Am I just Naïve ??

Recently there was a post from 2 of my friends on facebook that bothered me...  After seeing the post for the third time,  I commented.  (Which I DON'T normally do when I see a post that I disagree with...)  

Here is the dialog:   

THE FRIEND:  "Pass the word!!! When the WBC (Westboro Baptist Church) comes through the Great State of Missouri, everyone refuse service (which is perfectly legal) to them. Don't let them eat, drink, or sleep, anywhere in our state besides their van. When they run out of gas they can walk back home. Like this, post it on ur wall, spread the word. This group must be stopped!!...." 

ME:  " Yes, a LONG time ago, I believe the Missourians treated the Mormons the same way... This is America. Freedom of religion for ALL. Even those not politically correct. Jus' saying...." 

Son of the friend (Who serves in the armed forces): DISAGREE , there is a difference when you are in the military, or are a family member of one who leaves his home and home country, family , and wife, to be shot at, blown up and treated like strait shit for a year in the notion to protect the rights of those back on the home front. there should be a freedom of religion, and if you want to keep the freedom, and your other rights keep it to your self, and practice in a manner that dosent impose others or their rights, that is the difference in the mormon religion, and the WBC, they are cruel and rude, and if anyone disagrees with me come with me and ill walk the graves of the fallen i have served with. those who willingly died to protect "freedom." the mormons dont impose upon others and their rights. they where treated differently, and where hunted in their homes and murdered. the Westboro Baptist Church goes looking for the fight, and if they bring their slimy asses to Missouri we will show them why we are called the show me state, they will be shown their way out, just hope the door dont hit em where the good Lord split them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE FRIEND:  Well Sue, When you have a son, daughter or family member fighting so that you can have that freedom of speech, then we will be on a similar page and can then talk!!!

ME: That is WHY there ARE sons, daughters, and family member fighting... o protect those freedoms. Even when tainted by extremists ( which I don't like either, mind you...) That is what makes America WONDERFUL...

SON OF THE FRIEND (Who serves in the armed forces): Agreed, we fight for freedoms, we dont fight for the perverse nature in which some operate. they have picketed , and protested a mans funeral that i served with. if i where to ever see them protesting another i would have no problem infringing on their rights whether it be mental or physical. they attempted to take the pride inwhich an american hero was laid to rest. we can argue about them all day, but in the end all will agree with me that they are all shit and if they do not learn to choose their battles, a battle will be brought to them. Tainted extremists ruin the american dream. Americans like my self who post this on their wall i guess are just using their rights, so i guess we are talking about similar things. they can have their religion even though its not politically correct, and we as Americans will not allow them to taint our heartland because that is our right to let the world know that there is a tyrant out there who needs to be stopped. therefore, all who see this re read above, and stop these bastards from continuing their garbage. They can practice their religion within the confines of their holy place(hell) and if they attempt to come through our towns make sure to show the demons the way there, by ways of not feeding, serving or selling them anything. make them earn their keep like the pioneers of old, they can walk their happy asses back to hell where they came from. and if they choose start a ruckus, then we know how to handle it, as the patriot guard, ask the family of the falln, ask a soldier.

THE FRIEND: Very well said Andrew.*    *(Named blocked to protect his privacy) 

The son of the friend then posted a link to this news report(Which basically tells how one of the people there with the WBC was beaten and not only did no one see it but, no one did it and how proud these Missourians are for kicking them out of town and they, the WBC, didn’t protest. They just left): 

http://www.ihatethemedia.com/a-simple-way-to-stop-westboro-baptist-church-funeral-protesters

Ok.  So, *disclaimer* 

• I DO NOT belong to the WBC and
• I DO NOT endorse their message. (I, in fact, am a bit more on the liberal side than the majority of my fellow LDS friends.)  
• I UNDERSTAND picketing a funeral of someone who died in combat is of poor taste...  

From my seeming naïve point of view, doesn’t the “son of the friend” FIGHT for their very right to picket, march, protest, and believe what they want to?


A soldier who celebrates in the beating of a fellow American simply he/she disagrees with any given groups stance on religion - Is he not MOCKING they very thing he/she fights to protect?

In 1830’s Joseph Smith held a Book or Mormon.   The WBC holds picket signs.  

The mobs who didn’t like the message -   beat the messengers.

The beating is illegal.   The sharing of a message is NOT. 

(I am just Naïve??) 

I didn’t post again on said friends wall.  I know my point of view is different and would only anger them more.  It was never my intention to anger.    I just don’t understand hate.  

*Another thought later:       


  Yup.  and protesting the protester is a freedom as well.  Go at it.   Have fun.  I remove myself from the protesting.