Posted on Mar 20, 2014
SFC William Swartz Jr
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Ok with the passing of this individual how would you feel if one or more of your Soldiers decided to protest his funeral?
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Responses: 32
SSG Retired!!!
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Good riddance
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SSG Jason Hoadley
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This Hateful man has passed away.. 

All we can do is hope that this Church decides to not follow his lead..

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/20/us/westboro-church-founder-dead/
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Maj Chris Nelson
Maj Chris Nelson
12 y
I would actually hope the rest of his "church" DOES follow his lead (only the passing on part)....we can put them all in pine boxes.  I won't waste a minute of my day thinking more about him!
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Col Squadron Commander
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12 y
Just one part of medusa's ugly head.  The rest of it is still there and unfortunately they will carry on their dreadful traditions.
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SGM Matthew Quick
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After taking another day to think about this, I would recommend this:

All available servicemembers, side-by-side with our gay/lesbian servicemembers, should line the streets from his funeral home to his graveyard...not at attention, parade rest or saluting, just the two things he hated most (service members and especially gay servicemembers), standing side-by-side against hate.

Would be a fitting end to a pathetic, hate-filled life. 
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SSG Oliver Mathews
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Part of our constitution is
the Freedom of Speech (which covers protest), and the Freedom of
Religion, The man spent his life exercising those two basic Rights that
we as American soldiers fight to protect. Do i believe his Beliefs where
correct? No, but then again he didn't agree with mine either. He died
exercising freedom.

If you ever look into the Patriot Guard Riders, you will see
that they respond to the protesters in a Civil Manner. Creating a barrier between them and the funeral. If you want to rally at his
Grave... don't stoop to his level and Disgrace yourselves to be like him.

To answer the OP question

If my soldiers wanted to go to his funeral,
that is there choice. But they would be counseled be it verbally or on paper on the rights and
wrongs and the proper conduct. They would not be allowed to go in Uniform.

Regardless if you dislike someone or not, Their funeral is a time for their family to mourn and I don't believe its right to mess with that time and hurt the family because you hated the man. You could almost equate it to sending Osamas family to Jail for his actions.
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SFC William Swartz Jr
SFC William Swartz Jr
12 y
Well said SGT, well said!
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LTC Executive Officer To Afc A Co S G 3/5/7
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As long as they don't do it in uniform and do it peacefully - no issue.
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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I think this explains how I feel...

 

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/09/fred-phelps-dies-westboro-baptist-church-plans-to-protest-funeral/

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As long as they do not show their affiliation with the Military, more power to them.
SSG Chris B.
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I'd like to dedicate a song to his memory.

 

http://youtu.be/qF5QSvWG6jQ

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SSG(P) Intelligence Analyst
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Edited 12 y ago

My feelings about the man are much like many others who have already replied. To asnwer on the question on how I would feel if one or more of my Soldiers decided to protest his his funeral I would have to say I would be feel nervous about them doing so.

I am 100 percent FOR freedom of speech and expression, but if one of my Soldiers told me they planned to go protest the Phelps funeral chances are he/she is much angrier at the man than I am. Anger / resentment causes people to do things they wouldn't normally do. That means they might do something that could potentially reflect poorly on themselves and the military. With bad publicity in the media about the military, I would advise my troops to just leave the man be. Better not to get caught up in anything that has the potential of getting out of control.

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SSG General Services Technician And State Vehicle Inspector
SSG (Join to see)
12 y
SSG V, great points. Part of the problem too is the emotionality displayed by those who "protest" the WBC is EXACTLY what the WBC wants. It is how they "make" their money. They do know exactly what they are doing. It is to incite anger and hatred resulting in a physical confrontation with the WBC. They tape ALL of their activities for proof of the violence perpetrated against them then sue that person in court. Most of the time they win. Truly sad and sickening.
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SSG Military Police
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In a perfect world, I would wish that nobody showed up to his funeral.  Protesting his funeral, giving media coverage to his funeral, and giving them any form of publicity only helps their cause.  Their whole schtick is based on using anything they can to get media coverage.   One of the leaders of their church can simply say they are going to protest a funeral and they get media coverage and a response from the community of the funeral. 

The best thing for our country and our communities is to act like this man didn't exist and that we didn't let his hatred cause more hatred. 
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