickson, director of the ACLU’s national legislative office, stated that “We’re paying close attention because of the First Amendment implications and [we] may be prepared to criticize legislation that restricts people’s lawful right to express ideas, as distasteful as they may be.”

Normally, I’m an avid supporter of free speech. It’s an amazing thing to live in a country that offers citizens the opportunity to express their beliefs, and rigorously defends their right to do so.
But these people are desecrating the funerals of brave young soldiers to spread a message of hate. They are using the name of God to further a personal agenda that is pointedly un-Christ like.

I’m strongly considering the possibility that some people don’t deserve the First Amendment.

Thanks for reading.