Real Christians Don't Bash Veterans Or Gays by Doug Wrenn

Real Christians Don't Bash Veterans Or Gays

By Doug Wrenn

February 26, 2007

I've seen a lot of pretty bad stuff in my life. Maybe that's why I tend to be a fairly cynical, skeptical, sarcastic and thick-skinned kind of guy. But when I finished perusing the website for the Westboro Baptist "Church," and I use that term lightly, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do first, take a shower, throw up or punch my fist through the wall.

Kudos to Connecticut State Senators Len Fasano and Joan Hartley, and Representative Lawrence Miller for jointly co-sponsoring S 319, a bill restricting protesters at military funerals. The proposed bill allows protest only 60 minutes before or after a military funeral and keeps protesters back 150-300 feet from a funeral or burial. The bill also prohibits the disruption or interference of any funeral or burial.

Such a bill should not even be necessary, but you can thank the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas for that necessity This church, according to its website, is dedicated to a preaching ministry against homosexuality, not war. The congregants protest at military funerals all over the United States because they blame the deaths of America's finest, who in one article on the website, the WBC referred to as "fallen fools," on homosexuality and the church's perception of American tolerance of homosexuality. This cult, which is what I consider this vile band of loathing lunatics, also protested at a recent funeral in East Lyme for a fallen Connecticut veteran. Such protests have kept another organization, "Patriot Guard Riders" busy. That group is dedicated to peacefully, but physically shielding attendees of military funerals from the WBC protesters throughout the country. The Patriot Guard Riders were also present at the recent funeral in East Lyme for fallen Army Captain Jason Hamill of Salem.

In some commentary forums, I came across angry references to "The Christian Right" when the WBC was mentioned. Let's get something straight. I vehemently oppose homosexuality. It is an illness, hidden from psychiatric manuals since 1973 because of outright cowardice and capitulation by so-called mental health professionals bowing to political correctness. Gays need understanding, counseling and therapy. Like any other person, they should not be discriminated against, yet they also do not deserve created, additional "rights" to continue to practice their harmful depravity and force it upon the rest of society as a wholesome norm.

I'm about as "Christian Right" as they come, and unabashedly so. But I detested the vile, vitriolic and vulgar sewage that I saw on the WBC website, which often contained hateful terms for male and female gays, as well as gratuitous swear words and searing sarcasm that makes my admittedly sometimes fiery commentary seem tame. This is no church. This is a camouflaged clearinghouse for angry, hateful people to spread their venom. At least some of these folks might also possibly benefit from a few sessions on a shrink's couch. The rest are either very duped or simply evil. I resent any inference to "The Christian Right" in comparison or suggested association with the WBC. Much like how Cindy Sheehan's moon bats have harassed our injured veterans at Walter Reed Army Hospital while contorting the word and notion of "peace," these WBC cretins are venting their sick, pathetic rage on vulnerable, distraught, grieving families of our country's fallen heroes while not promoting God, but by sniping and hiding from behind His name. These acts are textbook illustrations of the sage gem, "Actions speak louder than words."

Since September 11th, the term "radical Muslim" has become a household term, but the first word, "radical" is the most significant part of that phrase. The radical barbarians who twist the religion of Islam and the Koran to kill Christians and Jews must be distinguished from their peaceful fellow-Muslims. Likewise, these "radical Christians" need to be distinguished from all other Christians, right, left or otherwise. They should also be separated, ostracized and closely watched. The WBC makes some grandiose proclamations on its website, while attempting to back up its convoluted thinking with misinterpreted and/or exaggerated scriptural references. Among some scripture readings you won't find quite as conspicuously, if at all on that site however, include such readings as "Judge not, that you be not judged," (Matthew, 7,1) and "…You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark, 12, 31). The vast majority of conservative Christians would keep as much distance from the Westboro whackos as most opponents of affirmative action quotas would distance themselves from racist white supremacy groups. Broad brushes can paint more than one color.

According to a February 23rd Waterbury Republican-American article by Paul Hughes, "Bill would restrict protests at military funerals," 27 states have so far enacted laws that restrict protests at military funerals and last year President Bush signed a similar bill into law on the federal level. Meanwhile, the Westboro Baptist "Cult" is continuing to post names, locations, dates and times on its website for upcoming military funerals to desecrate. The website refers to funerals and their patriotic mourners with such terms as "idolatry" and "idolatrists."

The usual liberal civil rights advocates are already challenging S 319, but similar legislation has already successfully withstood challenges in other states. The typical problem with these so-called civil rights groups, which really seek to deceitfully promote their leftist agenda under an innocuous veil, is that they only tend to focus on the "rights" of only (chosen) one side of any given issue. Liberals say that you have the right to swing your fist. Conservatives say that your right to swing your fist ends at the tips of our noses. Yes, like it or not, with freedom comes responsibility, and ideally, decency. Freedom, after all, is doing something because you can. Decency is not doing something even though you can.

The same First Amendment that protects free speech also protects the free exercise of religion. While the WBC may, at least theoretically, be a church, many, if not most funerals take place in churches, and many burials take place in religious cemeteries. The WBC has the right to conduct its free exercise of religious speech until the abuse of that right impedes the right of another citizen's right to exercise his or her religion. Also, churches, funeral homes, and most cemeteries are privately owned. The use of such property beyond the expressed or implied terms of usage by the owner is trespassing. Many laws pertaining to public persons, such as well-known celebrities, athletes and politicians are loosely interpreted by the courts but families of fallen veterans are private citizens who also have rights and are entitled to certain reasonable 14th amendment protections. Alarming conduct that is carried out maliciously or wantonly is harassment and disturbing the peace. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal believes that S 319 is constitutionally sound.

