Can’t protesters at least move?

Last week, our U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church. The ruling reinforces the sad reality that the First Amendment protects their right to show up at funerals of our U.S. Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and Coast Guardsmen with signs and chants of “Thank God for dead soldiers,” “You’re going to hell,””God hates the USA,” and “Thank God for 9/11.”

The 8-1 decision in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., really makes me question justice. How is it that the men and women who followed orders given by our government to defend our freedom, our nation, the Constitution of the United States of America who when they lose their life doing so are not protected by the same Constitution they died for?

I ask you is this justice?

How is it that we allow the final farewell ceremony to be disgraced by our fellow Americans chanting such slogans?

As much as this bothers me, I do realize the majority decision is ultimately the right one. This country is governed by the rule of law, not by the arbitrary decisions, however good-intentioned, of those in power at the time. The First Amendment applies to everyone equally, both the enlightened, and the grossly misguided.

My question is, even to the nine justices of the Supreme Court in their role as U.S. citizens, what do we do to stop this reprehensible behavior? The law will as long as we are a free county protect the rights of the misguided but this does not make their behavior just or right? Do we as a society condone the protesting at funerals of our lost military?

If we disagree with the war, then protest where a difference can be made, the U.S. Capitol, the House, the Senate, the Pentagon. Protest Halliburton, OPEC, etc. Boycott companies that are making money off of the war. But for the sake of a civil and civilized nation, leave the fallen and their families to rest in peace.

It is not only the humane thing to do it is what a civilized society does.

Wendy M. Warden

Round Lake