Grieving in Peace
As America continues to be involved in the Global War on Terrorism there are those who are making the greatest sacrifice one can make for their country: their life. Truly answering John F Kennedy’s call to “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” (ThinkExist.com Quotations) by sacrificing their lives in order to defeat terrorism. Those who have sacrificed their lives for us are not given the proper respect by being buried in peace because of a “church”. Funerals are a time for family and friends to honor these heroes, pay their final respects and offer a time of peace, not a time for picketers to spread their message. Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is doing the unbelievable by picketing and protesting at funerals. This church chooses to target military funerals holding signs with anti-gay and anti-soldier sentiments in order to spread their message. This is why we need to establish new laws or policies banning or limiting protesting and picketing military funerals.
Westboro Baptist Church is a small church from Kansas who has become known world wide for their radical thoughts and beliefs on homosexuality. The church’s main message is “God Hates Fags” which they believe “is a profound theological statement, which the world needs to hear more than it needs oxygen, water and bread” (GodHatesFags.com). Shirley Phelps-Roper is the church spokeswoman and says “members want God to punish Americans for tolerating homosexuality” (Hagerty). Since the military allows homosexuals to serve in the Armed Service it has become a target for WBC. Often protesting military funerals with signs such as “Thank God for IED’s” and “Soldiers Die and God Laughs” (GodHatesFags.com). ...
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invigorate your senses and teach you valuable lessons. War destroys thousands of lives, but yet, the heroism of our fallen allows us to enjoy a privileged lifestyle, but their sacrifice often goes unnoticed. For this reason, Georgie and I have chosen war for our theme. Bruce Dawe was born in Fitzroy, Victoria and is one of Australia’s most highly regarded poets. While serving in the air force, he was infuriated by the senseless slaughter of the Vietnam War. This motivated