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It even happens here...
Nov. 30th, 2007 06:58 pmToday a local soldier was laid to rest in Port Orchard, WA. SFC Johnny C. Walls died from wounds sustained in Afghanistan, the less noticed, but just as deadly armed conflict facing the US military..
In my eyes he was a hero. To me, all men and women in uniform are heroes, no matter what they do or where they do it or the free world country they come from. They raise their hands by choice. Yeah, some of them are playing the odds: education and training against the chance they may get sent into harm’s way. But that’s the way it is. That’s the way it was for me back in 1990. I can relate.
Today four members of the Westboro Baptist Church - Topeka, Kansas, [well, four adults and one kid] came all this way to protest this man's funeral. Because, in their world view, it's not only right and appropriate, but their God given mission, to wave signs saying things like "Thank God for IEDs", “God Blew Up the Troops” and “Soldiers Die, God Laughs” while a grieving family is dealing with their loss.
Well, they picked the wrong town to try that in.
Citizens of Port Orchard gathered downtown and folks came in the surrounding areas to sing the national anthem, wave flags and shout down the folks from Kansas. When the numbers came in, there were roughly 40+ counter protesters for every Westboro member. After 20 minutes, Westboro decided they ‘weren’t in Kansas anymore’ folded up their vitriol and left.
Do these people piss me off pretty much beyond words? Oh yeah. And not just for the simple fact they were forcibly intruding on a family’s grief. But because I wore this country’s uniform for over 20 years so yah-hoos like these idiots could breed and spread their messages of hate with impunity. And as much as the hate mongers from Kansas spout their crap, I don’t see that I can have it any other way.
Folks like SFC Walls wore the uniform to make sure ‘people’ [and believe me I’m using that term loosely] like the Westboro Baptist Church could enjoy the freedoms they have, regardless of how they use them.
Welcome to one of the greatest dichotomies in the free world. Fighting for the freedom of idiots to abuse that freedom.
Fegh!
In my eyes he was a hero. To me, all men and women in uniform are heroes, no matter what they do or where they do it or the free world country they come from. They raise their hands by choice. Yeah, some of them are playing the odds: education and training against the chance they may get sent into harm’s way. But that’s the way it is. That’s the way it was for me back in 1990. I can relate.
Today four members of the Westboro Baptist Church - Topeka, Kansas, [well, four adults and one kid] came all this way to protest this man's funeral. Because, in their world view, it's not only right and appropriate, but their God given mission, to wave signs saying things like "Thank God for IEDs", “God Blew Up the Troops” and “Soldiers Die, God Laughs” while a grieving family is dealing with their loss.
Well, they picked the wrong town to try that in.
Citizens of Port Orchard gathered downtown and folks came in the surrounding areas to sing the national anthem, wave flags and shout down the folks from Kansas. When the numbers came in, there were roughly 40+ counter protesters for every Westboro member. After 20 minutes, Westboro decided they ‘weren’t in Kansas anymore’ folded up their vitriol and left.
Do these people piss me off pretty much beyond words? Oh yeah. And not just for the simple fact they were forcibly intruding on a family’s grief. But because I wore this country’s uniform for over 20 years so yah-hoos like these idiots could breed and spread their messages of hate with impunity. And as much as the hate mongers from Kansas spout their crap, I don’t see that I can have it any other way.
Folks like SFC Walls wore the uniform to make sure ‘people’ [and believe me I’m using that term loosely] like the Westboro Baptist Church could enjoy the freedoms they have, regardless of how they use them.
Welcome to one of the greatest dichotomies in the free world. Fighting for the freedom of idiots to abuse that freedom.
Fegh!
