Demonstrators would be barred from disrupting military funerals at national cemeteries under legislation approved by Congress and sent to the White House.
The measure, passed by voice vote in the House hours after the Senate acted, specifically targets a Kansas church group that has staged protests at military funerals around the country, claiming that the deaths were a sign of God’s anger at U.S. tolerance of homosexuals.
The act “will protect the sanctity of all 122 of our national cemeteries as shrines to their gallant dead,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.).
Fred Phelps doesn’t really deserve this attention, but I think it’s the right thing to do. I know, as a strong proponent of the separation of church and state and free speech I seem like a hypocrite. But in my old age, I’m getting a lot more mellow.
One of my heroes, Will Campbell was a participant in a debate on the death penalty. After listening to his opponent explain why putting persons to death was Biblical and reasonable, Campbell was asked to present his case. He simply said, “I think it’s tacky.”
Amen Will. I think the death penalty is tacky too. Unless maybe it’s for Fred Phelps! (Just kidding!) But surprisingly, I think that flag burning and protesting at military funerals is tacky too. I don’t get offended if you burn a flag. However, a lot of folks who sacrificed a lot do get upset. Because of this, I think it’s best to display your dissatisfaction with the country in another way. Bitch and complain all you want. I’ll probably join in. But a lot of nice folks hate to see the flag being burned. There, I said it. Guess I’m not such a tree huggin’ liberal after all.
Protesting at any funeral is also tacky. Leave poor grieving families alone! If it takes an act of Congress to get Phelps to shut up then so be it. I know the slippery slope argument. Forget about it. We’ve already given up way too much of our personal freedoms to start complaining now.
Write a comment