by Tabitha Easley

Created on: August 25, 2008

What a Christian is not? Well, I know we are not suppose to judge, but these are my feelings on the subject. A Christian is not; anyone who chooses to attend Westboro Baptist Church and participate in their picketing of the funerals of our fallen soldiers, our actors or anyone else for that matter.

I just came upon an article about Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. I had no idea there were people doing such things out there to families and their loved ones. Apparently these groups of church goers have been doing this anti-gay picketing of funerals for several years now. What makes them think they have the right to do such a thing during a family's worst time of pain and sorrow?

This group even has little kids out there on the sidewalks holding this hurtful signs. They are claiming that God hates America, along with gay and homosexuals. Who are they to judge?

It is because of our brave soldiers and military over in Iraq that we can sleep at night. They are over there in the mist of bombs and gunfire, risking their lives for us. They deserve all our support, not a hateful picketing rally while bringing home a fallen soldier.

I read it has been stated that the law enforcement can not do much about this group because they have the first amendment behind them, "the freedom of speech." So far the only thing that has been done is they have to stay at least 100-300 ft. away from funerals in precession, but what good is that. The families and loved ones have the added grief of knowing they are there in the first place and the hurtful signs they are waving are still visible from this distance.

Westboro Baptist Church is not Christians in my opinion. A Christian would not have such hate for people or do such hurtful, disgusting things. A Christian would pray for those who do not know God; they would not intentionally hurt someone in such a cruel and awful manner.

I am not proclaiming to be the best Christian in the world, but I do believe in God, and I feel it hurts him to see people, such as those of this hate group, hurting people, and being proud of it.

I am the wife of a Marine who served his country with pride. I know when the war started in Iraq, he tried to re-enlist and I watched as he went back through the physical fitness test and more. He was so motivated and excited. He wanted to help his brothers of the Marine Corps, his family and his country. I am extremely proud of my husband for wanting to serve again, but due to paperwork and a few other things, he was unable to do so. But because his commitment to the Marines and this country, he was willing to do so. Why would anyone want to hate or put down a person with such pride and love for their country?

I don't see the congregation of this so called church signing up to put themselves on the front line. I don't see them supporting the country they live in. This group needs to stop and realize, we have thousands of soldiers overseas protecting America at this very moment, and willing to give their lives for this country. They do not deserve to come home to such hateful people. At what point does the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church exceed the protection of the First Amendment and actually become treason? This is the area that lawmakers should look into when having to deal with this so called church group.

In closing: I will repeat what I said earlier on in the article. What gives them the right to judge? Well, the law enforcement may claim there is nothing that can be done about this hate group, but one day each and every one of these members of Westboro Baptist Church will one day have to face God.

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