I have emerged once again from my Facebook Cessation due to a news report that brought a solemn sigh of relief to my heart. It has been reported that Fred Phelps Sr, the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church has ceased to exist on our planet. I'm not one to celebrate the death of another, but there are a few exceptions to be made, especially as the world may just be a better place without him.
For those of you who are not aware of the Westboro Baptist Church and their practices, I can try and quickly sum it up by explaining a firsthand account with them as their young children stomped on the American Flag outside of a Military Funeral that I was Honored to be a part of the Rifle Detail, while they shouted through a megaphone that that the Soldier, killed in Iraq, was "A faggot" and "would burn in hell."
While our ceremonial rifles were just that, ceremonial, unfortunately so were the rounds inside as we fired off blank ammunition to honor the fallen member. We were granted some satisfaction, however, as the Patriot Guard was in full force and revved their motorcycle engines to create a grumbling and cackling roar that at any regular funeral would be considered disruptive in it's own accord, but rather welcomed with applause as the engines and exhaust pipes drowned out the despicable nonsense of these ignorant souls who are apparently motivated solely by hopes of citizens infringing upon their rights, allowing them to use the law to their advantage and gain some type of monetary compensation from the families who they know are getting the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance for the loss of their Loved one.
After my family lost one of our own, brother, husband, uncle, and son in 2007, the WBC had made plans to be there, as I had checked in with the Chief of Police in our small Nebraska town and confirmed that they had the permits. I found out where they were going to be protesting, and had the funeral procession routed in a way that would avoid them. I spoke as much as I could to the concerned family and friends and instructed all persons not to engage in any conversation with these ingrates because that is exactly what they are looking for, and that I could guarantee the impersonal things that would be spewing from their mouths would be taken extremely personal and would evoke a rage inside you that may not be able to be squelched during the time of grieving. Fortunately for our community, the WBC members apparently didn't want to bear through the frigid Nebraska cold as they did not show. The Patriot Guard was there in full force, forming an impressive flag line, nonetheless.
If anything is to be said to these people, a "Thank You" may just be the strongest thing I could conjure. As much as my inner Marine would rather see the entire "congregation" cast into the underworld, a more mature and mindful me would say "Thank You." "Thank you for reminding the world of how free American Citizens truly are, as you are free to speak your atrocious and uncivilized nonsense during the funeral of the very person who died for that Freedom."
I'm not familiar enough with the inner workings of the hierarchy of the Westboro Church, but I would be more than pleased if this death marked the cutting off of the head of the slithery snake.
Either way, the world just lost a dark soul, and is a little brighter because of it. May his influence quickly diminish.
-Robert Kugler
SSgt USMC Retired
No comments:
Post a Comment