I am tempted to ask the members of the WBC if I can borrow their crystal ball and tea leaves for a while, because clearly, they can read God's mind and I would like to be so knowledgeable as well. Yes, there are biblical prophecies regarding catastrophes cast upon man by God because of man's sin. Some TV evangelists have made famous, or infamous names for themselves by often saying, "I told you so" every time a natural disaster occurs. I don't think they own a red phone that has a direct "hotline" connection to God, either. Yes, some disasters may very well be punishment. Other disasters may be tests of our faith, and the catalyst to help each other in need, as Jesus instructed us to do, and at the same time, giving glory to God by our good deeds. Sometimes, disasters happen simply because God has given us free will and we abuse our free will and make dumb, selfish, apathetic, evil, terrible and even horrific decisions. Or maybe there are other explanations for such tragedies known only to God Himself for reasons He does not wish us to know now, if at all. I can't read God's mind. I don't think the WBC "Pharisees" can either. But I am pretty certain of this, the God I have come to know in my life does not approve of homosexuality, but He also does not approve of the vile, seething hatred that Christian frauds like the WBC incessantly carry out against anyone, including gays, veterans and their families. The WBC's website address, which I will not advertise, is a vulgar sentence of what the WBC perceives God thinks of gays, but with the usage of a pejorative phrase. This cesspool of a website is replete with endless diatribes spewing insanity, blunt vulgarity and unchecked contempt. For example, it exclaims, "Thank God for Katrina," calls President Bush a "mongrel," and actually suggests praying for more dead bodies to "float" in New Orleans and for more American soldiers to get blown up by IED's in Iraq. There is nothing genuinely religious about this sordid organization of reprobates, and I think homosexuality is only their surface-level cause du' jour. Their real message is simply deep-seated rage and hatred. In reading this nauseating, insidious drivel, the only difference I can discern between the mindset of the WBC to gays and that of the Ku Klux Klan to blacks is a bed sheet with a couple holes in it.

The gay agenda can and should be fought, but with civility, debate, education and reason, not with obscenities and knee-jerk accusations and judgments. The WBC also keeps track of several deceased, named and well-known gays by counting how many days these people have "been in Hell" so far. It also confidently states in the same sentence that both Saddam Hussein and President Ford are now Hell-dwellers. I am astounded and impressed that the WBC actually knows the fate of all these deceased people and whether or not they confessed and/or repented before death. (Note to self - Call the WBC the day before the next Power Ball drawing, the day before the next Super Bowl and the day before Election Day, 2008 for the inside skinny.) As for those who oppose this war, I disagree with you, but that's OK. I don't even mind if you protest. That's your right, as well it should be. Meanwhile, leave our troops and their families alone, and I don't care what your pretentiously magnanimous and screwball, delusional excuse is. A crucifix or a flag is like a car or a gun. It can be just as easily abused as used. The motives, decisions and actions of the person wielding that object are what determine the difference between use and abuse.

In case you haven't noticed, I usually write out of passion, sometimes more or less so than other times. This was one of those columns that gnawed away at me inside relentlessly until I could get to the keyboard. This issue has little, if anything, to do with right or left. It's primarily about right and wrong. I'm not looking for a pat on the back, or even any thanks, but I do hope that some gays and secularists, particularly of the myopic, reactionary variety, are reading this column.

In the movie, "Fort Apache, The Bronx," Paul Newman plays a seasoned and hardboiled Irish-American New York cop. Rachel Ticotin plays his Puerto Rican girlfriend, who is also an ER nurse in a local Bronx hospital. In a bedroom scene, Newman notices needle marks on Ticotin's legs. He confronts her about her recreational IV drug use. Ticotin defensively and defiantly tells Newman that many of her co-workers also recreationally use drugs, and she refers to her drug use as not habitual, but rather, "a vacation," inferring that it temporarily relieves stress and hardship. She then tells him that while he may work in a tough South Bronx precinct, he really does not always understand what he sees in the neighborhood. Then Newman offers to "carry" Ticotin for a while on some dope the precinct has on hand to pay off snitches. He offers to continue to supply Ticotin until she can gradually and permanently stop using drugs. Ticotin is shocked at Newman's offer. Then he tells her that she will never fully understand cops.

To all the gays and secularists out there, make no mistake about it, I oppose your agenda and I will never cease in fighting it, but I hold no personal malice toward any of you, and with equal zeal, I will oppose anyone who maliciously attacks you. To paraphrase the well-known adage, "I hate the sin but not the sinner." Rest assured, I am very much a zealous, right wing Christian, and I am proud of it. You may consider the term "conservative Christian" an insult but I consider it a badge of honor, as most, if not all, of my fellow conservative Christians do as well.

The Westboro Baptist Church members are allegedly right wing Christians too, but they are not my kind of right wing Christians, and I seriously doubt most other right wing Christians would want to claim any assimilation to or approval of them either, publicly or privately. For many of you gays and secularists, you may think you know us "Right Wing Christians," but you probably never will really understand us. Or will you?