How Should Local Residents Respond to Westboro's Threats?
In the comments section, tell Patch what local residents should do in response to Westboro Baptist Church's threats to protest funeral for fallen soldiers
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Nationally-recognized hate group Westboro Baptist Church has announced plans to protest the funerals of three fallen South Carolina soldiers.
The Topeka, Kansas-based group, known for celebrating the deaths of American soldiers, posted press releases on its website detailing plans to "preach" at a "lawful proxmitiy" outside the funerals of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl, Spc. John D. Meador II, both of Lexington, and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Bradford “Brad” Thomas of Easley.
The three soldiers were killed last Wednesday when a suicide bomber attacked their patrol in Afghanistan. Five other South Carolina guardsmen were also injured in the blast.
How do you think local residents should respond to Westboro's threats? Patch wants you to sound-off in the comments section below.
Laura
2:53 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Whatever it takes to protect the loved ones of our fallen heros. That the funeral be held free on these moron's interuptions! They gave the ultimate sacrafice to "us" now we must stand up for them!
Fisher
3:41 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Ignore them. Ignore them. Ignore them. If these jokers stopped getting attention, they would lose all their affirmation. They'd simply die up. They think they are spreading the word of God through any means necessary, and the media and their interaction with the public is how they do it. It's disgustingly misinformed, but if we just turned our backs, they would lose all their money and support.
Ken
3:42 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Shotguns loaded with rock salt seems like a good response.
Laura
3:59 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Why don't the local citizens show up at their funerals? There Sunday outings?
Chris Winston
4:09 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Fisher, we talk about ignoring them every single time. I promise we do. But, at the same time, we think the community should be informed that this could happen.
They showed up in Blacksburg, Va., while I lived there a few years ago. They capitalized on the April 16 tragedy that ripped the heart of that community. The students at Virginia Tech responded with humor, holding similarly stupid signs. "God hates hot dogs!" was one. "Cash 4 Gold" was another. I thought the community handled it the best it could.
The community in Easley last year was tremendous, filling the sidewalks and streets with supporters for Justin Whitmire's funeral. Westboro didn't show, but the community definitely came together.
Chris Winston
4:16 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Sorry... Whitmire had Easley background, but the funeral was in Simpsonville.
Folks came from all over the Upstate to support his family.
mandy wood
5:26 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
I feel the community should rally together and show this cult they are not welcome. This family is dealing with tremendous heartbreak and do not deserve the horrendous hate these people spew. We should all do whatever we have to do to keep these horrible people far away from the funeral.
Karen
7:57 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
We shouldn't. Stop giving these people any attention.
Wilton F
9:40 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
#1 the things these people are doing in the name of Christ does not reflect Christ at all and I agree we should ignore them, but in the same breath I think we should support this Family and our Fallen Hero by forming a human chain of Veterans and citizens to protect this family from this Cult. There are probably enough (good ole boys) in Pickens County to take care of them if they show up.
RIP Comrade Thomas and thanks for your service .
Carolyn Farr Smith
10:32 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Wilton, that is exactly what happened when PFC. Justin Whitmire's funeral was held in Simpsonville in January. People came from all over the Upstate to form a human chain around the church where his service was being held. We never saw members from Westboro around. If they were there, they were watching quietly. It was quite an awesome thing to see so many people — young, old, all nationalities — standing together in support of this young man and the family that he left behind.
Wilton F
12:51 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Yes Carolyn and I'll be there again today God Bless our Service Men and Women and God Bless America