Politics

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"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. "
First Amendment, U.S. Constitution

Almost two weeks ago the notorious Westboro Baptist Church, the group infamous for its vocal hatred and condemnation of homosexuals and picketing military funerals---took it on the chin. The family of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder had sued Westboro seeking punitive damages for grief caused by their protesting. The judge awarded Snyder's family an incredible 10.9 million dollars; more then enough to bankrupt Westboro. This decision has a lot of people shouting praises of joy, that finally, this despicable group of unpatriotic wackos has finally paid the piper.

I am one of the minority of people who think this is one of the worst decisions ever handed down in a country like America. Never mind that almost 11 million dollars is slightly excessive not to mention ridiculous---that isn't the problem. The problem is that the judge presiding over this case stepped right over the very first amendment of a constitution he swore to uphold when he took his position. By punishing Westboro monetarily for exercising their right to free speech and assembly; it set a new precedent---in that free speech as we know it and religious freedom are in their twilight years. I strongly disagree with Westboro on just about everything they say, and I further believe it is distasteful to picket funerals of any sort---but to strip away their constitutional right to protest is going in a scary direction.

The first amendment as originally intended, protects everyone. I don't know if anyone remembers the controversy surrounding the rock music industry and the Parent Music Resource Center during the Reagan years, but parents of children as well as several U.S. senators and reporters; wanted legislation passed barring specific types of explicit lyrics. It is almost inconceivable for me to say this---but I share the feelings of the late Frank Zappa on this one. The government cannot impede free speech no matter how repulsive the content. This includes gangsta rap, Westboro Baptist Church, and anything else we find unseeming and distasteful. The Constitution ensures that anyone can say whatever they want whereever they want. This is absolutely the only method for maintaining what we know as free speech---a broad sweep right down the line which allows everyone, despite the message, to say what they feel.

A lot of Christians want to Christianize America. As an impending immigrant to the United States set to marry his fiance and become an American citizen, I'm not in favour of any theocracy. I desire not for Christianity to be legislated, nor do I wish for biblical morality to be foisted upon anybody. The reason I hold to this sentiment is because the gospel cannot be legislated, imposed, or forced upon anyone---it works through the Holy Spirit. It changes hearts instead of laws. It is powerful, wonderful, and inexpensive. I'm convinced that with all of efforts of the Christian Right trying to delegate Christianity, it has siphoned time, money, and energy that would have better served the fearless preaching of the gospel. If we force Christianity upon people it has no power and nobody will become truly saved. Having someone "act" Christian is useless. Coercing the population to be Christians won't work because that's not how Christ operates.

What is frightening about the Westboro judgement is that it will pave the way for other religious based decisions regarding free speech. If Westboro, a religious organization, could not exercise their first amendment rights, then what might happen the next time a group of Christians decide to go out street preaching? If Westboro couldn't have religious freedom, then are we going to get it the next time we hold a street meeting? Who knows; but it's possible we won't now. A lot of us don't realize that the same laws we want enacted to bar certain words or messages we don't like---are the same laws that will keep us from spreading our own message, namely the gospel of Jesus Christ---which by the way is very disliked. If someone like Marylin Manson is not permitted to write, speak, or sing what he pleases under the first amendment then we won't be able to propagate our message of hope and salvation through Christ. The powers to be will never tolerate the gospel message if they suspect they can legally stop it, and I've always predicted intense persecution, but up until two weeks ago we had the freedom, at least for the time being, to preach it. If free speech is tampered with now, who do you think the world will censor first: Marlyn Manson or Jesus Christ? Take three guesses, and two don't count.

Westboro is considered Christian to the ignorant, unbelieving world. I fear that this group of false believers' association with true Christians, combined with this latest decision regarding the right to protest; has told us that we are in the twilight of religious freedom. From here, I predict that the gospel is going to become exceedingly more difficult to preach now that specific anti-Christian organizations know that judges are willing to obstruct religious freedom. It is not a question of if--- but when. The question for us all is how long it will take to transpire, and subsequently, how far it will go.

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