SHOWING RESPECT

This is a truly great country.  Not just for her innovation or military might, not because of our bread basket that feeds the world or our economy which drives it, but because of her freedoms and the people who enjoy them.

On the one hand. we have a free society that enjoys truly free speech.  Case in point, Westboro Baptist Church - the ultimate bullies.  This tiny church which boasts a congregation of barely 200 (most family members, at that), but they have made quite a name for themselves.  Their greatest joy, it seems, is to protest the funerals of our fallen military.  No matter what you may think of the signs they hold or the things they shout at the grieving families, no one can deny that they have the right to do it.  The question now seems to be at what distance, so that the families can grieve without suffering the emotional an psychological trauma Pastor Phelps and his minions would like to inflict upon them.

On the other hand, we have Rebecca Rooney.  Ms. Rooney, upon hearing about Westboro's plans to protest at the funeral of hometown hero Sgt. First Class C.J. Sadell, took action.  She rallied the people of tiny Weston, MO to join together in support of Sgt. Sadell and his family.  They filled up parking spaces, and came armed with patriotic music and American flags.  The best part?  It worked:

 

"If you think about it, they've all gone to serve just so we could be able to do this," said Rebecca Rooney who organized the supporters. "He didn't die in vain."

SHOWING RESPECT