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examiNation Baltimore: What do you think about the multi-million award against Westboro Baptist Church?
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A federal jury in Baltimore ruled against the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., and awarded almost $11 million to the father of a soldier killed in Iraq.Related Topics:
What do you think about the multi-million award against Westboro Baptist Church?
Sound off and add your voice to a local daily discussion. Vote in our poll, then just scroll to the comment box below, tell us what you think and click "Send." Read and respond to other examiNation Baltimore questions.
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Examiner Reader said:
although some people may feel that this is against our rights in the first amendment. we are a country that is founded upon the believe that my rights starts where yours ends. so i dont have the right to walk on your rights and the family of any deceased person should have the right to grief, and this people are walking on their rights. also God is going to be the judge one day and that will be worst than any lawsuit they will face here on earth. i have heard this people using qoutes from the bible for their own benifit i believe to use Gods words this way is horrible and i will pray for them. they need gods help more than anybody i think i have ever witnessed in my life
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Mark from Florida said:
I think the award is fine and I also think that all the families of fallen soldiers that these hateful fruit cakes have protested against should also get lawyers and sue them right into the poor house. Let's see how much sympathy they get when they go to the local Human Services building looking for food stamps and welfare. Unfortunately it's their right as US citizens to be eligible for these services. However, it doesn't mean that they will get anything. How about some dedicated Christians from around Westboro and from around the country walk around their complex in protest of their hateful and treasonous attitudes toward the United States and her armed services. I always say, one good turn deserves another. And to Fred Phelps who is the one who poisoned all his children and grand children with his hateful rhetoric, may the Lord, our God pronounce justice upon your soul along with His ever glorious mercy. Amen.
71 agree | 74 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I hope the father gets every penny. That young man put his life on the line so these so called "Baptists" have the freedom to voice their extreme ideals. This young man is a hero, and along with his family, deserved to be laid to rest in peace!! The Lord says to love thy neighbor as thy self. He says nothing of judging. The Lord has the final say!!!!!!
84 agree | 84 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
As a Christian and a mother of a USA Marine, I think this church is wrong and isn't showing the world the Love of Christ. God hates the sin not the sinner, thank God, because we ALL are sinners. And to protest a funeral, do they not understand what this poor family is going through??? Why would anyone want to join a church so full of hate? This is not what God wants us to be like...show love, show mercy, God did, for you and me.
64 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How can anyone believe that God has chosen a man and his family, who are full of HATE to speak for him? These people obviously do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, or they would "judge not, lest they be judged". Their judgment will be just as harsh as the one they have measured out, and the degree of mercy (or lack of it in this case)- that they have shown this family during their time of grief, is exactly what they will receive on judgment day....as they will reap, what they have sown....if you sow judgment and not compassion, you will reap judgment and no mercy!
69 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The point is the abuse of free speech and that it was used at the wrong time. What was said "the context used of speaking out against the act of sin" was not wrong. Meaning sin is sin, it doesn't matter who speaking out against it if what they are saying is according to scripture. But again, this so-called crazed church and the way and timing of their messages were out of line. Hopefully, the court award will put a stop to it.
75 agree | 67 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Obviously this church group is extreme. Most likely an uneducated bigoted group. They lack the fundamental principles of Christian decency which identifies what they are. Their "pastor" if you can call him one is off the wall They are a disgrace to their faith group and to any decent human being. The soldier that died , died for their right to free speech. However, free speech is not absolute and in this case the justice system has done right by finining them. I hope they keep after them to put an end to this type of hatred and bigotry.
74 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For a church group to decide they know the will of God and behave in the manner these people have is reprehensible. I may not be in 100% agreement with our governments policies in it's battle agains terrorism, but I would certainly not shame myself by acting as they have. My question to them is "how would you feel if someone invaded a tragic, and solemn, moment in your life, and then proceeded to desecrate it in an effort to make their own point?" Commiting bad acts in the name of ones faith is not new, but this does not make it right. I just wish they could remember that these same soldiers they attack are the very people who have protected their rights to behave as they have. They should be thankful they live in a country that will allow such behavior. I have been places where, at best, they would have been arrested for their behavior. Maybe they should thank God that they live in a society that has people that are willing to make sacrifices to protect the way of life others enjoy.
85 agree | 75 disagree
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golgothascross said:
I believe that these people have no idea what they are gettin into. I have a couple of questions for these people. What do you thank God would say 2 you when u die? Do u really think he will appreciate this for what u are doing now? I thank the first thing he will say is, I am ashamed for what u did. And also he will probaly say u do not deserve to be here in heaven with me. As another person said, we as christians we are suppose 2 HELP not HURT each other. I am also a person that has family in the military that also went over to Iraq. It says in Psalms 139 Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.This is what I call Enemy Opposition.
79 agree | 76 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
They deserve to pay every penny of that lawsuit, it would be poetic justice for members of that group to be drafted and sent to Iraq to experience what it is like to serve on the line. I am no gay-activist but i can tell you that there are defined limits to public discourse and a soldiers funeral is definitely crossing the line. Even the peace niks (who i don't much care for), who protest at every turn, use common sense and adhere that a funeral is sacred and not to be used as a forum for political posturing. That's exactly what these people were doing, they were protesting soldiers funerals because it was so shocking that people would actually pay attention to their crazy ideas - but see through it. They couldn't get attention protesting anywhere else that they had to spit on the graves of the people who defend us to get their message out and i don't know about you...but that says all i need to know. I hope they all rot in hell.
86 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think the award is great. Too many people use the exuse of freedom of speach to negate responsible speach.
