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Sixty-five years ago, caskets filled of World War II soldiers landed onto North American
territory. Despite the feeling of despair, families and community members gathered together to
greet America’s fallen soldiers with cheers of celebration. Women and children held enormous
signs painted with words of respect and thanks. People bowed their heads to pray for those men
who had died fighting for their country. No one questioned the race or religion of these men, it
was a moment of honor for those who had passed. Most present did not even know any of the
supporters for those who had died defending their country (Alpers). If sixty-five years ago,
strangers can show respect for those who had died defending their country then why cannot
people of 2011 do the very same? My question, to those protestors, is when in our American
society did it become morally acceptable to disgrace the death of another human being?
As of March 2011, the Supreme Court ruled protesting and picketing military funerals as
legal, as it is protected under our First Amendment rights (FoxNews). Even though, identifying
the protesting as illegal would arise too many controversial issues violating amendments, one of
our countries very own Chief Justices openly admitted that the current actions of speech are
incorrigible. Following the final ruling, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. stated, “Speech is
powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and- as it is
doing here- inflict great pain (Knobel).” Inflicting great pain is exactly what the current rallying
“Our attitude toward what’s happening with the war is that the Lord is punishing this evil
nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime,” rebutted, a common
Westboro Baptist Church leader during a trial (Fox News). If this is the stake of claim, have we
not all been properly educated in history? As “Social Darwinism” states individuals, groups, and
peoples are subject to the same laws of natural selection to survive. Our country has been built
on one’s individual right to defend. Men and women have fought and died for years to just give
our people these freedoms; they have fought, murdered, and died just to obtain the ability to
practice this very right. Morals have been lost, but yet found again to establish peace and
stability for us, for our children, and the generations to come.
objection to a policy or course of action adopted by authority. The people being affected by the
protests are not in positions of authority; they are grieving mothers, widowed wives, lonely
friends, and confused children trying to lay their loved one down to rest in peace. Going about
picketing the funeral of a fallen solider is not going to make a difference in anyone’s life besides
those grieving loved ones. By disrupting the mourning process, the foundation of the Anti-War
movement is just creating fury, not support. Stop targeting that soldier whose found a career in
the war, who is happy to not have to struggle to find work to put food in their families lives. Use
a tactical protesting method of targeting the true decision makers of our country. Disrupt the
lives of that Chief Justice, the Department of Defense, and those Congressmen who pass
legislature on a daily basis without regret and a greater effect may occur.
Not every individual is going to agree or support our country at war. It is nearly
impossible for a country to have a united opinion on a cause. As a democracy, we are all entitled
to our own beliefs and the right to express those beliefs. By carrying signs covered in abrasive
words of hate such as, “God Hates Killers” “Thank God For Dead Soldiers” and “God Hates
Fags”, the action only becomes trivial (Paragould Daily Press). If the purpose of the protesting is
solely based upon our nation deserting morals then use a peaceful, ethical approach to create
action. Because the truth is, if we are really rallying for God we must remember God created
everyone.
Works Cited
Alpers, "Imagining a Democratic Military in World War II," Journal of American History (June
1998).
Knobel, Dale. "America for the Americans": Movements in the United States. New York: Twayne,
2010.
St. Louis Post- Dispatch. "Paragould Daily Press: Serving Greene County, Arkansas Opinion."
Paragould Daily Press: Serving Greene County, Arkansas Front. 10 Mar. 2011. Web. 18 Apr.
2011.
“Westboro Fights Back.” FoxNews.com. Fox News Network, 19 January 2011. Web. 17 April 2011.