What to do about Westboro Baptist protestors?
"Never wrestle a pig. You both get filthy, but the pig enjoys it".
You know who WBC is. They're the people who hang around the funerals of soldiers and victims of tragedy with their "God hates Fags, thank God for dead soldiers" signs.
Recently, they won a court challenge granting their freedom of speech. Like KKK marches, like Republican hate tirades, their freedom to spew hatred and intolerance is part and parcel of our package of freedoms still left to us.
But I don't think we need to let families in shock and in mourning be subjected to their spite.
I've seen lots of thoughtful, clever, even hilarious counter-protests done over the years.
But I don't think that WBC is subject to shame, or humor, or even being challenged over their woefully inadequate understanding of the Bible.
So here's my suggestion: Let them protest, 300 feet away.
But some people of better will and sense should be allowed to counterprotest 270 feet away. They don't need to be clever or scripturally-sound. They just need lots of great big white signs, 15' tall by 4' wide, locked together and blocking the view of WBC's hate. If I were organizing this, I would suggest exactly 2 logos: " Amor Omnia Vincit" and "The greatest of these is love".
There's no need to be witty, or show how much more compassionate we are. A rabid hyena is wittier and more compassionate, and has a better understanding of Gospel. All that the counterprotest needs to do is allow the families of the lost to conduct their mourning in peace, with dignity.
You know who WBC is. They're the people who hang around the funerals of soldiers and victims of tragedy with their "God hates Fags, thank God for dead soldiers" signs.
Recently, they won a court challenge granting their freedom of speech. Like KKK marches, like Republican hate tirades, their freedom to spew hatred and intolerance is part and parcel of our package of freedoms still left to us.
But I don't think we need to let families in shock and in mourning be subjected to their spite.
I've seen lots of thoughtful, clever, even hilarious counter-protests done over the years.
But I don't think that WBC is subject to shame, or humor, or even being challenged over their woefully inadequate understanding of the Bible.
So here's my suggestion: Let them protest, 300 feet away.
But some people of better will and sense should be allowed to counterprotest 270 feet away. They don't need to be clever or scripturally-sound. They just need lots of great big white signs, 15' tall by 4' wide, locked together and blocking the view of WBC's hate. If I were organizing this, I would suggest exactly 2 logos: " Amor Omnia Vincit" and "The greatest of these is love".
There's no need to be witty, or show how much more compassionate we are. A rabid hyena is wittier and more compassionate, and has a better understanding of Gospel. All that the counterprotest needs to do is allow the families of the lost to conduct their mourning in peace, with dignity.