Heroes & Patriots, Bullies & Cowards—and Christians
Last week a small town near here laid to rest John Sigsbee. More than 2, 000 people filed past the casket of this popular young man, just 21.
Sigsbee joined the army just after high school and was sent to Iraq. He was sent back, though, when an explosion burned him over most of his body, to heal.
And heal he did. Then he went back to Iraq, where he was killed Jan. 16 during a gun battle, along with a few of his fellow soldiers, trying to liberate the Iraqi village of Bichigan. [That liberation was completed later in the week.]
Brigadier General Todd Semonite spoke at the funeral. He presented Sigsbee’s parents two medals awarded posthumously—Sigsbee’s second Purple Hear, and the Bronze Star for heroism in battle. Sigsbee was buried in the Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville.
If only that were the whole story.
Sigsbee’s death also attracted the attention of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, who announced they would send members to the funeral to protest what they see as America’s permissive attitude toward gays, claiming God is killing our troops to punish us. This group carries signs and shouts slogans at military funerals such as “Thank God for dead soldiers.”
Thankfully they didn’t show—a group of 60 Patriot Guard Riders did instead, with plans to (after the family had safely entered the funeral) form a blockade between the Westboro protesters and the mourners, and if needed, shouting “God bless our troops!” and singing the national anthem.
“We got a lot of media…so our message got out,” explains a spokesperson for the Topeka group. Instead, they protested another military funeral at Camp LeJuene in North Carolina. Well, bullies do typically stand down when challenged.
Local clergy denounced the group, saying, “They’re not Christian,” and that they weren’t affiliated with local Baptist churches or the Baptist Conference.
But here’s my question.
I hear incessantly, year after year, “Christians” crying, “They’re stealing our Christmas!” just because someone wishes people “Happy Holidays,” or “This will destroy marriage!” when any concession to same-sex unions might appear.
Where were these “Christians” when this Kansas group undermined their faith? Local church groups should have been at the funeral too, ready to stand for something.
Thank God we at least have patriots.
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3 comments:
That's so discusting that people would show up to a funeral to protest. I'm not justfying the war at all but if those people feel so strongly about their faith and soldiers and the war then they should be protesting in D.C. not at a church where a family is burying someone they love.
I guess a funeral would be a dramatic place to make a statement, but have some respect. This man sacrificed his life after he had already almost lost it once before. Anyone with that much patriotism deserves the utmost respect. Think about the family, they have been through enough with their son's injuries before and now losing him for real, the last thing they need is for the funeral to be turned into a religious circus. My question: was Sigsbee even gay? if so, I see the premise for the protest, but cannot see how anyone would condone it. If he was not gay, the idea to protest at his funeral is even more absurd. Do not punish someone (and their family/friends) for something that has nothing to do with them.
No, Sigsbee was not gay.
That's the thing--these nuts claim God is killing our soldiers just because we allow gay people in America.
Guess they missed Sunday school on the "God is Love" day...........
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