Military funeral laws should promote dignity
There was a matter of fairness involved as a reason for federal legislation written by Sen. Kent Conrad and passed recently by the U.S. Senate - passed unanimously, at that.
Earlier in 2006, a law was passed forbidding demonstrations during military funerals in or near federal cemeteries. Conrad's bill serves to extend that protection of the dignity of military funerals to places of worship and funeral homes and to committal services in every kind of cemetery.
That was only fair.
There is a single radical church group of small numbers and bad temper that has caused an uproar. They claim to know the mind of the almighty, that divine anger is aimed at America. All the members of this small bunch have to do is to threaten to show up at a funeral and most of the goals are met - gaining attention.
It has been appropriate that Patriot Guard Riders have come front and center to neutralize much of the threat posed by the members of Westboro Baptist Church by the riders placing themselves and their motorcycles in a protective cordon around mourners, as has happened at funerals of slain National Guard members from North Dakota.
It also shields mourners from the sight of the troublesome protesters and mutes their voices with the bass notes of bike motors. That's a good way to make them irrelevant.
To the contrary, it served to further the church group's purpose for a Grand Forks radio talk show host to offer air time if the disrespectful dissidents would pledge not to infest the funeral on Saturday of Cpl. Chris Kleinwachter at a local church.
The touchy spokesman for the church got his broadcast bully pulpit by telephone, but when he was asked about whether the church would keep its word, he became incensed and hung up.
He and his ilk should be ignored as much as possible. Otherwise, bring on the Patriot Guard Riders.
In this instance, it's one congregation using scripture as a weapon, with grieving people as the target. But while there well could be First Amendment concerns with this legislation as it could affect any protester, this very specific restriction of where people cannot assemble for protest is reasonable.
Jail time or a fine or both is not to be taken lightly as a punishment for those who set out to disrupt the funeral of a member of the armed services.
It is common human decency - even more than laws - that will restrain those of good conscience from abusing the grief of mourners when those protesters look for an effective venue in which to express their message, be it regret over the death of a fallen soldier or opposition to the present conflicts.
When there are so many places available in which to assemble in peaceful protest - it shouldn't be a church where a funeral is taking place. Especially when it's a service for someone who sacrificed his or her life to ensure our freedoms.
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Comments
Patriot Guard Rider wrote on December 12, 2006 3:11 PM:"I am not understanding how keeping UGs away from a grieving family by passing a law 'removes' a freedom. The law would restrict the protesters to a specific distance from the church or cemetary. They can still protest, but they'll get hoarse before getting heard. The PGR is not the first defense against the UGs, we are there because no law restricts them at this time. Also, diverting the UGs from the funeral to the radio stations is a very effective way to remove them from a grieving family. Remember, no matter how henious the rant was on the air, it is still protected free speech. The best part is the listener can shut it off. The funeral attendees can't. "
LT wrote on December 12, 2006 2:46 PM:"To just a thought, You hit the nail on the head! To every one else, Where do you draw the line? "
Mouth from the South wrote on December 12, 2006 2:14 PM:"I agree with "just a thought." We already have plenty of laws on the books restricting our freedoms. We don't need more. I think that the Patriot Guard Riders are the way to go. By shielding the family and not giving these protesters any attention can be just as effective, or even more effective, than any law. We should have a right to demonstrate PEACEFULLY at any funeral, even a Military Funeral, if we so desire. I happen to think it is an appalling and downright disrespectful thing to do but others might, and I am sure do, feel differently. Letting them demonstrate may eliminate their creating a problem in another area. So long as the majority of us support our Troops, wherever they are in the world, is what truly matters. When some of them do come home in a casket, then it is even more important for us to show our support for them and their grieving families. I, for one, am proud of the Patriot Guard Riders."
Just a thought wrote on December 12, 2006 12:59 PM:"So our soldiers are over there fighting for our right to be free, and while they are doing that, our Congress passes a law that is taking our freedoms away. I'm not saying protesting at a funeral is right, in fact I think it's just plain stupid. But we live in America and it's our right to do so. Any reason why we don't just let the PGR do their job and let the wackos be wacko? If we slowly start taking our freedoms away, then what are our troops fighting for?"
Videos: wrote on December 12, 2006 12:32 PM:"I have seen video's of this WBC, there are several on internet, interviews people have had with them. They are hateful, made up of less than 100 family members, they are disrespectful, and just plain nasty. During one of the interviews I watched, this Shirley stood with her son waving obscene signs and standing on the flag. Her son was probably about ten years old. She claims that because society accepts gay behavior, God is punishing us by sending home dead soldiers. They are nuts - and, I agree, are getting way too much attention, but they know how to do it. Ignoring them is dangerous, too, because they are apt to do just about anything. At least any attention they get is a way of monitoring their whereabouts and actions. Left unchecked in a community, I think they could cause a lot of trouble. I'm not sure there is an answer to this that fits, they are anything but typical! These video's can found through searching your browser. One was an interview with a TV (news) personality, one was conducted outside a Baptist Convention by a Baptist leader, I believe, who kept his cool and stood there for 10 minutes and let them spew. I NEVER could have stood still like he did, but what he was doing was let them do exactly what they were going to do, but they were standing in one place doing it in front of him rather than off spewing to crowds. It's a shame that people like this can draw so much of our attention and enter and interfere with our lives, but they are ruthless and need to be monitored in any fashion. PGR's, you are providing such a respectful and appreciated service to the families of these soldiers, and your community is proud. God Bless our Soldiers and the freedoms they stand die for."
calamityjane wrote on December 12, 2006 12:07 PM:"i ride with PGR. we turn our backs and bikes to the WBC. hope they like exhaust fumes in their faces. they are disrespectful to the USA as a whole. they do not care one bit to how much hurt they are causing this nation or the grieving families. they self-centered, ranting, raving lunatics that the mourning families of our country's slain soldiers do NOT need nor do they want. if everybody would just stop talking about them they would melt back into kansas and shut up. do NOT give them air time on your radio or TV stations, do NOT get them anything to feed off of from the newspapers and they will disappear."
