“Thank God for Dead Soldiers”
Son,
The distorted logic used by some is maddening. It is hilarious when poked at by the likes of Mark Twain who said, “I left the South and they lost the war.” Two separate events connected by insanity. Humor is found in the ludicrous and the absurd – Mark Twain understood this. This failure of logic, of cause and effect, is lost on the religious right.
Yesterday saw some justice. The family of a fallen Marine was awarded $11 Million in punitive damages by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the privacy of a the family and inflicted emotional distress when they picketed the Marine’s Funeral.
The ‘Reverend’ Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, has convinced his congregation that the U.S. deaths in Iraq are punishment for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality. Whoooeeee! Their strategy is to picket funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as “God hates fags” or “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.” The defense posited that funerals are public and the protests are protected under rights of free speech. My notion is that funerals are rather private affairs.
The damages are far beyond the means of the defendants, Reverend Phelps and his two adult daughters. The strategy of the court is to put Reverend Phelps out of business. I congratulate the judge and the jury. This is an example where tort reform would have been a disservice to our country. These wackos need to be put out of business.
The First Amendment to the Constitution, the first in our Bill of Rights, protects my right to write this blog. It does not protect my right to yell ‘FIRE’ in a crowded theater, to burn a cross in my neighbor’s yard, or to condemn my neighbor’s son at his funeral.
The insanity goes on and on:
Global Warming is a farce – Hurricane Katrina was caused by sin.
Global Warming is a farce – California wildfires are caused by sin.
Kill and torture others to reduce violence.
Beat our children into being strong and confident citizens.
The World Trade Center was attacked by God.
Blow yourself up and get 72 virgins.
Save lives – kill the abortion doctors.
Use War to spread democracy.
Mark Twain understood the real farce of demented logic. Later in his life he was called a cynic. Better that he is not alive today.
[wp_youtube]Pi77koTk8mc[/wp_youtube]
Dad
Comment by nicolen on 1 November 2007:
I totally agree with your sentiments. However, the Supreme Court has, historically, upheld the rights of racist and bigoted groups to say what they want wherever they want to say it. In today’s climate, racists and bigots call for the assassination of government officials, and incite others to violence on a regular basis – without interference. Will the court uphold this finding? I don’t know, but I doubt it.
Comment by Ohg Rea Tone on 1 November 2007:
nocolen,
These are troubling times. It seems that we sometimes lose our concept of humanity – and what it means to dignify another person simply because they are a person.
Ohg
Comment by angelawd on 1 November 2007:
“The First Amendment to the Constitution, the first in our Bill of Rights, protects my right to write this blog. It does not protect my right to yell ‘FIRE’ in a crowded theater, to burn a cross in my neighbor’s yard, or to condemn my neighbor’s son at his funeral.”
Thank you for putting it this way. You’ve helped me clarify this in my own mind. What a crazy world we live in. I’m thankful that so many people are able to see that Phelps’ version of Christianity is insanity.