When are religious people crossing the boundaries? As much as I agree with freedom of speech, expression, and religion; I find the photos above quite disrespectful and offensive. The Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, have been holding up sings with phrases that are hard to ignore. The Kansas church have even attended funerals of U.S. military members with sign stating "thank God for dead soldiers" and "God blew up the troops." Isn't that a little harsh and inconsiderate? How can they say such terrible things to soldiers that gave up their lives for their freedom and protection? No matter how hurtful and disrespectful the signs are, "the U.S. Supreme Court, by an 8-1 vote, said it is Westboro Baptist Church right to promote a broad-based message on public matters such as wars" (Cohen 1). I completely agree with the 1st Amendment for every human being has a right to be themselves. However, when is the limit? From the Westboro Baptist Church case I am starting to think never.
Yenitza Colichon is a Pennsylvania women who insisted her 7-year-old daughter watch the killing of a chicken and eat its heart" (Zylstra 15). What Yenitza was forcing her daughter to do was disgusting and insane. I cannot imagine how terrified the young girl must have felt. I also do not think it is sanitary for anyone to eat a raw chicken's heart. However, since Yenitza Colichon claimed "she was practicing her religion named Palo Mayombe, the defense attorney argued for her religious freedom" (Zylstra 15). It is astonishing how the 1st Amendment was able to defend such a savage and inhumane act. Since Yenitza believed she was simply protecting her daughter with her rituals, was she technically "doing the right thing?" Doug Lay-cock, law professor at the University of Virginia said, "it is very dangerous for the state to be saying, 'Your religion is bad for you.' Judges [shouldn't] get involved unless there is a clear and compelling evidence of danger or physical harm to the child" (Zylstra 15-16).
There are many other religious cases that seem to cross the boundaries. I completely support religious freedom, but there are few times it seems unjust. I am very glad America values religious freedom, because it is everyone's right to express their ways. However, when religious believes and practices begin to harm and hurt other individuals, I do not think it is acceptable.
Works Cited
Cohen , Tom. "CNN Politics." . Turner Broadcasting System, 02 Aug 2012. Web. 15 Jun 2013. http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/02/politics/military-funerals-protests/index.html?iref=storysearch.
Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff. "Parental Frights." Christianity Today 55.9 (2011): 15. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 16 June 2013.
Hi,I agree with you, it is totally disrespectful for anyone in the U.S to hold up such hateful signs. Especially when brave soldiers fought and still fighting for our rights to remain free. These people took freedom of speech to another level.I cannot believe that the government allowed these people to hold signs up at the funeral of our brave fallen soldiers.
ReplyDelete