64 agree | 79 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
2:46: The point here is well taken regarding the "bashing" at a families funeral. However, I have to agree with the writer's 10:52, 11:04 and 1:35. When is it ever appropriate to preach against sin? Yes, I feel for the family. What matters is if one soul is saved by someone speaking the truth of the gospel.....Paul instructed believers in II Timothy 4:2 to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine." No one knows what heart God is touching in a spiritual way when the truth is being preached against sin, so preach on, even to your own embarrassment. Who is to say that one soul will not be saved by the truth you speak.
88 agree | 71 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I agree that you have the right to your own opinion, but at a funeral?! Thats ridiculous. I understand that it is free speech, but what that preist did was heartless and cruel. I am so glad to see a father stand up for his child...and win. And its even better that the laywer is willing to handle his case for free. My heart goes out to the father, and I cannot begin to imagine the initial pain he felt when he heard of his son's death, and especially the pain this preist has caused. He has to realize that those "dead soldiers", and alive ones, fought for his right to bash them in such a disgusting manor!
83 agree | 83 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Then I guess John and Peter would be grouped into that special place in hell as well. May as well send Paul there too. After all, the three of these guys were unsympathetic toward sin. Peter rebuked two followers of Christ and they dropped dead. John asked to call down fire from heaven. What about Paul? Well, he was the worst of all. How dare he command that sinning Christians be tossed out of church? Plus, they enflamed the passions of the religious authority with their "Jesus" rhetoric, preaching against sin and the misperception of God that the Jewish people held for thousands of years. Everytime I read these comments on this board, it's apparent that there is a great deception about to descend on the American church of nominal Christianity. Read your bibles! Know where you stand! The time will come when we will all answer for it. And if Jesus said that it's his words that will judge you...better know them, right? Not just a few select verses.
69 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is love always thought of in terms of syrupy sentimentalism, hugs, and kisses? This bears the mark of the kind of tortured thought process championed in religious pluralism. Does your love ever cause you to say things that are going to hurt in the immediate situation but will bear greater fruit if they are acted upon in the future? Is discipline a form of love? Do you let your kid put his hand on the stove to get burned or do you warn him of the consequences despite his protests? Love is the act of caring about someone's eternal soul despite their immediate reaction to what we're communicating. Love doesn't mean you'll always have to be harsh, but it doesn't exclude the possibility either.
67 agree | 78 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Rocko, how do you propose that the gospel be presented? You do realize that Christ had different responses to different people? When a man asked if he could bury his father before he followed him, Christ replied "let the dead bury the dead". Pretty harsh? And "love" is about speaking the truth despite the response. The New Testament is littered with examples of Christ coming out against sin. If it weren't so, how did they all ultimately end up losing their lives? This gospel is an OFFENSE! (1 Cor 2) The God is love stuff you quote is typical. But it's about God giving everyone a chance to accept. Sometimes our witness calls for a strong approach to sin and othertimes a less abrasive one. If these people are being called to "mix it up," I don't see anything unscriptural. Paul did the same thing at a pagan temple in Ephesus as did Christ in the synagogue and were run out. These are the same sinners in our day that were in theirs. Are we somehow MORE enlightened? Then we judge the bibl
91 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Verdict is one thing....collection is another. Higher courts will overturn citing free speech since they are not subject to jury trial. Such is the great American Judicial system..... Got the bucks....take it higher....
83 agree | 74 disagree
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Examiner Reader - Beautiful said:
I believe that every one has a right to his/her own opinion. I do not believe that they should be allowed to harrass other individuals with those opinions. It's bad enough that a parent has to bury their child, but to be subjected to what these people are doing is just cruel and heartless. If they didn't have the right to freedom of speech, would they be so willing to crucify those same soldiers. My son is over in Iraq supporting his county, and the other rights we have in the county. I would have done the very same thing if they protested at my childs funeral. But that would have been after I whooped some azz!!!
85 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
You all are missing the point. Free speech is a right, but there is an underlying responsibility, not slander , liable or lie. Also, to me a funeral is a private act and not a forum for express free speech on issues unrelated to the event!
80 agree | 76 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Westboro has a right to its crazy opinions, just as Fascists, Nazis, Gun-controllers and other crazies do. This was no different than when anti-abortion protesters harassed women in front of clinics, tree huggers harassed logging operations or animal "rights" protesters harassing companies that do vital scientific animal work. One cannot pick and choose which parts of the Constitution one wishes to agree with. I am "emotionally distressed" every time an anti-gun rights organization protests to take away my fundamental right to self-defense, am I entitled to money from them? With this ruling, I would be! Hooray!
93 agree | 79 disagree
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reader said:
I think it was a small price to pay for what they did. I hope that every family who has been hurt by them sues also and I can't believe that God has told them to do this.If they don't pay then someone needs to go to jail.
77 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Funny...Jesus said he came to bring a sword. Respondents in these polls love to condemn these people who have probably spent much more time engaging scripture then they have. In fact, any hardline stance taken by a parachurch group calling them crazy fails to see how their own opposition plays out in the group's worldview. No wonder scripture says "God's ways are not our own" and "men loved darkness more than light." "These people" won't change because they've cast their temporary situations and persecutions in a greater, more eternal, context. And indeed, why should they? Everything in popular culture runs contrary to scripture. No popular poll is going to undermine the truth that these people live everyday. In fact, those who call these hate groups would do well to open up the scriptures. God is not a touchy, feelly supernatural power. You might not agree with their approach, but at least they have the courage to stand up and say what a whole lot of professing Christians will n
96 agree | 89 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'd like to know where they've been getting their money to fly all around the country to stage the stupid protests? Whose been funding their hate campaign?
90 agree | 81 disagree
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Reap what you sow said:
Spew hate, reap hate. These people are crazy. No amount of money is going to change them.
84 agree | 70 disagree
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