Hate - in the Guise of Religion

I usually don't write about religion, not because I don't like talking about it, I do. I love to discuss religion and learn about all religions. However, I usually don't write about it for fear that what I might say could possibly and inadvertently hurt people about whom I care.  I actually respect anyone's religious beliefs as long as it isn't used for purposes of hurting others. Religion should be about good, not evil - love, not hate.

But this group deserves all the indignation and insult that can be brought against it.

Less than 48 hours after the Connecticut school shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, which took place on Dec. 14, the Westboro Baptist Church is already making plans to picket. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for picketing and protesting at funerals across the country.“Westboro will picket Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment,” Shirley Phelps-Roper tweeted on Dec. 15.“They need to come back to Oklahoma,” Bryan Weathers, from Moore, said. “We know how to take care of them here.”“Westboro 'God hates Fags' Baptist Church is planning to pciket at Sandy Hook, to praise 'God's judgment,'” Margie Phelps tweeted as well on Dec. 15.The Supreme Court ruled that it is legal for the Westboro Baptist Church to picket funerals. Despite that ruling, many cities and towns have passed laws that force the Westboro Baptist Church to stay a specific distance away from funerals.Westoboro Baptist Church is known for carrying signs that read “Thank God for dead babies” and the like. It is unknown what kind of signs will be seen, if the Westboro Baptist Church actually pickets in Newtown, CT.

This group's purpose, it seems, is to cause more pain, where pain is already intolerable. They first came to light by picketing and spewing their brand of hate at funerals of soldiers killed overseas. And what makes it worse, is that our Supreme Court has ruled that they have the right of free speech to do this terrible thing.

I am not saying that they don't have the right to believe whatever they want, but I am saying that they shouldn't have the right to infringe on other's rights. They should keep it among their own congregation and their own people. They should not have the right to inflict pain on parents, relatives, neighbors and a town (if not a country) who are already suffering the worst possible kind of grief. I have always believed that the rights granted us by our Constitution were only ours until they started interfering with the rights of others.

We need to start focussing less on the letter of the law and more on the intent of the law. Once again I am embarrassed that the highest court in the country has condoned this evil act.