Westboro is coming...
The God Hates Fags church group ("picketers") is coming to Orlando this Saturday to picket at Army Sgt. John Osmolski's funeral.
I know that there are often counter-protests where compassionate people gather to form a silent wall between the picketers and the funeral so that the family and friends of the deceased soldier can have some peace. I want to know if I should look for a counter-protest group to join, if I should just show up, or what. I'm afraid that I don't have the best-qualified heart to be a counter-protester ... I'd be standing there shaking and seething with anger the whole time.
The police are going to lend their official presence at this funeral; that's a blessing. They don't always show up when the Westboro group pickets, therefore the need for counter-protesters at most locations. There's a group of motorcyclists who regularly show up as counter-protesters, and that's pretty cool! All those tough guys in their black leather, standing silently and staring down the picketers. I wonder if they'll come.
treyuncensored and Jessica are down here now; I wonder if they'd like to add a little Saturday-afternoon activism to their vacation schedule and go with me. Hmmm.
It's easy to watch this from a distance and say, "Oh, if they came to my town, of course I'd counter-protest!" But now they're here. What do I do?
Why must a family's most painful and private moment be turned into a lewd and disrespectful circus?! Why can't the picketers just stay home?! What motivates them to spend $250,000 a year of church budget to put on these shows? How can they possibly think their actions are condoned by God? I don't get it. I truly don't get it. It's so sad...
Song that speaks to me about how God would have us act: Under Bridges - Brave Saint Saturn. At work, we call this "The Great Command."
I know that there are often counter-protests where compassionate people gather to form a silent wall between the picketers and the funeral so that the family and friends of the deceased soldier can have some peace. I want to know if I should look for a counter-protest group to join, if I should just show up, or what. I'm afraid that I don't have the best-qualified heart to be a counter-protester ... I'd be standing there shaking and seething with anger the whole time.
The police are going to lend their official presence at this funeral; that's a blessing. They don't always show up when the Westboro group pickets, therefore the need for counter-protesters at most locations. There's a group of motorcyclists who regularly show up as counter-protesters, and that's pretty cool! All those tough guys in their black leather, standing silently and staring down the picketers. I wonder if they'll come.
treyuncensored and Jessica are down here now; I wonder if they'd like to add a little Saturday-afternoon activism to their vacation schedule and go with me. Hmmm.
It's easy to watch this from a distance and say, "Oh, if they came to my town, of course I'd counter-protest!" But now they're here. What do I do?
Why must a family's most painful and private moment be turned into a lewd and disrespectful circus?! Why can't the picketers just stay home?! What motivates them to spend $250,000 a year of church budget to put on these shows? How can they possibly think their actions are condoned by God? I don't get it. I truly don't get it. It's so sad...
Song that speaks to me about how God would have us act: Under Bridges - Brave Saint Saturn. At work, we call this "The Great Command."