It is hard to imagine a parent’s grief at the loss of a child, but compound that loss with people protesting at your child’s funeral. Albert Snyder has been ordered by the Appeals Court to pay $16,510.80 toward the court cost of Fred Phelps, the protest leader and pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church. “Snyder sued Westboro because its members waved signs saying “God hates fags” and “God hates the USA” at the 2006 funeral in Westminster of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who had been killed in Iraq. A federal jury in Baltimore awarded Snyder $11 million in damages in 2007, saying Phelps’ group intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the family. The award was later reduced to $5 million, and eventually overturned on appeal.”* Is this truly free speech or is this simply hatespeak, or is this a perversion of the concept of free speech? This is a story that outrages most Americans. Conservative host Bill O’Reilly of Fox News has offered to pick up the court cost for Snyder and other organizations as well as everyday citizens are making contributions to help Snyder pay the court costs. This is truly an issue that cuts across party lines. This is simply just wrong.
*Baltimore Sun
I am stunned and appalled that he is being asked for a DIME. It is unconscionable that someone would protest at ANYONE’S funeral, let alone a young war veteran cut down early in life. This “pastor” is a vile perverter of the Word, and a glory-seeker for his “church”. As a Christian I can attest to the fact that this is NOT what my faith is all about, and I do not stand by what they have done. If Mr. Snyder has to pull any money out of his pocket, I will be happy to donate to help offset his costs.
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their country.” – George Washington