Will the real "Voice Of Dakota" stand up? wrote on December 12, 2006 10:54 AM:" The KNOX radio station talk show host that had them on the air "The Voice of Dakota" sys that she did not want to have them on her show, but she felt this was a wonderful thing that she could shelter the family from the WBC. The WBC did not contact her. She contacted them. Like all media, whoever gets the biggest story wins, ie.. all have numbers and quotas..... it is all part of the game. I want to ask Dakota ONE THING.... DID SHE ASK CARMEN OR CLARE if this is what they wanted? They had already asked the PGR to be there, so I would assume that was what they chose. She says she did not do it for ratings! I beg to differ. She is NOT the voice of DAKOTA..(as in north dakotans) she is all about herself. Shame on her for taking this opportunity to boost her ratings."
The Voice of Reason wrote on December 12, 2006 10:17 AM:"The whole situation is bizarre. I have 2 questions. What does the average soldier have to do with supporting homosexual rights? I'll answer that. NOTHING. and... 2. What does being in the military have to do with having the right to a peaceful funeral? I say again, NOTHING. "
Dan wrote on December 12, 2006 8:46 AM:"The sole aim of the WBC is to gain notoriety. They want attention. Positive or negative, they crave attention. They spew their hatred during the most emotionally charged time possible, in hopes that someone will take a swing at one of them. Then they file lawsuits and get settlements, which fund their so-called church. When legislation or ordinances are passed that restrict their activities, they play the First Amendment Card and win more lawsuits and further fund their cause. The ONLY way to deal with these people right now is to totally and completely ignore them, as we do in the PGR. We position ourselves between the picketers and the mourners to shield decent people from the obscenities of the WBC. We do not acknowledge them, we don't talk to them, we don't even raise any particular finger in their direction. Using air time to spew their hatred in exchange for not appearing is NOT acceptable. The WBC won this round, believe it or not. They got what they wanted-publicity and attention. Until the USA can get its act together and stop allowing this crap to go on and organizations like the ACLU to defend it, we must simply IGNORE THEM. If they show up at the funeral of a fallen hero, let us (Patriot Guard Riders) do our job and shield mourners from their vile hatred while we ignore them. I just wish the media would "get it" and stop paying attention to these people. "
Lost wrote on December 12, 2006 8:32 AM:"It is to bad that we have to give up our freedoms. Just because some people don't have any human moral decency. God Bless our troops. "
Patriot Guard Rider wrote on December 12, 2006 8:09 AM:"I have been at numerous military funerals standing in respect of the departed hero. I can say truthfully I have never seen any protestors at any funeral at any time. (wink, wink) We attend to show respect where respect is due. That's all we do. If someone behind us isn't seen by the grieving family, all the better. The radio personality in Pennsylvania drew the vile protesters away from the Amish funeral to his show where they could be shut off. The Grand Forks radio station did the same to remove the uninvited guests from the funeral. I applaud them for performing the same servie the PGR does by blocking the UGs from a solemn and sacred time. God bless the USA, God bless our leadership and especially God Bless the soldiers over there protecting our right to be free and other's rights to be 'wrong'."
cam brunner wrote on December 12, 2006 6:17 AM:"This Westboro Baptist church not only hates the Gay-Community but African-Americans, Canada, Sweden, the Fire Department of NY, victims of 911, Christian Churches, The Pope, Judaism, America, Our American Troops, and the list goes on and on. Many of the groups they despise are specifically named on their hate propaganda, picket signs, and their many websites. They not only hate, but wish death on all that they do hate. This sick, so called church spreads its hate through picketing in our streets, provoking attacks, with abusive vulgar language. Worst of all, they endanger their own young children, having them man the front lines in their combative demonstrations - attempting to create a confrontation and cause for one more of their frivolous lawsuits. If a mother has given her son to this country and is putting Him in his grave, this is not the time or the place. This is not about protesters, this is about a group that calls that mother names on the way into a church to say goodbye to that son. We are not talking about FREEDOM we are talking about human decency. This is not about protesting, this is about a life of hate. They are not peaceful. They are not a "church". They go after any thing that can get them in the news. I am all for protest when there is a reason, I have been in many. This group will protest anything to get its face on TV. It is about an old man lost in the darkness of hate, but will put his six year old grandson in danger to save himself. Do we have a real need to protest at any funeral? Is that a real Freedom. The city of Topeka, the state of Kansas and the U.S. at large, its citizens and their Churches, schools and events are all held hostage by this "hate group" - always at the tax payer's expense. With this group it is just not about Freedom. It is only about HATE. "
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