Let me start by saying that I am fully aware that the first amendment of the United States outlines the freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembling of petition.

I am not usually an overly opinionated person, but recently, there has been one thing that has truly riled me up beyond comprehension: the Westboro Baptist Church.

They are taking advantage of these basic rights.

The Westboro Baptist Church first came on my radar when I saw on Twitter that they were planning on picketing funerals of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting; after further research, I was astounded.

Here are some of the things the “church,” based in Topeka, Kan., has done to land themselves in recent news. (Which, I believe, is fully to get a rise out of people and seek attention with their baseless opinions).

After the tragedy in Newtown on Dec. 14, they planned to picket the funerals of the victims. Why? To “sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment,” in their own words. They blamed the mass shootings on Connecticut’s same-sex marriage legislation. Their website, after all, is godhatesfags.com.

Luckily, motorcyclists lined up at Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung’s funeral to protest the protesters, and there was no longer any sign of them. However, this “church” put an unnecessary stress on an already tragic situation, and more of a burden to bear for the mourning families.

The church did not blame guns, or Adam Lanza or anyone else for that matter, they blamed Connecticut and their gay rights. Not to mention, in the wake of a tragedy, the Westboro Baptist Church made it about themselves and their opinions.

What plagues me so much about this is that in no way was the Westboro Baptist Church mourning and reflecting on upon this tragedy. They were capitalizing on it, trying to gain attention from others’ distress.

On Friday, April 15, they put out a press release claiming, “Thank God for 12 more dead troops. We are praying for 12,000 more. We will picket their funerals in their hometown in a respectful and lawful proximity thereto. Here is the Roster of the Damned: [they proceeded to name all the lost along with their hometowns.]”

It makes me sick to my stomach that anyone could be so senseless as to celebrate the deaths of American troops who are fighting for our country. Whether you are a conservative or a liberal, agree or disagree with war, these men and women are brothers, sons, fathers, daughters, mothers and sisters.

There are families who are in mourning over their losses — after defending the honor of their country, nonetheless, and a “church” wants to picket their funerals.

Not to mention, calling fallen soldiers “the Damned” and wishing for more to come is despicable in itself.

In addition to all of these disgusting things, the attack on Boston that occurred on Monday further fueled their fire.

A tweet went out shortly after the bombings took place (because the WBC can’t even wait a day): “BREAKING: Westboro Baptist Church to picket funerals of those dead by Boston Bombs! GOD SENT THE BOMBS IN FURY OVER FAG MARRIAGE! #PraiseGod”

These bombs were an act of terrorism (whether it be domestically or internationally based) on America, our country, their country. They killed three people who were watching the marathon and injured countless more. This joyous day for Bostonians and Americans, for the runners and the spectators, turned into terror.

However, what we can take positively from these atrocious acts is the fact that it brings more attention to the people who are suffering the brunt of their actions.

For example, this is most likely the best time our nation has ever seen for the LGBTQ community, and it will continue getting better. Saying that these tragic events are because of them is laughable at best. They are just as a part of America as everyone else is.

Here is some other good news. Two of the granddaughters of the leader of the church, Fred Phelps, left the church in the past months, adding that they did not mean to inflict the pain they had on others. Additionally, after the WBC threatened to picket these funerals (just like after Newtown), their Facebook page was hacked by the activist group Anonymous. Well deserved, I believe.

I am not a fan of placing judgment on others, and as much as I truly do not want to give these people the attention they are so desperately seeking, I think it is something that should be discussed, but briefly. I believe there is a difference between being religious and being fanatical.

So, for the sake of the mourning families of victims of both Newtown and the Boston attacks, please, Westboro Baptist Church, go away forever. Media outlets, the next time they pull a stunt like this, ignore them.

 

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